What Is an Adjective? Definition, Usage, Types and Examples

Adjectives are essential components of the English language, enriching sentences by providing more information about nouns and pronouns.

What Is an Adjective?

An adjective is a word that modifies or describes a noun or pronoun, providing more information about its characteristics, quantity, quality, size, age, shape, color, origin, state or material.

Adjectives help to convey specific details, making communication more precise and vivid. They answer questions like “Which one?”, “What kind?”, “How many?”, and “Whose?”.

• The blue car sped past us. (Color adjective)
• She wore a beautiful dress. (Quality adjective)
• We adopted a tiny puppy. (Size adjective)
• He has three books on his desk. (Quantity adjective)
• The weather is cold today. (State adjective)

Table of contents

Types of Adjectives

Adjectives can be categorized based on their function and the type of information they provide. Understanding these types helps in selecting the right adjective for effective communication.

Descriptive Adjectives

Descriptive adjectives describe the qualities or states of being of nouns and pronouns. They provide information about the appearance, shape, color, size, etc.

Examples:

• Tall, short, bright, dark, beautiful, old, round, smooth

Usage in Sentences:

• She wore a red dress.
• The ancient tree stood tall.

Quantitative Adjectives

Quantitative adjectives indicate the quantity of nouns. They answer the question “How much?” or “How many?”

Examples:

• Some, many, few, several, all, both, each, every, no

Usage in Sentences:

• There are three apples on the table.
• She has many friends.

Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative adjectives point out specific nouns and distinguish them from others. They are used to indicate which noun is being referred to.

Examples:

• This, that, these, those

Usage in Sentences:

• This book is interesting.
• I prefer those shoes.

Possessive Adjectives

Possessive adjectives show ownership or possession.

Examples:

• My, your, his, her, its, our, their

Usage in Sentences:

• Her car is new.
• Their house is spacious.

Interrogative Adjectives

Interrogative adjectives are used in questions to modify nouns.

Examples:

• Which, what, whose

Usage in Sentences:

• Which color do you prefer?
• Whose bag is this?

Indefinite Adjectives

Indefinite adjectives provide non-specific information about the noun. They indicate quantity or extent without being precise.

Examples:

• Some, any, much, little, several, few, enough

Usage in Sentences:

• She has some ideas.
• There is little time left.

Articles

Articles are a specific type of adjective that define the noun as specific or unspecific.

Types:

• Definite Article: the
• Indefinite Articles: a, an

Usage in Sentences:

• I saw a bird in the garden.
• The book on the table is mine.

Compound Adjectives

Compound adjectives are made up of two or more words combined to modify a noun.

Examples:

• Well-known, high-speed, full-time, part-time, user-friendly

Usage in Sentences:

• She is a well-known artist.
• They bought a high-speed internet plan.

Rules for Using Adjectives

Proper use of adjectives enhances clarity and precision in communication. Here are key rules to follow:

1. Adjective Order

When multiple adjectives modify a single noun, they follow a specific order. The general order is:

1. Opinion: beautiful, ugly, interesting
2. Size: big, small, tall
3. Age: new, old, ancient
4. Shape: round, square, flat
5. Color: red, blue, green
6. Origin: American, Chinese, French
7. Material: wooden, metal, plastic
8. Purpose: (often part of compound adjectives) cleaning (as in cleaning supplies)

Example:

• She bought a beautiful large old round red French wooden table.

While grammatically correct, such a sentence would rarely use all these adjectives together. Typically, a few key adjectives are used.

2. Comparative and Superlative Forms

Adjectives can express different degrees of comparison:

1. Positive Degree: The basic form (e.g., tall)
2. Comparative Degree: Compares two things (e.g., taller)
3. Superlative Degree: Compares three or more things (e.g., tallest)

Formation Rules:

• One-syllable adjectives: Add -er for comparative and -est for superlative.
  • Tall → taller → tallest
• Two-syllable adjectives ending in -y: Change -y to -i and add -er/-est.
  • Happy → happier → happiest
• Adjectives with two or more syllables: Use more for comparative and most for superlative.
  • Beautiful → more beautiful → most beautiful

Usage in Sentences:

• She is taller than her brother.
• This is the most interesting book I have read.

3. Agreement with Nouns

Adjectives in English do not change form based on the noun they modify; they remain the same regardless of the noun’s number or gender.

• The blue sky is clear.
• The blue skies are clear.

4. Position of Adjectives

Adjectives typically appear before the noun they modify but can sometimes follow the noun, especially when linked by certain verbs.

Before the Noun:

• She adopted a cute puppy.

After the Noun (Usually with Linking Verbs):

• The puppy is cute.

Adjective Placement

Understanding where to place adjectives in a sentence is crucial for clarity and correctness.

Attributive Position

Adjectives are placed directly before the noun they modify.

• A beautiful sunset.
• An old book.

Predicative Position

Adjectives are linked to the noun by a verb (usually a linking verb like be, seem, become) and come after the verb.

• The sunset is beautiful.
• The book seems old.

Postpositive Adjectives

In some cases, adjectives come immediately after the noun, often found in certain fixed expressions or with specific nouns.

