Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES

Forming adjectives
Typical adjective endings:
-able/-ible understandable, capable, readable, incredible
-al mathematical, functional, influential, chemical
-ful beautiful, bashful, helpful, harmful
-ic artistic, manic, rustic, terrific
-ive submissive, intuitive, inventive, attractive
-less sleeveless, hopeless, groundless, restless
-ous gorgeous, dangerous, adventurous, fabulous

Sometimes when adding these endings changes have to be made. Here are some rules for
forming adjectives and their exceptions:

Add Exceptio Word Adjective

ns

-al If ending Nature Natural

with an Functio Function
‘e‘, drop n al
it

-y If ending Ice Icy

with an Oil Oily
‘e‘, drop
it

-ful If ending Beauty Beautiful

with a Peace Peaceful
‘y‘,
replace
with an
‘i‘

- If ending Myster Mysterio

ous with a y us
/- ‘y‘, drop Danger Dangero
ious it us
Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES

Add Exceptio Word Adjective

ns

-ic If ending History Historic

with a Rust Rustic
‘y‘, drop
it

Adjective Adjective

comic comical

correct corrective

elder elderly

red reddish

sick sickly
Noun Adjective Verb Adjective
Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES

accident accidental enjoy enjoyable

Examples of forming
adjectives
danger dangerous help helpful
Our house color is a kind

length long obey obedient of yellow

He often acts like a child.

star starry play playful
The event was a big success

wind windy talk talkative

We enjoyed the sound of the

drum’s rhythm

She adopted a dog without a home

Look out, that plant is poison

It looks like it will rain today

She always acts with courtesy

We go for a walk each day

Our house color is a kind of yellow

He often acts like a child.
The event was a big success
We enjoyed the sound of the drum’s rhythm
Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES
She adopted a dog without a home
Look out, that plant is poison
It looks like it will rain today
She always acts with courtesy
We go for a walk each day

. → We live in a yellowish house.

→ He often acts in a childish way.
. → We enjoyed a successful event.
. → We enjoyed the drum’s rhythmic sound.
. → She adopted a homeless dog.
. → Look out for that poisonous plant.
. → It looks like we’ll have rainy weather today.
. → She always behaves in a courteous manner.
. → We go for a daily walk.
Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES

Forming adjectives exercises

1. Choose the adjective from each of the following groups of words:
inventive, invent, invented
curiosity, curious, curiousive
proliferate, prolific, proud
Answers: A – inventive B – curious C – prolific
2. Form adjectives from the following nouns:
smell
chill
width
Answers: A – smelly B – chilly C – wide
3. Form adjectives from the following verbs:
interested
amazed
annoyed
Answers: A – interesting B – amazing C – annoying
4. Form adjectives from the following verbs. Some words may be formed into more than one
adjective:
escape
improve
damage
Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES
Answers: A – escaped, escaping B – improved, improving C – damaged, damaging
5. Form longer adjectives from the following adjectives. Some words may be formed into more
than one adjective:
funny
incorrect
blue
Answers: A – funnier, funniest B – incorrectly C – bluest, bluer, blueish
6. Form adjectives from the following nouns:
magic
fool
lady
Answers: A – magical B – foolish C – ladylike
7. Form two adjectives from each of the following nouns:
life
power
friend
Answers: A – lifelike, lifeless B – powerful, powerless C – friendly, friendless
8. Form adjectives from each of the following nouns:
cost
war
month
Answers: A – costly B – warlike C – monthly
9. Form adjectives from each of the following nouns:
poison
courtesy
mystery
Answers: A – poisonous B – courteous C – mysterious
10. Form adjectives from each of the following nouns:
athlete
photograph
 Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES
science
Answers: A – athletic B – photographic C – scientific

Positive form
The positive form is used in cases where there are no differences between the two
compared things or persons. To form the positive, we use the word as before and after
the positive form of the adjective. For example:
1. Danny is as smart as Phillip.
2. She is as beautiful as her older sister.

This can also be applied in a negative context to indicate that the compared objects
are not similar:
1. Danny is not as smart as Phillip.
2. She is not as beautiful as her older sister.

Examples of comparing adjectives

1. This house is bigger than that one.
2. This flower is more beautiful than that.
3. He is taller than Mr. Hulas.
4. He is more intelligent than this boy.
5. Jonathan is the most handsome man on campus.
6. This is the prettiest dress in the window.
7. I lost my most comfortable shoes.
8. My job is worse than yours.

