An adjective is a word that modifies or describes a noun or a pronoun. It provides more information about the noun's qualities, quantity, or state.
Consider the sentence:
The cat jumped onto the table.
This is a simple sentence, but we can make it more descriptive by adding adjectives:
The fluffy cat jumped onto the small wooden table.
Fluffy is an adjective describing the noun cat (What kind of cat?).
Small is an adjective describing the noun table (What kind of table?).
Wooden is an adjective describing the noun table (What kind of table?).
The adjectives fluffy, small, and wooden enrich the sentence, giving a clearer picture of the objects being discussed.
The core reason we use adjectives is to make our language more precise, descriptive, and engaging. They transform simple, generic statements into vivid, specific images.
Why Do We Use Adjectives ?
We use adjectives primarily to modify or qualify nouns and pronouns, serving several important functions:
1. To Add Specificity and Clarity
Adjectives prevent ambiguity by narrowing down the identity of the noun.
Without Adjective: I see a house. (It could be any house.)
With Adjective: I see a Victorian house.
Point: The adjective Victorian makes it clear which type of house is being discussed.
2. To Provide Sensory and Emotional Detail
Adjectives help the audience experience the scene or subject with their senses or understand its emotional state.
Without Adjective: The food tasted bad.
With Adjective: The food tasted bitter and sour.
Point: Bitter and sour appeal to the sense of taste, making the description more vivid and informative.
3. To Quantify or Number Nouns
Adjectives communicate an exact or approximate amount, which is essential for factual information.
Without Adjective: Students attended the lecture.
With Adjective: Fifty students attended the lecture.
Point: The adjective Fifty provides the crucial numerical information (How many?). Other quantifying adjectives like many or few can also be used.
4. To Express Opinion or Judgment
We use adjectives to convey a subjective viewpoint or assessment of a noun.
Without Adjective: The movie was long.
With Adjective: The movie was boring and overrated.
Point: Boring and overrated express the speaker's negative judgment or opinion about the movie.
5. To Identify Ownership or Relationship
Possessive adjectives tell us who a noun belongs to.
Without Adjective: The book is on the desk.
With Adjective: My book is on her desk.
Point: My and her define the possessive relationship of the book and the desk, clearly indicating who owns them.
In essence, adjectives are vital tools for enriching language and ensuring effective communication by adding necessary texture, scale, and feeling to the core subjects (nouns) of a sentence.
7 Essential Kinds of Adjectives for Writers
1. Descriptive Adjectives (Adjectives of Quality)
These are the most common adjectives. They describe the characteristics or qualities of a noun (e.g., color, size, taste, feel, appearance).
Function: Describes a quality, color, or feeling.
Example Word: Ancient, smooth, happy, crimson, jubilant.
Example Sentence: She lives in an ancient castle. The crimson sunset was breathtaking. The jubilant crowd cheered loudly.
2. Quantitative Adjectives
These adjectives describe the amount or quantity of a noun. They answer the question, "How much?" or "How many?"
Function: Indicates an exact number, indefinite amount, or uncountable amount.
Example Word: Two, first, many, few, enough, little.
Example Sentence: I own two dogs. Several people arrived late. There is enough food for everyone.
3. Demonstrative Adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives are used to point out specific nouns. They clarify "Which one?" or "Which ones?" They must precede a noun.
Function: Points to specific items (near or far, singular or plural).
Example Word: This, that, these, those.
Example Sentence: This phone is mine. That building is very old. These shoes are comfortable.
4. Possessive Adjectives
These adjectives show ownership or possession. They always appear before the noun they modify.
Function: Shows who owns or possesses the noun.
Example Word: My, your, his, her, our, their, its.
Example Sentence: My car is parked in your driveway. Their house is being renovated.
5. Interrogative Adjectives
Used to ask questions about a noun. The interrogative word must be immediately followed by the noun it is modifying.
Function: Used in conjunction with a noun to form a question.
Example Word: Which, what, whose.
Example Sentence: Which book are you reading? What color should we paint the room? Whose jacket is on the chair?
6. Proper Adjectives
Proper adjectives are formed from Proper Nouns (names of specific people, places, or organizations) and must always be capitalized.
Function: Modifies a noun using a proper name.
Example Word: Italian (from Italy), Shakespearean (from Shakespeare), Darwinian (from Darwin).
Example Sentence: I love Italian food. She studies Darwinian evolution.
7. Distributive Adjectives
These adjectives refer to individual members within a group, emphasizing that the noun is being considered one at a time.
