Descriptive Adjective: Types, Use, Order, Examples, & Exercises

A descriptive adjective is a word that describes or gives more information about a noun (people, places, things, or ideas) in a sentence. They help to paint a picture in your mind by telling you what something looks like, feels like, sounds like, or even tastes or smells like. Descriptive adjectives make our language more colorful and expressive.

For example, let’s take the noun “cat.” If we add a descriptive adjective like “fluffy” before the noun, we get “fluffy cat.” Now you can imagine a cat that has a lot of soft fur. Similarly, if we use the adjective “red” to describe the noun “apple,” we get “red apple,” and you can imagine an apple that is the color red.

Descriptive adjectives come in different types. Some describe qualities like size (big, small), color (blue, green), shape (round, square), or texture (smooth, rough). Others describe how things sound (loud, quiet), taste (sweet, sour), or smell (fragrant, pungent). These adjectives help us communicate specific details and create vivid descriptions.

By using descriptive adjectives, you can make your sentences more exciting and engaging. They allow you to express your thoughts and perceptions in a way that helps others understand and visualize what you’re talking about.

Descriptive adjectives are like colorful brushes that add details and richness to your sentences, making your writing or speech more explanatory and engaging.

Types of Descriptive Adjectives

Here are the various types of descriptive adjectives in simple terms:

1. Adjectives of Quality:

These adjectives describe the characteristics or qualities of a noun. They tell us what something or someone is like. For example, if we say someone is “brave,” we are describing their quality of being courageous. Other examples of adjectives of quality include “beautiful,” “smart,” “gentle,” and “honest.”

2. Adjectives of Size:

These adjectives describe the physical dimensions or magnitude of a noun. They tell us how big or small something is. For instance, if we say an object is “big,” we are indicating its large size. Examples of adjectives of size include “small,” “tiny,” “huge,” “massive,” and “minuscule.”

3. Adjectives of Shape:

These adjectives describe the form or contour of a noun. They tell us what shape something has. For example, if we say an object is “round,” we are describing its circular shape. Other examples of adjectives of shape include “square,” “triangular,” “oval,” and “rectangular.”

4. Adjectives of Color:

These adjectives describe the hue or color of a noun. They tell us what color something is. For instance, if we say a flower is “red,” we are indicating its color. Examples of adjectives of color include “blue,” “green,” “yellow,” “orange,” and “purple.”

5. Adjectives of Texture:

These adjectives describe the tactile quality or feel of a noun. They tell us what something feels like to touch. For example, if we say a fabric is “smooth,” we are describing its texture. Other examples of adjectives of texture include “rough,” “soft,” “coarse,” and “prickly.”

6. Adjectives of Sound:

These adjectives describe the auditory characteristics or sound of a noun. They tell us what something sounds like. For instance, if we say a sound is “loud,” we are indicating its high volume. Examples of adjectives of sound include “quiet,” “melodious,” “noisy,” “harmonious,” and “shrill.”

7. Adjectives of Taste:

These adjectives describe the flavor or taste of a noun. They tell us what something tastes like. For example, if we say a dish is “sweet,” we are describing its taste. Other examples of adjectives of taste include “sour,” “spicy,” “bitter,” and “savory.”

8. Adjectives of Smell:

These adjectives describe the odor or scent of a noun. They tell us what something smells like. For instance, if we say a flower is “fragrant,” we are indicating its pleasant smell. Examples of adjectives of smell include “odorous,” “aromatic,” “stinky,” “fresh,” and “pungent.”

How to Use a Descriptive Adjective in a Sentence?

Here is a detailed explanation of using descriptive adjectives in sentences.

1. Placement of Descriptive Adjectives:

Descriptive adjectives usually come before the noun they describe. They provide information about the noun, giving it more detail or describing its qualities. For example:

• The beautiful sunset painted the sky with vibrant colors.
• She wore a soft sweater on a chilly day.
• He bought a large pizza for the party.

2. Multiple Descriptive Adjectives:

When using multiple descriptive adjectives to describe a noun, they usually follow a specific order. The order is generally: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, and purpose. However, not all adjectives will fit into this order, and sometimes the order can be flexible. Here’s an example:

• She has a lovely little old round wooden table in her room.

3. Comparative and Superlative Forms:

Descriptive adjectives have comparative and superlative forms to compare or show the highest degree of quality. Here’s an example:

• This book is interesting, but that one is more interesting.
• Among all the students, John is the smartest.