Comparing adjective exercises

1. Choose the comparative adjective in each group of sentences:

A.
1. Her hair is short.
2. Her hair is shorter than it was before.
3. Her hair is the shortest it has ever been.
B.
 Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES

1. We live nearer the train station than we used to.

2. Park in the lot nearest the train station.
3. I know the train station is somewhere near.
C.
1. My dog might be ugly, but he is nice.
2. That’s the ugliest dog I’ve ever seen!
3. Because he was uglier than the others, my dog won the ugly dog contest.
D.
1. Your presentation was more informative than most.
2. She gave an informative talk on honeybees.
3. That’s the most informative speech I’ve ever heard Professor Brown give!
Answers: A: 2 – shorter B: 1 – nearer C: 3 – uglier D: 1: more informative

2. Which of the following sentences does not contain a comparing adjective?

A. I’d like to have more participation from each of you this time around.
B. If you’d have listened better, you wouldn’t be confused right now.
C. They live in the brick house on the corner.
Answer:C
3. Choose the superlative adjective in each group of sentences:

A.
1. That’s the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted!
2. You’re a lot nicer than your sister.
3. This is delicious cake.
B.
1. This presentation seems longer than usual.
2. Of all the hairstyles in the room, hers is most stylish.
3. I’m often trying to do better than others.
C.
1. Lake Silfra has some of the clearest water on the world.
2. This shop carries nicer things than it used to.
3. My cat has three adorable kittens.
D.
1. Be careful; that’s a fragile vase.
 Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES

2. You’re more cheerful than you used to be.

3. This is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me.
Answers: A – 1: best B – 2: most stylish C – 1: clearest D – 3: most exciting

4. Which of the following sentences contains a superlative adjective?

A. I can run further than before.

B. She has the pinkest cheeks I’ve ever seen!
C. Jimmy is a cute baby.
Answer: B – pinkest

5. Choose the positive adjective in each group of sentences:

A.
1. Your face is red.
2. You have the reddest face!
3. If you don’t wear sunscreen, your face will get redder.
B.
1. This is the best book I’ve ever read.
2. I like this book better than the last one I read.
3. That’s a good book.
C.
1. Most chocolate is sweet.
2. Milk chocolate is sweeter than dark chocolate.
3. I’m not sure which chocolate is sweetest.
D.
1. This is a charming house.
2. Our new home is so much more charming than our old one.
3. She’s the most charming person I’ve ever met.
Answers: A – 1: red B – 3: good C – 1: sweet D – charming

6. Choose the correct comparing adjective for each sentence:

A. My mother is a _____________ woman.

o Smart
o Smarter
 Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES

o Smartest
B. The surgeon worked ____________ to stabilize the patient.
o Quickly
o Most quickly
o More quickly
C. We ran ______________ than we did last week.
o Fast
o Faster
o Fastest
D. After the party, the house was the _______________ it’s ever been.
o Messy
o Messier
o Messiest
Answers: A – smart B – quickly C – faster D – messiest

7. Name the type of comparing adjective in each sentence:

A. Jinx is a hairy dog.

B. She has the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen.
C. He made me madder than I’ve been in a long time.
D. We felt more excited than ever when we heard the news.
Answers: A – positive B – superlative C – comparative D – comparative

8. Choose the sentence with the positive form comparing adjective:

A. This book is more interesting than that one.

B. The story we heard this week was as interesting as last week’s.
C. This is one of the most interesting stories I’ve ever heard.
Answer: B

9. Which of the following sentences contains a comparing adjective in the comparative

form?

A. We’ve had a run of bad luck lately.

B. This is the worst snowstorm we have had in ten years.
C. Your injury is worse than mine.
Answer: C – worse
 Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES

10. Which of the following sentences contains a comparing adjective in the superlative
form?

A. She is not as mean as her older sister is.

B. This is the least exciting movie I’ve ever seen.
C. Mr. Brown is more boring than Mr. Philips.
Answer: B – least exciting

Forming adjectives Mark

Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES
1. Choose the adjective from each of the following groups of words:

inventive, invent, invented

curiosity, curious, curiousive

proliferate, prolific, proud

2. Form adjectives from the following nouns:

smell

chill

width

3.Form adjectives from the following verbs:

interested

amazed

annoyed

4. Form adjectives from the following verbs. Some words may be formed into more than
one adjective:

escape

improve

damage

5. Form longer adjectives from the following adjectives. Some words may be formed
into more than one adjective:

funny

incorrect

blue

6. Form adjectives from the following nouns:

magic

fool

lady

7. Form two adjectives from each of the following nouns:

life
Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES
power

friend

8. Form adjectives from each of the following nouns:

cost

war

month

9. Form adjectives from each of the following nouns:

poison

courtesy

mystery

10. Form adjectives from each of the following nouns:

athlete

photograph

science

TEST PAPER
Comparing adjective Mark
 Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES
1. Choose and underline the comparative adjective in each group of sentences:

Her hair is short.

Her hair is shorter than it was before.

Her hair is the shortest it has ever been.