Function: Refers to members of a group individually.
Example Word: Every, each, either, neither.
Example Sentence: Every student must submit an assignment. Each person contributed a dish.
The Degrees of Comparison
Adjectives are essential for description, but they also allow us to compare things directly. The Degrees of Comparison refer to the three forms an adjective takes to show the intensity or extent of a quality when comparing one, two, or more items. Mastering these degrees is key to writing accurate and fluent comparative sentences.
The Three Degrees are:
1. Positive Degree
The Positive Degree is the adjective in its simplest form. It is used when you are simply describing a single person, place, or thing, without making any comparisons.
Function: Simply states the existence of a quality.
Form: The base word (e.g., tall, beautiful, big).
Example: "The ancient castle is tall." (It describes the castle, no comparison is made.)
2. Comparative Degree
The Comparative Degree is used when you are comparing two items, people, or groups.
Function: Compares the quality between two subjects.
Form: Usually created by adding -er to the positive form (for short words) or using the word more (for longer words). It is often followed by the word than.
Example: "This modern building is taller than the castle." (Compares the height of two buildings.)
Example: "The sunset today was more beautiful than yesterday's." (Compares the beauty of two sunsets.)
3. Superlative Degree
The Superlative Degree is used when you are comparing three or more items, people, or groups to show which one possesses the highest or lowest degree of the quality.
Function: Identifies the subject that has the most (or least) of the quality among several others.
Form: Usually created by adding -est to the positive form (for short words) or using the word most (for longer words). It is almost always preceded by the definite article the.
Example: "That skyscraper is the tallest building in the city." (Compares the height among all buildings in the city.)
Example: "She is the most brilliant student in the entire class." (Compares brilliance among three or more students.)
1. One-Syllable Adjectives
For adjectives with only one syllable, we typically add suffixes to form the comparative and superlative degrees.
Comparative: Add -er.
Example: Tall ➡️ taller; Old ➡️ older; Fast ➡️ faster.
Superlative: Add -est.
Example: Tall ➡️ tallest; Old ➡️oldest; Fast ➡️ fastest.
Special Cases for One-Syllable Adjectives:
If the word ends in -e (like large), just add -r for the comparative and -st for the superlative (e.g., large ➡️ larger, largest).
If the word ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern (like big), double the final consonant before adding the suffix (e.g., big ➡️ bigger, biggest).
2. Two-Syllable Adjectives
For adjectives with two syllables, there's a split rule, and sometimes both forms are acceptable.
Rule A (Add Suffixes): If the word ends in -y, change the 'y' to -i and then add -er or -est.
Examples: happy ➡️ happier ➡️ happiest; easy ➡️ easier ➡️ easiest.
Rule B (Use Modifiers): For many other two-syllable adjectives, it often sounds more natural to use the words more and most before the adjective.
* Examples: helpful ➡️ more helpful ➡️ most helpful; famous ➡️ more famous ➡️ most famous.
3. Three or More Syllable Adjectives
For all adjectives with three or more syllables, we never use the suffixes -er or -est. Instead, we use separate modifying words.
Comparative: Use the word more before the adjective.
Example: Beautiful ➡️ more beautiful; Difficult ➡️ more difficult.
Superlative: Use the word most before the adjective.
Example: Beautiful ➡️ most beautiful; Difficult ➡️ most difficult.
Irregular Adjectives: The Exceptions
Since not all adjectives follow the simple -er or -est rules, we have to learn a few irregular adjectives.
These words change completely in the comparative and superlative degrees, so you simply have to memorize them.
Common Irregular Forms
Good becomes better (Comparative) and best (Superlative).
Bad becomes worse (Comparative) and worst (Superlative).
Many / Much becomes more (Comparative) and most (Superlative).
Little becomes less (Comparative) and least (Superlative).
Far becomes farther / further (Comparative) and farthest / furthest (Superlative).
Examples in Sentences
Good / Better / Best
Positive: This apple is good.
Comparative: That apple is better than this one.
Superlative: That is the best apple I've ever eaten.
Bad / Worse / Worst
Positive: The storm was bad.
Comparative: The second storm was worse than the first.
Superlative: We hope that the next storm isn't the worst one yet.
Far / Farther / Farthest
Note: Farther/Farthest is typically used for physical distance. Further/Furthest is usually used for abstract distance or quantity (e.g., further discussion).
Physical: My house is farther from the store than yours.
Abstract: We need to do some further investigation.
