Formation of Adjectives: From Nouns, Verbs With Examples

Ever wondered how simple words like “happy” become “happier” or “happiness”? In this article, we’ll explore the enchanting process of the formation of adjectives, from adding tiny letters to combining words with a dash of creativity. Get ready to discover the secrets behind these descriptive wonders that make our language so colorful and expressive!

Formation of Adjectives

Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns, giving more information about their qualities, characteristics, or attributes. Here’s an index outlining the various ways adjectives are formed in English:

• Base Words: Most adjectives are formed from base words without any additional suffixes or prefixes.
• Adjective Suffixes: Many adjectives are formed by adding specific suffixes to nouns, verbs, or other adjectives.
• Adjective Prefixes: Some adjectives are formed by adding prefixes to base words.
• Compound Adjectives: Adjectives can be formed by combining two or more words with a hyphen to create a single descriptive term.
• Proper Noun Adjectives: Some adjectives are derived from proper nouns to describe the origin or characteristics of a specific place or person.

Base Words

Adjectives are often formed from base words without any additional suffix or prefix through a straightforward process of using the base word as-is to describe nouns. These base words already possess inherent qualities or attributes, making them suitable for direct use as adjectives. For example:

• Sunshine: The noun “sun” can be directly used as an adjective to describe a “sunshine day.”
• Stone: The noun “stone” can function as an adjective in the phrase “stone wall.”
• Coffee: The noun “coffee” can serve as an adjective in “coffee aroma.”

In such cases, the base words themselves act as adjectives without any modification.

Here are more examples of adjectives formed from base words without any additional suffix or prefix, presented in a table:

Base Word	Adjective Form	Example Sentence
Gold	Gold jewelry	She wore a gold necklace.
Silk	Silk fabric	The dress was made of silk.
Glass	Glass windows	The house had glass windows.
Wooden	Wooden furniture	We bought a wooden table.
Steel	Steel structure	The building had a steel frame.
Silver	Silver bracelet	He gifted her a silver bracelet.
Diamond	Diamond ring	She received a diamond ring.
Cotton	Cotton shirt	He wore a cotton shirt.
Plastic	Plastic bottle	The store sold plastic bottles.
Leather	Leather shoes	She bought leather shoes.

Adding Suffixes

Adjectives can be formed by adding specific suffixes to base words, which allows us to expand our vocabulary and describe nouns in more precise and varied ways. Here are the various ways to form adjectives by adding suffixes:

How adjectives are formed by adding specific suffixes to nouns?

Adjectives can be formed by adding specific suffixes to nouns, which enables us to describe the qualities or characteristics of the nouns more precisely. Here are some common suffixes used to form adjectives from nouns:

1. -ful: This suffix is added to nouns to indicate “full of” or “characterized by.”

• Beauty + -ful = Beautiful (full of beauty)
• Care + -ful = Careful (characterized by care)

2. -less: By adding “-less” to nouns, we create adjectives that suggest the absence or lack of something.

• Hope + -less = Hopeless (without hope)
• Fear + -less = Fearless (without fear)

3. -ous/-ious: These suffixes are used to form adjectives that describe characteristics or qualities.

• Danger + -ous = Dangerous (full of danger)
• Ambition + -ious = Ambitious (having a strong desire to achieve)

4. -y/-ey: By adding “-y” or “-ey,” we create adjectives that convey a sense of being like or having the characteristics of the noun.

• Cloud + -y = Cloudy (resembling or full of clouds)
• Smil + -ey = Smiley (having a smile or smiles)

5. -like: This suffix forms adjectives that indicate a resemblance to or similarity with the noun.

• Child + -like = Childlike (resembling a child)
• Dream + -like = Dreamlike (resembling a dream)

6. -ian/-an: By adding these suffixes, we create adjectives denoting association or belonging to a particular noun or group.

• America + -n = American (associated with America)
• Music + -ian = Musician (associated with music)

7. -al: Adding “-al” to nouns creates adjectives relating to or characterized by the noun.

