Adjectives: Order, Comparison and Practice Questions
An adjective describes a noun — it tells you which one, what kind or how many: a red kite, the tallest boy, three oranges. Exam questions rarely ask "what is an adjective?" — they test whether you can put adjectives in the right order and choose the right form of comparison. Those are the two skills this lesson drills.
In this lesson you will learn:
- The order adjectives must follow before a noun.
- When to use -er/-est and when to use more/most.
- The three comparison traps examiners set — with practice questions.
Skill 1 — the order of adjectives
When two or more adjectives stack before a noun, English follows a fixed order:
opinion → size → age → shape → colour → origin → material → purpose
✓ a beautiful little old round blue vase ✗ a blue old beautiful little round vase
You don't need to memorise the list mechanically — your ear knows most of it. The pair that exams test most is opinion before fact: a lovely wooden box (✓), never a wooden lovely box (✗).
Skill 2 — comparing with adjectives
Comparative (-er / more) compares two things. Superlative (-est / most) compares three or more — and takes the.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| tall | taller | the tallest |
| busy | busier | the busiest |
| careful | more careful | the most careful |
| good | better | the best |
| bad | worse | the worst |
Rule of thumb: short adjectives (one syllable, or two ending in -y) take -er/-est. Longer adjectives take more/most. Never both — "more taller" is always wrong.
The three comparison traps
Trap 1 — double comparison: ✗ This puzzle is more easier than the last one. ✓ This puzzle is easier than the last one.
Trap 2 — comparative for three or more: ✗ Of all the runners, Devi is the faster. ✓ Of all the runners, Devi is the fastest.
Trap 3 — missing "the" with a superlative: ✗ Leila is most skilled at solving puzzles. (in a comparison of all) ✓ Leila is the most skilled at solving puzzles.
Practice — exam-style questions
She bought a __________ dress for the celebration.
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (B) lovely red silk
The correct answer is (B) 'lovely red silk'. Adjective order runs opinion → colour → material: 'lovely' (opinion), 'red' (colour), 'silk' (material). The other options put material or colour before the opinion, which breaks the order.
This is __________ storybook I have ever read.
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (A) the most interesting
The correct answer is (A) 'the most interesting'. 'I have ever read' compares this book with all books, so we need the superlative with 'the'. (B) and (D) are comparatives for two things only; (C) is missing 'the'.
My brother is two years __________ than me.
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (B) older
The correct answer is (B) 'older'. With 'than' we need a comparative, and 'old' is a short adjective, so it takes -er. (A) 'elder' is only used before a noun ('my elder brother'), never with 'than'; (C) 'more old' is a double error; (D) 'oldest' is a superlative.
The weather today is even __________ than yesterday.
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (A) worse
The correct answer is (A) 'worse'. 'Bad' is irregular: bad → worse → the worst. 'Than' signals a comparative, so 'worse' fits. (B) 'worst' is the superlative, and (C) and (D) are forms that don't exist in standard English.
Remember
- Stack adjectives opinion first, facts after (size → age → shape → colour → origin → material).
- Two things → comparative (-er / more). Three or more → superlative with the (-est / most).
- Never double up: more easier ✗, more taller ✗.
Next: review Nouns — types, examples and practice, or test yourself with PSLE Grammar MCQ Practice.