The position of an adjective in a sentence, which determines its grammatical function, generally falls into three main categories: attributive, predicative, and postpositive.
Three Positions of Adjectives
1. Attributive Position (Before the Noun)
This is the most common position. The adjective is placed directly before the noun it modifies within the noun phrase.
Function: Directly describes or limits the noun.
Format: Adjective ➡️ Noun
Examples:
The red car sped past.
She held a heavy box.
We need a different approach.
2. Predicative Position (After a Linking Verb)
In this position, the adjective is separated from the noun (or pronoun) it modifies by a linking verb (such as is, are, was, were, seems, tastes, feels, becomes, etc.). It functions as a subject complement.
Function: Describes the subject of the sentence via the linking verb.
Format: Noun ➡️ Linking Verb ➡️ Adjective
Examples:
The car is red.
The box seemed heavy.
The soup tastes delicious.
3. Postpositive Position (After the Noun)
In this less common position, the adjective is placed immediately after the noun it modifies. This position is usually reserved for specific grammatical constructions.
Function: Often used for certain fixed phrases, when the adjective modifies an indefinite pronoun, or in formal/literary language.
Format: Noun ➡️ Adjective
Examples:
Fixed Phrases: I'm looking for something special.
Legal/Formal Titles: The President elect.
Indefinite Pronouns: He has nothing important to do.
Key Takeaway
Most adjectives can be used in both the attributive (before the noun) and predicative (after a linking verb) positions. However, a small number of adjectives are restricted to only one of these positions (e.g., main is only attributive; afraid is only predicative).
Adjectives Restricted to the Predicative Position
These adjectives are sometimes called predicative-only adjectives or non-attributive adjectives. They must follow a linking verb (like is, seems, became) and can never be placed directly before the noun.
Afraid (Meaning: Feeling fear)
Correct Use: The child was afraid of the dark.
Incorrect Use: ❌ The afraid child ran away.
Asleep (Meaning: In a state of sleep)
Correct Use: The baby is soundly asleep.
Incorrect Use: ❌ The asleep baby lay still.
Alike (Meaning: Similar to)
Correct Use: The twins look exactly alike.
Incorrect Use: ❌ The alike twins went home.
Alone (Meaning: Without company)
Correct Use: She felt alone in the large city.
Incorrect Use: ❌ The alone woman sat down.
Aware (Meaning: Having knowledge of)
Correct Use: We were aware of the danger.
Incorrect Use: ❌ The aware person spoke up.
Content (Meaning: Satisfied)
Correct Use: He seemed perfectly content with his score.
Incorrect Use: ❌ The content man smiled.
Key Point: You can often tell if an adjective is restricted this way if it begins with the letter 'a' (like afraid, awake, alone), as many of these words originally derived from the Old English word on or at.
The explanation of adjective formation using suffixes and prefixes:
🅰️ Adjective Formation with Suffixes
A suffix is added to the end of a word, often converting a noun or verb into an adjective, which changes the word's part of speech.
-ful (Meaning: Full of; notable for)
Base Word: Beauty (Noun) ➡️ Beautiful
Example: A beautiful garden.
-able / -ible (Meaning: Capable of; worthy of)
Base Word: Read (Verb) ➡️ Readable
Example: The instructions are readable.
-less (Meaning: Without)
Base Word: Care (Noun) ➡️ Careless
Example: A careless mistake.
-y (Meaning: Characterized by)
Base Word: Cloud (Noun) ➡️ Cloudy
Example: It was a cloudy day.
-ous (Meaning: Full of; relating to)
Base Word: Fame (Noun) ➡️ Famous
Example: A famous singer.
-al (Meaning: Pertaining to)
Base Word: Nature (Noun) ➡️ Natural
Example: The natural world.
-ic (Meaning: Characteristic of)
Base Word: Athlete (Noun) ➡️ Athletic
Example: An athletic body.
Adjective Formation with Prefixes
A prefix is added to the beginning of a word. When forming adjectives, prefixes primarily change the meaning of an existing adjective, often creating the negative or opposite form.
un- (Meaning: Not; opposite of)
Base Word: Happy (Adjective) ➡️ Unhappy
Example: The unhappy client.
in- / im- / il- / ir- (Meaning: Not; opposite of)
Base Word: Possible (Adjective) \rightarrow Impossible
Example: The task was impossible.
dis- (Meaning: Not; opposite of)
Base Word: Honest (Adjective) ➡️ Dishonest
Example: A dishonest answer.
non- (Meaning: Not; lacking)
Base Word: Stop (Verb) ➡️ Non-stop
Example: A non-stop flight.
pre- (Meaning: Before)
Base Word: Historic (Adjective) ➡️ Prehistoric
Example: Prehistoric creatures.
