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English Adjectives
What is an Adjective?
An adjective is a word that tells us more about a noun or a
pronoun.
An adjective describes or modifies a noun.
Adjective lists that follow each topic are only partial ones.
Three Questions.
Adjectives usually answer three questions about the nouns
they describe:
Adjectives quizzes and lists:
List of adjectives
Spelling of adjectives
Comparison of adjectives:
Positive degree – the simplest form.
Comparative degree – comparing two things or persons.
Superlative degree – comparing three or more things or
persons.
1. What kind of?
 I found a red rose in the cave.
 What kind of rose? Red
Positive Comparative Superlative
large
larger
largest
horrible more horrible most horrible
2. How many?
 Three tickets, please.
 How many tickets? Three.
3. Which one(s)?
 I would eat these muffins.
 Which muffins? These.
Kinds of adjectives.
1. Demonstrative adjective
this, that, these, those are called demonstrative adjectives.
They point out nouns.
They always answer the question which one?
In the following example, demonstrative adjectives are
shown in color.
 Lets play this game and later watch that movie.
Remember that this, that, these, those can also act as
demonstrative pronouns in which case they are not
followed by nouns (as demonstrative adjectives are), but
take the place of nouns.
In the following example, demonstrative pronouns are
shown in color.
 Lets play this and later watch that.
2. Common adjective is just a simple, regular adjective. It
describes a noun in a general way.
sharp, flexible, hot, red, hidden, dripping, nice, huge.
3. Proper adjective is derived from a proper noun and is
capitalized.
Proper noun Proper adjective
China
Chinese
California
Californian
Mars
Martian
Spain
Spanish
Christianity Christian
Japan
Japanese
How to compare adjectives
1. Add er and est to short adjectives of one syllable
(sometimes two syllables)
Positive Comparative Superlative
short
shorter
shortest
great
greater
greatest
small
smaller
smallest
old
older
oldest
2. If a short adjective ends with consonant and y, change the
y to i and add er and est.
Positive Comparative Superlative
lucky
luckier
luckiest
heavy heavier
heaviest
happy happier
happiest
silly
sillier
silliest
ugly
uglier
ugliest
3. If a short adjective ends with e, add er and st.
Positive Comparative Superlative
little
littler
littlest
fine
finer
finest
4. Put more(less) and most(least) in front of longer
adjectives (with two or more syllables) to show comparison.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
appealing less appealing
least appealing
remarkable more remarkable most remarkable
beautiful
more beautiful
most beautiful
alert
more alert
most alert
If you are uncertain whether to add er and est or to use
more and most, then check dictionary. In most cases, you
can trust your ears.
Hollywood
Hollywood
Texas
Texas
Sometimes, as in last two examples, a proper noun does not
change at all to become a proper adjective.
Where an adjective goes in a sentence.
Usually an adjective comes in front of the noun it is
describing.
 The big balloon floated over the dark sea.
An adjective can also come after a linking verb, like to be,
and describe the subject of the sentence. In this case it is
called predicate adjective.
 The balloon was dark.
Adjective Links
Some adjectives are irregular adjectives and don't follow
thee rules. They change form considerably from one degree
to the next. You need to study these changes carefully in
order to recognize them easily.
List of irregular adjectives.
Positive
Comparative Superlative
bad
worse
worst
far
further
furthest
far
farther
farthest
good
better
best
many
more
most
little
less
least
old
elder
eldest
well (healthy) better
best
Never use er or est at the same time you use more or most.
These are incorrect: more shorter, most alertest
Incomparable adjectives.
Some adjectives cannot be compared because the positive
(simplest) form expresses the only degree possible.
List of incomparable adjectives: perfect, unique, fatal,
universal, dead, wrong, straight, blind, final, vertical, right,
left
Types of Adjectives
DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVE:
These types of adjectives add detail or description to the noun.
[In the following examples, the adjective is bold and the noun is underlined.]
1. When Tennessee and Connecticut first met in women's basketball in 1995, it was a nice made-for-TV game
between an established power and one on the rise.
1. NICE describes the predicate nominative GAME and ESTABLISHED describes the object of the
preposition POWER.
1. Note: In this sentence, ESTABLISHED is also a participle.
2. The tall man thought he could reach the top shelf of the bookcase.
1. TALL describes the subject MAN and TOP describes the direct object SHELF.