4. Using Descriptive Adjectives in Different Contexts:

Descriptive adjectives can be used to describe people, objects, places, emotions, and more. Here are some examples in different contexts:

• People: She has curly hair and blue eyes.
• Objects: The shiny silver necklace caught her attention.
• Places: They visited a picturesque village nestled in the mountains.
• Emotions: He felt excited about the upcoming trip.

Descriptive Adjectives in Different Contexts

Descriptive adjectives are versatile and can be used in various contexts to provide detailed descriptions. Here are some examples of using descriptive adjectives in different contexts:

Describing People:

• She has long blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes.
• He is a tall and athletic basketball player.
• The old man had a wise and wrinkled face.

Describing Objects:

• The shiny silver car zoomed down the street.
• I received a delicious slice of homemade apple pie.
• The soft velvet cushion added comfort to the couch.

Describing Places:

• They visited a breathtaking mountain peak with majestic views.
• The beach was covered in warm golden sand and crystal-clear water.
• The city’s skyline was dominated by tall and glittering skyscrapers.

Describing Emotions and Feelings:

• She felt joyful and excited on her birthday.
• The movie left me feeling sad and heartbroken.
• He was anxious and nervous before the important exam.

Describing Actions and Behaviors:

• The energetic dog chased its tail around the yard.
• The careful driver followed all the traffic rules.
• The speaker delivered a passionate and inspiring speech.

Describing Nature:

• The vibrant flowers bloomed in the garden.
• The mighty waterfall created a spectacular sight.
• The gentle breeze rustled the leaves on the trees.

Commonly Used Descriptive Adjectives

Here are some commonly used descriptive adjectives that you can incorporate into your writing or speech:

Positive Descriptive Adjectives:

• Beautiful
• Smart
• Kind
• Brave
• Talented
• Joyful
• Generous
• Confident
• Honest
• Creative

Negative Descriptive Adjectives:

• Ugly
• Stupid
• Cruel
• Cowardly
• Incompetent
• Miserable
• Selfish
• Arrogant
• Dishonest
• Dull

Descriptive Adjectives for Appearance:

• Attractive
• Elegant
• Handsome
• Gorgeous
• Charming
• Stylish
• Stunning
• Striking
• Radiant
• Dashing

Descriptive Adjectives for Personality Traits:

• Friendly
• Caring
• Funny
• Loyal
• Optimistic
• Sincere
• Compassionate
• Energetic
• Reliable
• Patient

Descriptive Adjectives for Intelligence:

• Intelligent
• Knowledgeable
• Wise
• Brilliant
• Sharp
• Quick-witted
• Analytical
• Perceptive
• Inventive
• Resourceful

Descriptive Adjectives for Emotions:

• Happy
• Sad
• Excited
• Anxious
• Angry
• Fearful
• Surprised
• Content
• Grateful
• Enthusiastic

Descriptive Adjectives for Size:

• Big
• Small
• Large
• Tiny
• Massive
• Compact
• Gigantic
• Petite
• Huge
• Minuscule

Descriptive Adjectives for Color:

• Red
• Blue
• Green
• Yellow
• Orange
• Purple
• Pink
• Black
• White
• Gray

Use them in sentences

Here are some sentences using the commonly used descriptive adjectives:

Positive Descriptive Adjectives:

• She is a beautiful singer with a powerful voice.
• The smart student aced the exam with his impressive knowledge.
• He showed a kind gesture by helping the elderly woman carry her groceries.
• The brave firefighter rescued the cat from the burning building.
• The talented artist created a captivating masterpiece.

Negative Descriptive Adjectives:

• The old house had an ugly and dilapidated appearance.
• The stupid mistake cost him the opportunity of a lifetime.
• Her cruel words deeply hurt his feelings.
• The incompetent employee consistently made errors in his work.
• He felt miserable after the breakup and sought solace in solitude.

Descriptive Adjectives for Appearance:

• The actress wore an attractive dress that highlighted her features.
• He looked handsome in his well-tailored suit and tie.
• The sunset painted the sky with gorgeous hues of orange and pink.
• The model had a striking and unique look that turned heads.
• She carried herself with an elegant grace that caught everyone’s attention.

