Adjective | General Aptitude for GATE - Mechanical Engineering PDF Download

An adjective is a word that is used to add something to the meaning of a Noun or a Pronoun and describe about it.

Ashok is an intelligent boy.

Types of adjectives 

KINDS OF ADJECTIVE                                                                    

1) Adjectives of Quality: - The adjective which tells us the kind of a person or a thing.
Example: - brave, cloudy, honest, big, beautiful, ugly, dirty, etc.

2) Adjectives of Quantity: - Which tells us how much the thing is.
Example: - much, little, some, any, sufficient, enough, whole, etc.

3) Adjectives of Number: - Which shows how many persons or things are there.
Example: - many, few, all, several, some, first, seven, most, etc.

4) Distributive Adjectives: - It shows the person or the thing which are taken one at a time.
Example: - each, every, either, neither, etc.

5) Demonstrative Adjectives: - It points out the persons or things.
Example: - This, that, these, those, such.

6) Interrogative Adjectives: - Adjectives which are used to ask question.
Example: - What, which, whose, etc.
 [Question: 874859]

RULES OF ADJECTIVES

Rule 1 – Comparative degree is used in comparing two things or persons.

It is the better of the two books.
 Superlative degree is used in comparing more than two things or persons.
 He is the best of the three boys. 

Rule 2 – When two changes happen together, comparative degree is used in both.
The higher you go, the cooler you feel. 

Rule 3 – Double comparatives and double superlatives must not be used. 
He is more wiser than his brother 
He is wiser than his brother 

Rule 4 - The adjectives ending in – ior (prior, junior, senior, superior, inferior, posterior); take to after them.
He is senior to me.
 This book is superior to that book.

Rule 5- Some adjectives like unique, ideal, perfect, extreme, complete, universal, infinite, perpetual, chief, entire, round, impossible are not compared.
It is the most unique book 
It is a unique book  

Rule 6 - When comparative degree is used in superlative sense, it is followed by any other.
Kapil is better than any bowler 
Kapil is better than any other bowler.  

Rule 7 – When we compare two qualities in the same person or thing, the comparative ending ‘– er’ is not used. 
You are wiser than old 
You are more wise than old  

Rule 8– Compound adjective formed by adding worth is placed after the noun it qualifies.
This is a worth seeing sight 
This is a sight worth seeing  

Rule 9 – When there are two objects of comparison, then to avoid repetition of noun ‘that’ is used for singular noun and ‘those’ for plural noun.
The climate of Ranchi is better than that of Gaya.

DETERMINERS: 

Determiners are adjective words like a, an, the (articles), some, any, each, every, either, neither, a great many, little, a little, the little, few, a few, the few, less, fewer, much, many.

1. Some, Any:  

To express quantity some is used in the affirmative sentences; any in negative sentences.
I have some milk but I do not have any sugar.
 She bought some shoes but did not buy any dresses.

a) Some is used in interrogative sentences when making polite requests.
Will you give me some sugar?
 Will you have some more tea?

b) In conditional sentences as:
If there are any oranges in the market, please buy some. 

c) Use of any in interrogative or negative sentences:
Did you buy any stamps?
 Have you any articles on the recent events?
 I didn’t see any oranges in the market. 

2. Each, Every; Either, Neither: 

Each means one of two things or one of any number exceeding two. Every is used while speaking of some number exceeding two as:
Each of them had a gun in his hand.
 Each of you can go to the market.
 Every man expects loyalty from its people.

Either has two meanings: 

1) One  out of two  2) each of two (both).
Neither is the negative of either and means neither the one nor the other
You can leave by either door. (By one door or the other)
 Trees grew on either side of the road. (Both sides)
 He looked at neither side of the road. (Neither this side nor the other.
[Question: 874860]
3. Much, Many: 

Much stands for quantity and many denotes number.
Was there much milk left in the pot?
 Were there many people watching the movie?
 We haven’t got many books.
 She doesn’t have much money. 

4. Little, A Little, The Little: 

Little means hardly any or not much. It has a negative meaning.
There was little money in the house.
 There was little that she could do to help the patient. 
A little means some at least. It has an affirmative meaning.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
 There is a little milk left in the pot.
The little means all.
The strength he had was not much. 

5. Few, A Few, The Few:

Few means not many and has a negative meaning. He has a few books left in the library. A Few means some at least. It has a positive meaning.
He has few books left in the library.
The Few means all. It can be used both positively and negatively.
He lost the few friends he had. 

6. Less, Fewer:

Less is used with reference to quantity and fewer with reference to number.
The huge pumpkin weighted no less than ten pounds.
 I cannot buy less than ten kilograms of rice.
 No fewer than two thousand people joined the strike.
 No fewer than ten civilians were hurt in the firing.