3. After the difficult surgery, the famous doctors to a nap.
1. DIFFICULT modifies the object of the preposition SURGERY and FAMOUS describes the subject
DOCTOR.
4. A worthwhile rivalry had been born.
1. WORTHWHILE describes the subject RIVALRY.
5. Monica said, "Wow, this is a great game."
1. GREAT describes the predicate nominative GAME.
2. LIMITING ADJECTIVE:
These types of adjectives specify or limit the noun.
[In the following examples, the adjective is bold and the noun is underlined.]
1. The two teams have met every season since 1932.
1. TWO tells us how many TEAMS and EVERY tells us how many SEASONS.
1. Note: It does not describe the teams; it tells us which ones to limit our attention to.
2. Saturday, Oregon plays USC before what should be a sellout crowd.
1. SELLOUT tells us what size of crowd. A specific number would also be limiting.
3. Did Garret see this article that appeared in the paper?
1. THIS indicates which "limited" article.
1. Note: In this sentence, THIS is NOT a demonstrative pronoun.
4. Will you be sitting at the captain's table this evening?
1. CAPTAIN'S limits what table we are considering.
1. Note: This type of possessive is called a possessive noun.
5. This season, the two are meeting on a home-and-home basis, unusual for non-conference rivals.
1. HOME-AND-HOME limits the basis for meeting.
1. Note: We use hyphens to connect words that work together to modify the noun.
3. PREDICATE ADJECTIVE:
This is a special type of adjective that follows a linking verb and modifies (directly refers to) the subject of the sentence.
[In the following examples, the predicate adjective is bold and the subject/noun is underlined.]
1. People are interested in this game.
1. ARE is a linking verb connecting the subject PEOPLE with its descriptor of equal weight INTERESTED.
1. Note: The descriptor is an adjective; therefore, it is a predicate adjective. A noun would be a
predicate nominative.
2. Watching the championship was fun.
1. WAS is a linking verb connecting the subject WATCHING with its descriptor of equal weight FUN.
1. Note: WATCHING is the form of a verb used as a noun—a gerund.
3. Don argues that cheering for a team can be nerve-wracking, too.
1. CAN BE is a linking verb connecting the subject CHEERING with its descriptor of equal weight NERVEWRACKING.
1. Note: CHEERING is the form of a verb used as a noun—a gerund.
4. If you're not careful, the whole group is going to judge you on what you do on this day.
1. ARE in the contraction YOU'RE is a linking verb connecting the subject YOU with its descriptor of equal
weight CAREFUL.
5. The two teams look very similar in the tempo that they play.
1. LOOK is a linking verb connecting the subject TEAMS with its descriptor of equal weight SIMILAR.
1. Note: TO BE is not the only linking verb.
6. Stan does not seem scared of them.
1. DOES SEEM is a linking verb connecting the subject STAN with its descriptor of equal weight SCARED.
4. VERBALS AS ADJECTIVES:
Two types of verbals can acts as adjectives. Participles are always adjectives and may end in EN, ED or ING. Infinitives
(TO+VERB) may act as adjectives, adverbs or nouns.
[In the following examples, the verbal is bold and the noun it modifies is underlined.]
1. Playing tough defense, both teams push the ball up the floor and score a lot of points.
1. PLAYING modifies or describes the subject TEAMS. It is not the verb for the subject, but rather it
describes the subject.
1. Note: PUSH and SCORE are the verbs for the subject TEAMS.
2. Connecticut, averaging 90.3 points, is winning by an average of 29.
1. AVERAGING describes CONNECTICUT. It is not the verb for the subject, but rather it describes the
subject.
1. Note: IS WINNING is the verb for the subject CONNECTICUT.
3. USC, shocked by a loss to OSU in its season opener, has little hope of going to the Rose Bowl.
1. SHOCKED describes USC. It is not the verb for the subject, but rather it describes the subject.
1. Note: HAS is the verb for the subject USC.
4. It will be an interesting game to watch.
1. TO WATCH modifies the predicate nominative GAME.
5. DEGREES OF ADJECTIVES
Adjectives are used to indicate levels, degrees of intensity or comparison
1. high ____ base
2. higher ____ comparative
3. highest ____ superlative
When comparing two things always use the comparative. For example in a comparison between two people the correct
usage would be: Bill is taller. Bill is the tallest would require that there be more than two people.
6. ARTICLES
Some sources identify the articles A, AN, THE as adjectives.
1. The tempo of the game could reflect a track meet more than a basketball game.
1. Note: Use "A" before words that begin with a consonant or consonant sounds.
2. Tennessee no longer has Chamique Holdsclaw, twice the national player of the year.