Descriptive Adjectives for Personality Traits:

• He is a friendly and approachable person who easily makes friends.
• Her caring nature is evident in the way she treats others with kindness.
• His funny jokes always bring laughter to the room.
• The dog’s loyal and devoted nature made it the perfect companion.
• She has an optimistic outlook on life, always finding the silver lining.

Descriptive Adjectives for Intelligence:

• The professor is an intelligent scholar who has published numerous research papers.
• Her knowledgeable insights on the subject impressed the audience.
• The wise elder offered valuable advice based on years of experience.
• The brilliant scientist made groundbreaking discoveries in the field.
• His quick-witted responses left everyone in awe of his intellect.

Order of Multiple Descriptive Adjectives

When using multiple descriptive adjectives in a sentence, there is a general order in which they are arranged. While not all adjectives will fit into this order, following it can help create more natural and coherent sentences. The typical order of multiple descriptive adjectives is as follows:

1. Opinion or Evaluation: Start with an adjective that expresses your opinion or evaluation of the noun.
2. Size or Quantity: Follow with adjectives that describe the size or quantity of the noun.
3. Age: If applicable, include adjectives that indicate the age of the noun.
4. Shape: Describe the shape of the noun with appropriate adjectives.
5. Color: Specify the color of the noun using descriptive adjectives.
6. Origin or Nationality: If relevant, include adjectives that denote the origin or nationality of the noun.
7. Material: Use adjectives to indicate the material of which the noun is made.
8. Purpose: Finally, include adjectives that describe the purpose or function of the noun.

Examples

Order = Opinion or Evaluation – Size or Quantity – Age – Shape – Color – Origin or Nationality – Material – Purpose

• She has a lovely, old, round, wooden table in her dining room.

In this example, we have multiple descriptive adjectives: “lovely” (opinion), “old” (age), “round” (shape), and “wooden” (material). They are arranged in the order: opinion – age – shape – material.

• He wore a dapper, tall, dark-haired, handsome stranger.

Here, we have multiple descriptive adjectives: “dapper” (opinion), “tall” (size), “dark-haired” (color), and “handsome” (opinion). They are arranged in the order: opinion – size – color – opinion.

• They visited a picturesque, quaint, coastal, Italian village.

In this sentence, we have multiple descriptive adjectives: “picturesque” (opinion), “quaint” (opinion), “coastal” (origin), and “Italian” (origin). They are arranged in the order: opinion – opinion – origin – origin.

• The fierce, roaring, mighty, waterfall cascaded down the rocks.

Here, we have multiple descriptive adjectives: “fierce” (opinion), “roaring” (opinion), “mighty” (opinion), and “waterfall” (noun). They are arranged in the order: opinion – opinion – opinion – noun.

• I saw a small, adorable, fluffy, white puppy in the park.

In this example, we have multiple descriptive adjectives: “small” (size), “adorable” (opinion), “fluffy” (texture), and “white” (color). They are arranged in the order: size – opinion – texture – color.

Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with suitable descriptive adjectives.

• The ___________ sunset painted the sky with shades of orange and pink.
• She was wearing a ___________ dress that caught everyone’s attention.
• I met a ___________ person who was incredibly kind and helpful.
• The ___________ cat curled up on the cozy ___________ rug.
• He told a ___________ story that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.

Answers:

• vibrant
• stunning
• remarkable
• fluffy, soft
• captivating

Exercise 2: Rearrange the descriptive adjectives in the correct order in the following sentences.

• He bought a new red Italian car.
• She received a beautiful bouquet of fresh fragrant flowers.
• They live in a big modern house near the peaceful lake.
• I saw a small round metal object on the shiny wooden table.

Answers:

• He bought an Italian red new car.
• She received a fragrant fresh beautiful bouquet of flowers.
• They live in a modern big house near the peaceful lake.
• I saw a shiny small round metal object on the wooden table.

Exercise 3: Describe the following nouns using multiple descriptive adjectives.

• Mountain
• Book
• Beach
• Teacher
• Cake

Answers:

• Majestic snow-capped mountain
• Thick old hardcover book
• Sandy sunny beach
• Knowledgeable experienced teacher
• Delicious moist chocolate cake

Also, read:

• Linking Verbs
• Predicative Adjective
• Attributive Adjective
• Who vs Whom

Online resources:

• 515 Descriptive Adjectives to Describe Everything in English! – 7ESL