• Nature + -al = Natural (relating to nature)
• Music + -al = Musical (relating to music)

8 -ar: This suffix is used to form adjectives indicating a connection to the noun or a specific place.

• Cell + -ar = Cellular (related to cells)
• Lun + -ar = Lunar (relating to the moon)

More examples:

-ful	-less	-ous/-ious	-y/-ey	-like
Beautiful	Fearless	Dangerous	Cloudy	Childlike
Colorful	Endless	Mysterious	Silky	Dreamlike
Joyful	Helpless	Curious	Cheery	Lifelike
Playful	Speechless	Fabulous	Shiny	Serpentlike
Careful	Timeless	Courageous	Windy	Lifelike
Thoughtful	Breathless	Glorious	Sunny	Featherlike
Graceful	Priceless	Delicious	Cozy	Earthlike
Powerful	Limitless	Curious	Rainy	Shell-like
Playfulness	Peerless	Mysterious	Misty	Dance-like
Successful	Faultless	Spontaneous	Hazy	Flame-like

-ian/-an	-al	-ar	-able/-ible	-some
American	Natural	Lunar	Comfortable	Awesome
Brazilian	Cultural	Polar	Incredible	Fearsome
Canadian	Historical	Solar	Adaptable	Troublesome
Egyptian	Industrial	Stellar	Accessible	Wholesome
Musician	Sensational	Circular	Flexible	Lonesome
Magician	Intellectual	Cellular	Incredible	Meddlesome
Politician	Emotional	Popular	Irresistible	Handsome
Physician	Biological	Regular	Responsible	Fearsome
Electrician	Personal	Lunar	Digestible	Winsome
Technician	Educational	Linear	Feasible	Troublesome

How adjectives are formed by adding specific suffixes to verbs?

Adjectives can be formed by adding specific suffixes to verbs, which allows us to describe nouns or pronouns in a more detailed and vivid manner. Here are some common suffixes used to form adjectives from verbs:

1. -ing: Adding “-ing” to a verb creates present participial adjectives, describing something that is currently performing the action of the verb.

• Amaze + -ing = Amazing (causing amazement)
• Interest + -ing = Interesting (arousing interest)

2. -ed: This suffix forms past participial adjectives, describing something that has experienced the action of the verb.

• Amaze + -ed = Amazed (feeling amazement)
• Interest + -ed = Interested (having an interest)

3. -able/-ible: Adding “-able” or “-ible” creates adjectives suggesting the capability or possibility of the verb’s action.

• Understand + -able = Understandable (able to be understood)
• Convert + -ible = Convertible (capable of being converted)

4. -ative/-ive: These suffixes are used to form adjectives that indicate the tendency or capacity to perform the verb’s action.

• Create + -ive = Creative (having the ability to create)
• Talk + -ative = Talkative (inclined to talk)

5. -ant/-ent: Adding “-ant” or “-ent” to verbs forms adjectives that denote someone or something performing the action.

• Assist + -ant = Assistant (one who assists)
• Depend + -ent = Dependent (relying on something or someone)

6. -ish: This suffix creates adjectives that indicate a tendency or resemblance to the action of the verb.

• Child + -ish = Childish (resembling a child’s behavior)
• Fool + -ish = Foolish (displaying foolishness)

7. -ive: By adding “-ive” to verbs, we create adjectives that emphasize the tendency or capability of the action.

• Persuade + -ive = Persuasive (able to persuade)
• Assert + -ive = Assertive (asserting oneself)

8. -en: This suffix forms adjectives from some irregular verbs, describing a change or transformation caused by the verb’s action.

