5/29/2020 Adjectives and adjective phrases: typical errors - English Grammar Today - Cambridge Dictionary

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Grammar > Adjectives and adverbs > Adjectives > Adjective phrases > Adjectives and adjective phrases: typical errors

from English Grammar Today

We use -ing adjectives to describe an effect and -ed adjectives to describe how a person feels:

That was such an interesting lecture. Prof. Green is such a good speaker.
Not: That was such an interested lecture.
I was not interested in the lecture.
Not: I was not interesting …

See also:
Adjectives: with -ing and -ed (interesting, interested)

We can’t use some -ed forms before a noun:

The new results are clear from the diagram shown.

Not: … from the shown diagram

See also:
Adjectives with nouns and verbs

Adjectives in English do not change (agree) with the noun that they modify:

The tropical birds were beautiful.

Not: The tropical birds were beautifuls.

See also:
Adjectives: forms
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Some adjectives only appear before nouns and do not follow verbs. They include adjectives of
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degree, time and order, and adjectives that limit the noun that follows them:
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5/29/2020 Adjectives and adjective phrases: typical errors - English Grammar Today - Cambridge Dictionary

The trip was a complete disaster from start to finish.

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Not: The disaster was complete
His late wife Betty was related to my mother.
Not: His wife was late
The only person who can sort this out is Keith.

Not: The person was only

See also:
Adjectives with nouns and verbs

Take care to spell the suffix -ful with one l:

careful carefull helpful helpfull

grateful gratefull wonderful wonderfull

powerful powerfull beautiful beautifull

Other errors with common adjectives

Most people go to the popular tourist destinations.

Not: … the popular touristic destinations.

It can be fun to work with young children.

Not: … funny to work with … (fun means ‘enjoyable’, funny means that something makes you
laugh or that it is strange)
I have a very stressful job.

Not: … a very stressing job.

We went to a nearby restaurant.

Not: … a near restaurant.

What are the necessary ingredients for this dish?

Not: … the needed ingredients …?

I noticed an open window.
This
Not:website uses cookies.
… an opened windowFor more information, please visit the Privacy and Cookies Policy.
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I was really surprised when I heard the news.
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5/29/2020 Adjectives and adjective phrases: typical errors - English Grammar Today - Cambridge Dictionary

Not: I was really surprise …

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We’re having a party on Friday. Everybody is welcome.

Not: Everybody is welcomed.

The younger generation often lack ambition.

Not: The young generation often lack ambition.

See also:
Actual

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Popular searches
01 Advice or advise?

02 As well (as)

03 Word formation

04 Adverbs and adverb phrases: position

05 At, on and in (place)

06 Open or opened?

07 Discourse markers (so, right, okay)

08 Verbs

09 As … as

10 If or whether?

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peacekeeper

a person who tries to prevent or stop arguments or fighting between two or more people or
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