We live nearer the train station than we used to.

Park in the lot nearest the train station.

I know the train station is somewhere near.

My dog might be ugly, but he is nice.

That’s the ugliest dog I’ve ever seen!

Because he was uglier than the others, my dog won the ugly dog contest.

Your presentation was more informative than most.

She gave an informative talk on honeybees.

That’s the most informative speech I’ve ever heard Professor Brown give!

2. Which of the following sentences does not contain a comparing adjective?

A. I’d like to have more participation from each of you this time around.

B. If you’d have listened better, you wouldn’t be confused right now.

C. They live in the brick house on the corner.

3. Choose the superlative adjective in each group of sentences:

That’s the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted!

You’re a lot nicer than your sister.

This is delicious cake.

This presentation seems longer than usual.

Of all the hairstyles in the room, hers is most stylish.

I’m often trying to do better than others.

 Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES
C

Lake Silfra has some of the clearest water on the world.

This shop carries nicer things than it used to.

My cat has three adorable kittens.

Be careful; that’s a fragile vase.

You’re more cheerful than you used to be.

This is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me.

4. Which of the following sentences contains a superlative adjective?

A. I can run further than before.

B. She has the pinkest cheeks I’ve ever seen!

C. Jimmy is a cute baby.

5. Choose the positive adjective in each group of sentences:

Your face is red.

You have the reddest face!

If you don’t wear sunscreen, your face will get redder.

This is the best book I’ve ever read.

I like this book better than the last one I read.

That’s a good book.

Most chocolate is sweet.

Milk chocolate is sweeter than dark chocolate.

I’m not sure which chocolate is sweetest.

This is a charming house.

Our new home is so much more charming than our old one.

She’s the most charming person I’ve ever met.

 Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES
6. Choose the correct comparing adjective for each sentence:

My mother is a _____________ woman.

Smart

Smarter

Smartest

The surgeon worked ____________ to stabilize the patient.

Quickly

Most quickly

More quickly

We ran ______________ than we did last week.

Fast

Faster

Fastest

After the party, the house was the _______________ it’s ever been.

Messy

Messier

Messiest

7. Name the type of comparing adjective in each sentence:

A. Jinx is a hairy dog.

B. She has the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen.

C. He made me madder than I’ve been in a long time.

D. We felt more excited than ever when we heard the news.

8. Choose the sentence with the positive form comparing adjective:

A. This book is more interesting than that one.

B. The story we heard this week was as interesting as last week’s.

C. This is one of the most interesting stories I’ve ever heard.

 Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES

9. Which of the following sentences contains a comparing adjective in the comparative

form?

A. We’ve had a run of bad luck lately.

B. This is the worst snowstorm we have had in ten years.

C. Your injury is worse than mine.

10. Which of the following sentences contains a comparing adjective in the superlative
form?

A. She is not as mean as her older sister is.

B. This is the least exciting movie I’ve ever seen.

C. Mr. Brown is more boring than Mr. Philips.

Comparing 2 objects Comparing 3+objects

1 syllable -er the …est Short – shorter – the shortest

* short words – double consonant *big – bigger – the biggest

2 syllables -er ending in y (y-i) the …est Easy – easier – the easiest

*-r ending in e *nice – nicer – the nicest

more the most Bitter – more bitter – the most bitter

clever, stupid, quiet, narrow, severe, pleasant, polite, Clever – cleverer – the cleverest

subtle, simple, common, sure, shallow Clever – more clever – the most clever

3 syllables more the most Serious – more serious – the most

serious
Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES

Adjectives – Degrees of Comparison

Comparing 2 objects Comparing 3+objects

1 syllable -er the …est Short – shorter – the shortest

* short words – double consonant *big – bigger – the biggest

2 syllables -er ending in y (y-i) the …est Easy – easier – the easiest

*-r ending in e *nice – nicer – the nicest

more the most Bitter – more bitter – the most bitter

clever, stupid, quiet, narrow, severe, pleasant, polite, Clever – cleverer – the cleverest

subtle, simple, common, sure, shallow Clever – more clever – the most clever

3 syllables more the most Serious – more serious – the most

serious

Adjectives – Degrees of Comparison

as … as This car is as new as that one.

the same … as This car is the same new as that one.

not as … as This car is not as new as that one.

not so … as This car is not so new as that one.

twice as… as This car is twice as new as that one.

… than This car is newer than that one.

less … than This car is less new than that one.

Comparing 2 objects:

Comparing 2 objects:
Student Worksheet ADJECTIVES
as … as This car is as new as that one.

the same … as This car is the same new as that one.

not as … as This car is not as new as that one.

not so … as This car is not so new as that one.

twice as… as This car is twice as new as that one.

… than This car is newer than that one.

less … than This car is less new than that one.