• Dark + -en = Darken (become dark)
• Soft + -en = Soften (become soft)

More examples:

-ing	-ed	-able/-ible	-ative/-ive	-ant/-ent
Amazing	Bored	Understandable	Captivating	Compliant
Exciting	Confused	Convertible	Informative	Confident
Surprising	Frightened	Comfortable	Creative	Relevant
Refreshing	Interested	Accessible	Reflective	Dependable
Amusing	Satisfied	Reliable	Intuitive	Abundant
Satisfying	Excited	Responsible	Meditative	Brilliant
Terrifying	Thrilled	Invaluable	Imaginative	Significant
Challenging	Delighted	Adaptable	Determinative	Diligent
Enchanting	Amazed	Flexible	Captive	Hesitant
Frightening	Thrilled	Feasible	Collaborative	Independent

-ish	-ive	-en
Childish	Creative	Brighten
Foolish	Assertive	Deepen
Selfish	Sensitive	Lengthen
Reddish	Intuitive	Strengthen
Greenish	Imaginative	Soften
Warmish	Supportive	Flatten
Lavish	Productive	Fasten
Outlandish	Attractive	Weaken
Nightmarish	Captivating	Loosen
Amish	Reflective	Harden

How adjectives are formed by adding specific suffixes to other adjectives?

Adjectives can be formed by adding specific suffixes to other adjectives, allowing us to create new adjectives with modified meanings. Here are some common suffixes used to form adjectives from other adjectives:

1. -er: By adding “-er” to an adjective, we create a comparative form to compare two things.

• Fast + -er = Faster (more fast or quicker)
• Big + -er = Bigger (larger or more significant)

2. -est: This suffix forms the superlative degree of adjectives, indicating the highest degree of quality.

• Tall + -est = Tallest (the most tall or highest in height)
• Beautiful + -est = Most Beautiful (the most beautiful or highest level of beauty)

3. -ish: Adding “-ish” to an adjective creates a slightly altered or somewhat resembling form.

• Green + -ish = Greenish (somewhat green or tinged with green)
• Child + -ish = Childish (resembling a child or child-like)

4. -ful: This suffix is used to enhance the meaning of an adjective, suggesting abundance or being characterized by quality.

• Color + -ful = Colorful (full of colors or having many colors)
• Grace + -ful = Graceful (full of grace or elegance)

5. -less: By adding “-less” to an adjective, we form a negative or opposite meaning, indicating the absence of quality.

• Care + -less = Careless (lacking care or not cautious)
• Fear + -less = Fearless (without fear or brave)

6. -y/-ey: These suffixes can create adjectives that express a characteristic quality or tendency.

• Cloud + -y = Cloudy (having many clouds or cloudy in appearance)
• Smil + -ey = Smile (characterized by smiles or cheerful in expression)

7. -able/-ible: Adding “-able” or “-ible” to an adjective suggests the capability or possibility of the described quality.

• Comfort + -able = Comfortable (able to provide comfort or ease)
• Convert + -ible = Convertible (capable of being converted or changed)

More examples:

-er	-est	-ish	-ful	-less
Faster	Tallest	Reddish	Beautiful	Careless
Bigger	Brightest	Foolish	Colorful	Fearless
Smarter	Smartest	Childish	Playful	Endless
Quieter	Richest	Selfish	Powerful	Sleepless
Stronger	Bravest	Standoffish	Grateful	Thoughtless
Kinder	Kindest	Nightmarish	Graceful	Senseless
Softer	Softest	Lavish	Cheerful	Timeless
Cooler	Coldest	Outlandish	Playful	Heartless
Taller	Shortest	Stylish	Delightful	Endless
Louder	Loudest	Nightmarish	Thankful	Limitless

-y/-ey	-able/-ible
Cloudy	Comfortable
Smiley	Adorable
Rainy	Predictable
Noisy	Lovable
Sandy	Credible
Silly	Flexible
Cheery	Irresistible
Earthy	Responsible
Shiny	Understandable
Breezy	Accessible

Adding Prefixes

Adjectives can be formed by adding specific prefixes to base words or adjectives, allowing us to create new adjectives with modified meanings. Here are some common prefixes used to form adjectives:

1. Un-: Adding “un-” to an adjective creates a negation, indicating the opposite or absence of the quality described by the base word.