1. But the Lady Vols have an outstanding combination in Tamika Catchings, Semeka Randall and Kristen Clement.
1. Note: Us "An" before words that begin with a vowel or vowel sound
What are adjectives?
Definition of Adjective
Adjectives are describing words. Large, grey and friendly are all examples of adjectives. In the examples below, these adjectives are
used to describe an elephant.
Examples:
Large elephant
Grey elephant
Friendly elephant
Adjectives Modify Nouns
The word elephant is a noun. Adjectives are added to nouns to state what kind, what colour, which one or how many. Adjectives
are said to modify nouns and are necessary to make the meanings of sentences clearer or more exact.
Examples:
Follow the yellow cab.
(In this example, the adjective 'yellow' modifies the noun 'cab'.)
Craig caught another large bass.
(In this example, the adjective 'large' modifies the noun 'bass'.)
It is the girl with the pale face again.
The principal words should be in bold.
(Beware of the adjective 'principal' - see right)
The rusty nail he stood on was the cause of the infection.
Please put the old documents in the shredder.
There is an essential matter we need to discuss.
Peter guessed the right number.
Adjectives Modify Pronouns
Although less common, adjectives can also modify pronouns.
Examples:
It is a blue one.
(In this example, the adjective 'blue' modifies the pronoun 'one'.)
Only a brave few have received a recommendation.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ADJECTIVES
Adjectives are describing words. However, there are many other words that are classified
as adjectives, some of which do not fall easily under this description.
PERSONAL TITLES
Personal titles such Mr, Mrs, Auntie, Uncle, Dr and Lord are classified as adjectives when
they are attached to a name.
The day after tomorrow, you can visit Auntie Pauline and Uncle Joe.
The lecture on Friday will be presented by Dr Ingols and Prof. Munro.
POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES
Possessive adjectives are used to show possession. They are my, your, his, her, its, our and
their.
THE ARTICLES
The words a, an and the are known as articles and are classified as adjectives too. 'A' and
'an' are called the indefinite articles, as they do not indicate a specific noun; whereas, 'the'
is called the definite article, because it does point to a specific noun.
A cup (< any cup)
The cup (< a specific cup)
DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES
Demonstrative adjectives are used to demonstrate or indicate specific things. This, that,
these and those are all demonstrative adjectives.
If I hear that parrot again, I will call the RSPCA.
('That' is a demonstrative adjective. It refers to a specific parrot.)
Medals will only be given to those runners who complete the marathon in
less than 8 hours.
('Those' is a demonstrative adjective. It refers to specific people.)
INDEFINITE ADJECTIVES
Unlike demonstrative adjectives, which indicate specific items, indefinite adjectives do not
point out specific things. They are formed from indefinite pronouns. The most common
indefinite adjectives are no, any, many, few and several.
The chief has heard many people make the same promise.
(The indefinite adjective 'many' modifies the noun 'people'.)
According to a council spokesman, there are no wallabies left in Derbyshire.
However, over the past few months, many walkers have reported seeing
several adults with young.
(The indefinite adjectives in this example are no, few, many and several.)
NUMBERS
Numbers are classified as adjectives too.
Four dolphins stayed with the boat until dawn.
(The adjective 'four' modifies the noun 'dolphins'.)
All we could muster was 9 cans of beans.
(The adjective '9' modifies the noun 'cans'.)
Select the correct answer:
Q1 The park is by a smelly old river near the windmill. Which word is an
adjective?
a. smelly
b. windmill
c. river
Q2 I cannot reward such obvious incompetence. Which word is an adjective?
a. obvious
b. incompetence
c. reward
Q3 She has one brown eye and one blue one. Her lips are like rubies. Which
word is an adjective?
a. brown
b. rubies
c. lips
English Grammar
Adjectives
For example:The grey dog barked. (The adjective grey describes the noun "dog".)
The good news is that the form of an adjective does not change. It does not matter if the noun being modified is male or
female, singular or plural, subject or object.
Some adjectives give us factual information about the noun - age, size colour etc (fact adjectives - can't be argued with).
Some adjectives show what somebody thinks about something or somebody - nice, horrid, beautiful etc (opinion
adjectives - not everyone may agree).
If you are asked questions with which, whose, what kind, or how many, you need an adjective to be able to answer.
There are different types of adjectives in the English language:






Numeric: six, one hundred and one
Quantitative: more, all, some, half, more than enough
Qualitative: colour, size, smell etc.
Possessive: my, his, their, your
Interrogative: which, whose, what
Demonstrative: this, that, those, these
!Note - The articles a, an, and the and the possessives my, our, your, and their are also adjectives.
Opinion
Adjectives can be used to give your opinion about something.
good, pretty, right, wrong, funny, light, happy, sad, full, soft, hard etc.
For example:
He was a silly boy.
Size
Adjectives can be used to describe size.
big, small, little, long, tall, short, same as, etc.
For example:

"The big man." or "The big woman".
Age
Adjectives can be used to describe age.
For example:

"He was an old man." or "She was an old woman."
Shape
Adjectives can be used to describe shape.
round, circular, triangular, rectangular, square, oval, etc.
For example:

"It was a square box." or "They were square boxes."
Colour
Adjectives can be used to describe colour.
blue, red, green, brown, yellow, black, white, etc.
For example:

"The blue bag." or "The blue bags".
Origin
Adjectives can be used to describe origin.
For example:
"It was a German flag." or "They were German flags."
Material
Adjectives can be used to identify the material something is made of.

"A wooden cupboard." or "Wooden cupboards."
!Note - In English we often use a noun as an adjective. For example: glass - a glass vase / metal - a metal tray etc.
Distance
Adjectives can be used to describe distance. l -- o -- n -- g / short
long, short, far, around, start, high, low, etc.
For example:

"She went for a long walk." or "She went for lots of long walks."
Temperature
Adjectives can be used to describe temperature.
cold, warm, hot, cool, etc.
For example:

"The day was hot." or "The days were hot."
Time
Adjectives can be used to describe time.
late, early, bed, nap, dinner, lunch, day, morning, night, etc.
For example:

"She had an early start."
Purpose
Adjectives can be used to describe purpose. (These adjectives often end with "-ing".)
For example:

"She gave them a sleeping bag." or "She gave them sleeping bags."
!Note - In each case the adjective stays the same, whether it is describing a masculine, feminine, singular or plural noun.
When using more than one adjective to modify a noun, the adjectives may be separated by a conjunction (and) or by
commas (,).
For example:

"Her hair was long and blonde." or "She had long, blonde hair."
More examples:
Adjective
Pretty
Serious
Fast
Quiet
Example
She was a pretty girl.
He was a serious boy.
It was a fast car.
They were quiet children.
!Note - Adjectives that go immediately before the noun are called attributive adjectives.
Adjectives can also be used after some verbs. They do not describe the verb, adverbs do that. Adjectives after a verb
describe the subject of the verb (usually a noun or pronoun). They are called predicative adjectives.
For example:

"David looks tired." The subject (in this case David) is being described as tired not the verb to look.
There is also the adjective used to, which is explained her