What Are Adjectives

1. What Are Adjectives?

Definition: An adjective is a word that describes or clarifies a noun or pronoun by giving some information about an object's size, shape, number, age or colour.

The following are some examples:

  • It is a big chair.

  • He was wearing a red shirt.

  • There are nine rooms.

What is an adjective?

2. Types of adjectives:

In English, adjectives come in various types, each serving a specific purpose. Common types include descriptive adjectives (e.g., beautiful, blue), demonstrative adjectives (e.g., this, those), numerical adjectives (e.g., five, many), possessive adjectives (e.g., my, their), and interrogative adjectives (e.g., which, whose). These words help us provide more information about nouns, making our language richer and more precise.

2.1 Descriptive adjectives:

Descriptive adjectives are used to describe the nature of the noun. These adjectives are used to describe the size, colour or shape of the noun. Let's look at a few examples of Descriptive adjectives:

  • You should eat green vegetables.

  • London is a big city.

  • She is a beautiful woman.

  • She is very tired today.

2.2 Numeral adjectives:

Numeral adjectives are used to describe the number of a noun or pronoun. The following are some examples of numeral adjectives.

  • He has eaten five chocolates.

  • Many people came to visit the fair.

  • Most players practise with their coach.

  • They don't have much food.

Numeral adjectives are of two types:

2.2.1 Definite numeral adjectives:

Definite numeral adjectives are used to show the exact number of nouns. For example: one, two, three, first, second.

  • He ate two pizzas.

  • She got first prize in her class.

2.2.2 Indefinite numeral adjectives:

Indefinite numeral adjectives are used to show an inexact number of nouns. For example: some, much, any, few, many, most.

  • She bought some chocolates.

  • There are only a few chocolate left.

  • They don't have much money.

2.3 Demonstrative adjectives:

Demonstrative adjectives are used to indicate a particular noun or pronoun. The following are some examples of demonstrative adjectives.

  • That tall girl is his sister.

  • These flowers are beautiful.

  • I like those shoes.

  • This black car is mine.

2.4 Interrogative adjectives:

Interrogative adjectives are used to ask question about nouns or in relation to nouns. The following are some examples of interrogative adjectives.

  • What did you eat at school?

  • Which book is your favourite?

  • Whose pen is this?

  • Where did you buy this beautiful dress?

2.5 Possessive adjectives:

Possessive adjectives, like "my," "your," "his," "her," "its," "our," and "their," show ownership or possession of something. They are always used before a noun, helping us describe who something belongs to.

For example, "My book" shows that the book belongs to me. These adjectives make it clear and easy to understand ownership in sentences.

The following are some examples of possessive adjectives:

  • This is our house.

  • This is my book.

  • Your car is outside.

  • Her doll has long hair.

Singular Plural
my our
your your
his their
her their
its their

3. Comparative and Superlative Adjectives:

Comparative and superlative adjectives help us compare and describe things in relation to others.

The comparative form, such as "bigger" or "more interesting," compares two or more things. For instance, "The elephant is bigger than the lion."

The superlative form, like "biggest" or "most interesting," highlights the highest degree of a quality. For example, "Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world." These adjectives add depth and precision to our descriptions, making our language more expressive.

Let's explore them in detail:

3.1 Positive form:

We use the positive form of adjective to talk about only one person, place, or thing. The positive form is a normal form of an adjective. An adjective that does make a comparison is said to be in positive form. For example:

  • She is a beautiful girl.

  • This school is big.

3.2 Comparative form:

We use a comparative adjective to compare two things. A comparative adjective is followed by than. For example:

  • She is taller than her sister.

  • This doll is bigger than that one.

  • This dress is more beautiful than that one.

3.3 Superlative form:

We use this form of adjective to compare more than two things, places, or persons. We use the in this form. For example:

  • He is the most intelligent person in this family.

  • She is the oldest lady in this house.

  • Mary is the prettiest girl in her class.

4. List of Adjectives:

  • new

  • long

  • old

  • small

  • large

  • good

  • last

  • few

  • lazy

  • angry

  • heavy

  • new

  • red

  • green

  • clever

  • famous

  • kind

  • many

  • fat

  • loud

  • weak

  • wet

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See Also:

English Grammar:

Adjective Worksheets:

Physics:

Biology: