Adjective in English: Meaning, Types, Examples, and Lists

An adjective gives more information about a noun and helps us understand what the noun is like or how it behaves. Discover how adjectives function in a sentence with their types, forms, and examples.

What is an adjective?

An adjective is a word that describes or gives more information about a noun (a person, place, thing, or idea). It helps us understand what the noun is like or how it behaves. Adjectives can tell us about the size, shape, color, age, number, or qualities of a noun.

For example, if we have the noun “cat,” an adjective can be used to describe it further. We can say “the fluffy cat” to show that the cat has a lot of soft fur. Or we can say “the small cat” to indicate that the cat is not very big in size.

What is the role of adjectives?

• Adjectives describe or give more information about nouns.
• They help us understand what a noun is like or how it behaves.
• Adjectives can describe the size, shape, color, age, number, or qualities of a noun.
• They make our sentences more interesting and engaging.
• Adjectives add details and help us paint a clearer picture in our minds.
• They make our writing or speech more descriptive and expressive.
• Adjectives help us compare things by showing differences or similarities.
• They allow us to express our opinions and emotions about nouns.
• Adjectives enhance our communication by making it more vivid and precise.
• They enable us to create imagery and evoke sensory experiences.

The function of adjectives in a sentence

Adjectives have an important function in a sentence. Here’s how they function:

1. Describing Appearance: Adjectives can describe how something or someone looks. For example, “The tall tree” tells us about the height of the tree.

2. Showing Color: Adjectives can indicate the color of a noun. For instance, “The red ball” tells us that the ball is the color red.

3. Expressing Size: Adjectives can tell us about the size of a noun. For example, “The small dog” lets us know that the dog is not very big.

4. Sharing Qualities: Adjectives help us understand the qualities or characteristics of a noun. For instance, “The friendly cat” informs us that the cat is kind and likes to interact with people.

5. Comparing Things: Adjectives allow us to compare nouns, showing differences or similarities. For example, “The faster car” implies that one car is quicker than another.

6. Giving Opinions: Adjectives enable us to express our opinions or feelings about a noun. For instance, “The delicious pizza” indicates that we think the pizza tastes really good.

7. Providing Additional Details: Adjectives add more details to a noun, making our sentences richer and more descriptive. For example, “The old, wooden house” provides additional information about the house being both aged and made of wood.

Examples of sentences with adjectives

The big, blue balloon floated in the sky.

Explanation: “Big” and “blue” are adjectives describing the balloon. “big” tells us about its size, while “blue” tells us about its color.

She wore a beautiful, flowing dress to the party.

Explanation: “Beautiful” and “flowing” are adjectives describing the dress. “Beautiful” expresses our opinion about its appearance, while “flowing” tells us how the dress moves or flows.

The old man lived in a small, cozy cottage.

Explanation: “Old” describes the man, conveying his age. “Small” describes the size of the cottage, while “cozy” describes its comfortable and warm atmosphere.

The brave firefighter rushed into the burning building to save lives.

Explanation: “Brave” describes the quality of the firefighter, emphasizing their courage. This adjective highlights their willingness to face danger and protect others.

The adorable puppy wagged its tail and licked my face.

Explanation: “Adorable” expresses our opinion about the puppy’s cuteness. These adjectives help convey the playful and affectionate behavior of the puppy.

Types of Adjectives

Here are some types of adjectives along with examples:

1. Descriptive Adjectives

These adjectives describe the qualities, characteristics, or attributes of a noun.

Examples:

• The tall tree swayed in the wind.
• She wore a red dress to the party.
• The delicious pizza satisfied my hunger.

2. Comparative Adjectives

These adjectives are used to compare two things or people, indicating the superiority, equality, or inferiority of one over the other.

Examples:

• The elephant is larger than the dog.
• Her house is as beautiful as mine.
• This book is less interesting than the previous one.

3. Possessive Adjectives

These adjectives show ownership or possession.

Examples:

• My dog is playful.
• His book is on the table.
• Our house is located near the park.

4. Demonstrative Adjectives

These adjectives point out or indicate specific nouns.

Examples:

• This car is mine.
• That house is for sale.
• These cookies are delicious.

5. Quantitative Adjectives

These adjectives indicate the quantity or number of a noun.

Examples:

• I have many books on my shelf.
• There are few students in the classroom.
• She bought several apples from the market.

6. Interrogative Adjectives

These adjectives are used to ask questions about a noun.

Examples:

• Which book do you prefer?
• Whose pencil is this?
• What color is your car?

7. Indefinite Adjectives

These adjectives refer to non-specific or unspecified nouns.

Examples:

• Many people attended the event.
• Few cars were parked in the lot.
• Several students raised their hands.

8. Distributive Adjectives

These adjectives refer to individual items or people within a group.

Examples:

• Each student received a certificate.
• Every child was excited to go to the zoo.
• Either path will lead you to the destination.

9. Compound Adjectives

These adjectives are formed by combining two or more words to describe a noun.

Examples:

• The black-and-white photograph reminded me of old times.
• It was a heart-warming, tear-jerking movie.
• He has a part-time job in a fast-food restaurant.

10. Numeral Adjectives

These adjectives indicate the exact number or order of a noun.

Examples:

• I have two cats.
• This is the first time I’ve been here.
• We need five chairs for the meeting.

List of some adjectives

Here’s a list of some common adjectives:

• Happy: happy person
• Sad: sad movie
• Brave: brave firefighter
• Shiny: shiny new car
• Big: big elephant
• Small: small kitten
• Beautiful: beautiful sunset
• Ugly: ugly sweater
• Clever: clever detective
• Funny: funny jokes
• Fast: fast cheetah

Forms of adjectives

Here are the various forms of adjectives along with examples:

1. Positive Form

This is the basic form of an adjective used to describe a noun without making any comparisons.

Example:

She is a tall girl.

Explanation: “Tall” is in its positive form, simply describing the girl’s height without comparing it to anyone else.

2. Comparative Form

This form is used to compare two nouns, indicating that one has a higher or lower degree of quality than the other.

Example:

John is taller than Peter.

Explanation: “Taller” is the comparative form of the adjective “tall,” comparing John’s height to Peter’s.

3. Superlative Form

This form is used to compare three or more nouns, indicating that one has the highest or lowest degree of quality among them.

Example:

Lisa is the tallest girl in the class.

Explanation: “Tallest” is the superlative form of the adjective “tall,” indicating that Lisa has the highest height among all the girls in the class.

Frequently Asked Questions on Adjectives

Also, read:

• Distributive Pronoun
• Indefinite Pronoun
• Interrogative Pronoun
• Demonstrative Pronoun
• Reflexive Pronoun
• Placement of Adjectives
• List of Adjectives with Articles
• Agreement of Adjectives

Some online resources:

• Adjective Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster
• What Is an Adjective? Usage and Examples – Grammarly
• ADJECTIVE | English meaning – Cambridge Dictionary