Common Mistakes with Adjectives
1. Confusing Adjectives and Adverbs
This is the most frequent error.
Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns (e.g., a quick jog), while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (e.g., she jogged quickly). People often incorrectly use the adjective form when an adverb is needed to describe an action.
❌ Mistake: She sings good.
Why it's wrong: Good is an adjective. It should modify a noun (like voice).
✅ Correction: She sings well.
Explanation: Well is the adverb that modifies the verb sings.
❌ Mistake: Drive slow on this road.
Why it's wrong: Slow is an adjective.
✅ Correction: Drive slowly on this road. (Though slow is sometimes accepted as a flat adverb, slowly is safer for formal writing.)
Explanation: Slowly is the adverb that modifies the verb Drive.
2. Double Negatives with Adjectives
This mistake involves using a negative word (like not or never) along with an adjective that already expresses a negative idea (like hardly, scarcely, or barely). This creates a confusing double negative.
❌ Mistake: He didn't have no money left.
Why it's wrong: Didn't and no are both negatives.
✅ Correction: He didn't have any money left. OR He had no money left.
❌ Mistake: They couldn't hardly hear the music.
Why it's wrong: Couldn't and hardly (meaning "almost not") are both negatives.
✅ Correction: They could hardly hear the music.
3. Misusing Comparative and Superlative Forms
Comparative adjectives (like taller, more interesting) compare two things. Superlative adjectives (like tallest, most interesting) compare three or more things.
A. Comparing More Than Two Things with a Comparative
❌ Mistake: Of the three cakes, the chocolate one is the better.
Why it's wrong: Better compares two. You are comparing three.
✅ Correction: Of the three cakes, the chocolate one is the best.
B. Using Two Ways to Form the Comparative/Superlative
You should only use one method: either adding -er/-est OR using more/most, but not both together.
❌ Mistake (Comparative): The movie was more funnier than the book.
✅ Correction (Comparative): The movie was funnier than the book.
❌ Mistake (Superlative): That was the most saddest story I've ever heard.
✅ Correction (Superlative): That was the saddest story I've ever heard.
4. Incorrectly Modifying "Absolute" Adjectives
Absolute adjectives describe qualities that are all-or-nothing and cannot be graded. Words like unique, perfect, dead, and impossible are examples. You can't be "more dead" or "very unique."
❌ Mistake: Her design was the most unique in the class.
Why it's wrong: Unique means "one of a kind."
✅ Correction: Her design was unique in the class. OR Her design was the most unusual in the class.
❌ Mistake: Your solution is very perfect.
Why it's wrong: Perfect means "flawless."
✅ Correction: Your solution is perfect. OR Your solution is nearly perfect.
Key Takeaway
Always remember that adjectives are dedicated to describing things (nouns). If you are describing an action (a verb), you almost always need an adverb (the -ly form).
Quick Recap: Adjectives at a Glance
Definition and Function
An adjective is a word that modifies (describes, quantifies, or specifies) a noun or pronoun.
Adjectives answer questions like: What kind?, How many?, and Which one?.
The 7 Essential Kinds
Descriptive: Describes qualities (e.g., happy, blue, rough).
Quantitative: Shows amount (e.g., three, many, enough).
Demonstrative: Points out specific items (e.g., this, those).
Possessive: Shows ownership (e.g., my, their).
Interrogative: Asks questions (e.g., which, whose).
Proper: Formed from proper nouns (e.g., French, American).
Distributive: Refers to individual members of a group (e.g., each, every).
Degrees of Comparison
Positive: Base form (e.g., cold).
Comparative: Compares two things (e.g., colder or more difficult).
Superlative: Compares three or more things (e.g., coldest or most difficult).
Important Points to Remember
Placement is Key (Attributive vs. Predicative): Most adjectives go before the noun (attributive: a green light), but they can also follow a linking verb (predicative: The light is green).
Memorize the Irregulars: Don't forget the common irregular forms that don't follow the suffix rules! (e.g., good ➡️better ➡️ best; bad ➡️ worse ➡️ worst).
Use Affixes to Create Adjectives: You can expand your vocabulary by adding common suffixes (-ful, -less, -y) or prefixes (un-, im-, dis-) to other parts of speech.
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