• Attorney General
• Time immemorial
• Something interesting

Note: Postpositive adjectives are less common in English and often appear in formal or literary contexts.

Adjective Phrases and Adjective Clauses

Both adjective phrases and adjective clauses describe nouns, but they differ in structure and complexity.

1. Adjective Phrases

An adjective phrase is a group of words that functions as an adjective to describe a noun or pronoun. It does not contain a subject-verb pair.

• She wore a very elegant dress. (The phrase “very elegant” describes dress.)
• The house covered in ivy looked mysterious. (The phrase “covered in ivy” describes house.)

Types of Adjective Phrases:

• Simple Adjective Phrase: Consists of an adjective with modifiers.
  🔹 She has an incredibly bright smile.
• Prepositional Adjective Phrase: Uses a preposition to add detail.
  🔹 The book on the table is mine.

2. Adjective Clauses (Relative Clauses)

An adjective clause (also called a relative clause) is a dependent clause that describes a noun. It contains both a subject and a verb and usually begins with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, that) or a relative adverb (where, when, why).

• The girl who lives next door is my best friend. (The clause “who lives next door” describes girl.)
• I love books that make me think. (“that make me think” describes books.)

Types of Adjective Clauses:

• Restrictive Adjective Clause: Provides essential information (no commas).
  🔹 The car that he bought is expensive.
• Non-restrictive Adjective Clause: Adds extra (non-essential) information (uses commas).
  🔹 My brother, who lives in Texas, is visiting soon.

Key Differences:

Adjective vs. Adverb

Both adjectives and adverbs are modifiers that enhance meaning, they serve different functions and are used in different contexts.

Adjective:

A word that modifies or describes a noun or pronoun, providing more information about its qualities, quantity, or identity.

Function: Answers questions like “Which one?”, “What kind?”, “How many?”, and “Whose?”.

Adverb:

A word that modifies a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or an entire sentence, providing more information about how, when, where, to what extent, or under what conditions something happens.

Function: Answers questions like “How?”, “When?”, “Where?”, “To what extent?”, and “Under what conditions?”.

Key Differences

Examples of Adjective vs. Adverb Usage

Common Adjective Mistakes

Avoiding common errors ensures your writing and speaking are clear and grammatically correct.

a. Using Adverbs Instead of Adjectives

Incorrect:

• She runs quickly.
  • “Quickly” is an adverb modifying the verb “runs.”

Correct:

• She is a quick runner.
  • “Quick” is an adjective modifying the noun “runner.”

b. Double Comparison

Incorrect:

• She is more taller than her sister.

Correct:

• She is taller than her sister.

c. Mixing Up Comparative and Superlative

Incorrect:

• He is the more intelligent in the class.

Correct:

• He is the most intelligent in the class.

d. Overusing Adjectives

Using too many adjectives can make sentences cumbersome and unclear.

Incorrect:

• She wore a beautiful, long, flowing, red dress.

Correct:

• She wore a beautiful red dress.

e. Incorrect Adjective Order

Incorrect:

• She has a red big car.

Correct:

• She has a big red car.

Examples of Adjectives in Sentences

Here are 40 examples of adjectives used in sentences:

• The brilliant scientist discovered a new planet.
• She wore a graceful dress to the gala.
• His generous donation helped many people.
• The delightful aroma of fresh coffee filled the room.
• Their friendly dog greeted everyone with a wagging tail.
• His arrogant attitude annoyed everyone.
• The broken chair collapsed when he sat on it.
• The dangerous road was full of potholes.
• Her messy room was hard to walk through.
• The rude customer yelled at the cashier.
• The massive elephant roamed the jungle.
• The sparkling stars lit up the night sky.
• He gave her a handwritten letter.
• The icy water was too cold for swimming.
• The fluffy cat purred in my lap.
• The tiny kitten curled up on the blanket.
• We bought a gigantic pizza for the party.
• The narrow bridge swayed in the wind.
• His huge backpack barely fit in the locker.
• The petite dancer moved gracefully.
• She painted her room a vibrant blue.
• The golden sunset was breathtaking.
• He drove a shiny red car.
• The emerald necklace sparkled in the light.
• The dark clouds signaled a storm.
• Her joyful laugh filled the room.
• He felt gloomy on the rainy afternoon.
• She gave him a loving hug.
• The movie’s ending was heartbreaking.
• The team felt proud of their victory.
• He drank several glasses of water.
• Only a few students attended the class.
• We have enough food for everyone.
• There were countless stars in the sky.
• She has many books in her library.
• This test is easier than the last one.
• He is the tallest in his class.
• The second movie was better than the first.
• That was the worst decision ever.
• This road is narrower than the highway.

Adjectives play a pivotal role in enhancing the richness and clarity of language. By understanding the different types of adjectives, adhering to grammatical rules, and practicing their application, you can significantly improve your descriptive abilities in both writing and speaking. Remember to use adjectives thoughtfully to convey precise meanings and avoid overcomplicating your sentences.

Explore Adjectives Alphabetically (A-Z)