Adjectives - Word Formation

Typical adjective endings / suffixes
Some adjectives can be identified by their endings. Typical adjective endings include:
1. -able/-ible understandable, capable, readable, incredible
2. -al mathematical, functional, influential, chemical
3. -ful beautiful, bashful, helpful, harmful
4. -ic artistic, manic, rustic, terrific
5. -ive submissive, intuitive, inventive, attractive
6. -less sleeveless, hopeless, groundless, restless
7. -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 Exceptions Word Adjective

Nature  Natural 
-al If ending with an ‘e‘, drop it Functio Functiona
n l
Ice  Icy 
-y If ending with an ‘e‘, drop it
Oil Oily
If ending with a ‘y‘, replace with an Beauty  Beautiful 
-ful
‘i‘ Peace Peaceful
Myster Mysteriou
-ous/- s 
If ending with a ‘y‘, drop it y 
ious
Danger Dangerou
s
History  Historic 
-ic If ending with a ‘y‘, drop it
Rust Rustic
!
Forming adjectives from nouns and verbs
Adjectives can be formed from different words. They can be formed from nouns:
!
1
Noun Adjectiv !
e
accide accident
What are compound ad-
nt al jectives?
A compound adjective is formed when two
danger dangerou
s or more adjectives are joined together to
modify the same noun. These terms should
length long be hyphenated to avoid confusion or am-
star starry biguity. For example:
wind windy 1. Diana submitted a 6-page docu-

ment.
! 2. She adopted a two-year-old cat.
From verbs:  
Verb Adjective
!
Exceptions
enjoy enjoyable Note that combining an adverb and an ad-
jective does not create a compound adjec-
help helpful tive. No hyphen is required because it is
already clear that the adverb modifies the
obey obedient adjective rather than the subsequent noun.
For example:
play playful 1. It was a terribly hot day.
talk talkative 2. It is an amazingly good idea.
In addition, you should not place a hyphen
! in a compound adjective if the adjectives
Or even from other adjectives: are capitalized, such as when they are part
of a title.
Adjectiv Adjectiv
e e Examples of compound
comic comical adjectives
correctiv 1. This is a four-foot table.
correct
e 2. Daniella is a part-time worker.
elder elderly 3. This is an all-too-common error.
red reddish 4. Beware of the green-eyed monster.

5. He is a cold-blooded man.
sick sickly
6. I love this brightly-lit room!
! 7. Danny’s dog is well-behaved.
! 8. You have to be open-minded about
! things.
2
!
3
!
!
What are denominal adjectives?
Denominal adjectives (sometimes called denominal adjectives) are adjectives derived from
nouns. For example:
1. A mathematical puzzle. (a puzzle based on mathematics)
2. A biological experiment. (an experiment in biology)
3. A wooden boat. (a boat made of wood)
Proper adjectives are derived from proper nouns. They commonly describe something in
terms of nationality, religious affiliation, or culture. Like proper nouns, proper adjectives
have their first letter capitalized. For example:
1. I married a Russian woman.
2. The Muslim community in NY is very large.
Adjectives of this type should be carefully distinguished from adjectives denoting nationali-
ties (nominal adjectives). For example:
1. Denominal Adjective: French people are noted for their wines.
2. Nominal Adjective: The French are noted for their wines.
or:
1. Denominal Adjective: Poor people are more vulnerable.
2. Nominal Adjective: The poor are getting poorer.
!
Forming comparative adjectives
As well as serving as modifying words like beautiful and big, adjectives are also used for in-
dicating the position on a scale of comparison. The lowest point on the scale is known as the
absolute form, the middle point is known as the comparative form, and the highest point is
known as the superlative form. Here are some examples:
Absolute Comparative Superlative

This book is long. This book is longer than that book. This is the longest book.
The airport is farther than the train This is the farthest
The airport is far.
station. airport.
My mom is a good My mom is a better cook than your My mom is the best
cook. mom. cook.
!
!
4
!
How to order adjectives in English?
In many languages, adjectives denoting attributes usually occur in a specific order. Generally,
the adjective order in English is:
1. Quantity or number
2. Quality or opinion
3. Size
4. Age
5. Shape
6. Color
7. Proper adjective (often nationality, other place of origin, or material)
8. Purpose or qualifier
For example:
1. I love that really big old green antique car that always parked at the end of the street.
2. My sister adopted a beautiful big white bulldog.
When there are two or more adjectives that are from the same group, the word and is placed
between the two adjectives:
1. The house is green and red.
2. The library has old and new books.
When there are three or more adjectives from the same adjective group, place a comma be-
tween each of the coordinate adjectives:
1. We live in the big green, white and red house at the end of the street.
2. My friend lost a red, black and white watch.
A comma is not placed between an adjective and the noun.

Adjectives - Word Formation

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Adjectives - Word Formation

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Typical adjective endings / suffixes

Add Exceptions Word Adjective

wind windy 1. Diana submitted a 6-page docu-

red reddish 4. Beware of the green-eyed monster.

Absolute Comparative Superlative

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