Common Mistakes in the Use of Adjectives

Adjectives are words used to modify nouns. They usually go before the nouns modified by them. Sometimes, they go after be (is, am, are, was, were) or other copular verbs (become, grow, turn, feel, seem, appear etc.)

Some adjectives are used with plural nouns. Examples are: many, few, all, both.

Many people came.

All children need love.

Few students passed the test.

Both girls are talented.

Some adjectives are used with singular nouns. Examples are: much, little.

Much money is required to build a home.
He made little progress.

The adjective some can be used with both singular and plural nouns.

When the noun is countable, use its plural form after some.

Some fools have left the door open.

Some students have applied for the job.

Some can also be used with uncountable nouns.

I need some advice.

The adjective any can be used with both singular and plural nouns.

Any child can learn a second language.

She doesn’t have any children.

Any help is appreciated.

Avoid double negatives

English adjectives can exist in three forms - positive, comparative, superlative.

We usually make the comparative form by adding -er and -est to the positive.

Long adjectives form their comparative or superlative with more or most.

Adjectives are not used correctly in the following sentences.

This is more better than that. (Write: This is better than that.)

She is more smarter than me. (Write: She is smarter than me.)

Determiners are a kind of adjectives. There are mainly two types of determiners - Group A and Group B.

Articles, possessive and demonstratives (this, that, these and those) are Group A determiners.

Quantifiers (some, all, any, none, few, little etc.) are Group B determiners.

We cannot put a Group A determiner before a Group B determiner.

Correct: All these books belong to me. / All of these books belong to me.

Incorrect: These all books belong to me.

Correct: Both of my parents are teachers. /
Both my parents are teachers.

Incorrect: My both parents are teachers.

Correct: Some of these mangoes are ripe.

Incorrect: Some these mangoes are ripe.

Incorrect: These some mangoes are ripe.

When we put a Group B determiner before a Group A determiner, we use of.

Most of my friends are theists. (NOT My most friends are theists.) (NOT Most my friends are theists.)

Of can be left out after all, both and half.

All my friends supported me. OR All of my friends supported me.
Both my children are married. OR Both of my children are married.

Avoid double negatives

Not any means the same as no.

She doesn’t have any children. OR She has no children. (NOT She doesn’t have no children)

Not anybody means the same as nobody.

I didn’t see anybody. OR I saw nobody. (NOT I didn’t see nobody.)

Sections in this article

Adjectives

Adjectives placed before nouns

Adjectives placed after verbs

Adjectives without Nouns

Adjectives: order before nouns

Kinds of Adjectives

Adjectives with and

Complements of adjectives

Common Mistakes in the Use of Adjectives

Avoid double negatives

Avoid double negatives

Sections in this article

See also