• Happy → Unhappy (not happy)
• Comfortable → Uncomfortable (not comfortable)

2. In-/Im-/Il-/Ir-: These prefixes form adjectives indicating the opposite or reverse action of the base word.

• Correct → Incorrect (not correct)
• Possible → Impossible (not possible)
• Legal → Illegal (against the law)

3. Dis-: By adding “dis-” to an adjective, we create a negative or contrary meaning.

• Appear → Disappear (cease to be visible)
• Connect → Disconnect (separate from a connection)

4. Re-: This prefix forms adjectives suggesting repetition or return to a previous state.

• Do → Redo (do again)
• Use → Reusable (able to be used again)

5. Non-: Adding “non-” to an adjective create a word with the absence of the quality represented by the base word.

• Profit → Nonprofit (not seeking profit)
• Sense → Nonsense (lacking sense or meaning)

6. Mis-: This prefix forms adjectives that indicate an incorrect or mistaken quality.

• Spell → Misspell (spell incorrectly)
• Understand → Misunderstood (not understood correctly)

7. Over-: Adding “over-” to an adjective implies excessive or beyond the normal degree of the quality described by the base word.

• Weight → Overweight (excess weight)
• Cook → Overcooked (cooked for too long)

8. Under-: This prefix forms an adjective suggesting a deficiency or inadequate quality.

• Perform → Underperform (perform below expectations)
• Estimate → Underestimated (not fully estimated)

More examples:

Un-	In-/Im-/Il-/Ir-	Dis-	Re-	Non-
Unhappy	Inaccurate	Disconnected	Reusable	Nonprofit
Unusual	Impossible	Disorganized	Rebuilt	Nonsense
Unkind	Immature	Disappointed	Rechargeable	Nonchalant
Unfair	Irregular	Disapproved	Reconsider	Nonexistent
Unhealthy	Illogical	Discontented	Reintroduce	Nonviolent
Uncommon	Inactive	Disheartened	Rewritable	Nonessential
Unstable	Incapable	Disoriented	Redefine	Nonnegotiable
Unnecessary	Inadequate	Dismissive	Rejuvenate	Nondescript
Unforgettable	Invisible	Disconnected	Reconstruct	Nonchalant
Unyielding	Indecisive	Displeased	Reevaluate	Nonconforming

Mis-	Over-	Under-
Misunderstood	Overconfident	Underestimated
Misguided	Overwhelming	Underperforming
Mismatched	Overjoyed	Underdeveloped
Misinterpreted	Overpriced	Understaffed
Misbehaved	Overused	Underqualified
Misleading	Overrated	Underwhelmed
Miscalculated	Overwhelmed	Underprivileged
Misplaced	Overheated	Undernourished
Mismanaged	Overindulgent	Underrepresented
Mischievous	Overzealous	Underestimated

How adjectives are formed by combining two or more words?

Adjectives can be formed by combining two or more words, creating compound adjectives that convey specific qualities or characteristics. These compound adjectives are often hyphenated when used before a noun. Here are some common ways adjectives are formed by combining words:

1. Noun + Noun:

In this combination, two nouns are used together to form an adjective that describes the noun following it.

• Time + Saving = Time-saving (saving time)
• Water + Resistant = Water-resistant (resistant to water)

More examples:

Noun 1	Noun 2	Adjective
Time	Saving	Time-saving
Water	Resistant	Water-resistant
Energy	Efficient	Energy-efficient
User	Friendly	User-friendly
Labor	Intensive	Labor-intensive
Child	Proof	Childproof
Heat	Resistant	Heat-resistant
Environment	Friendly	Environment-friendly
Traffic	Congested	Traffic-congested
Fire	Resistant	Fire-resistant

2. Adjective + Noun:

When an adjective is combined with a noun, it creates a compound adjective that describes the noun it modifies.

• High + Speed = High-speed (having a high speed)
• Small + Scale = Small-scale (occurring on a small scale)

More examples:

Adjective	Noun	Adjective
High	Speed	High-speed
Small	Scale	Small-scale
Well	Known	Well-known
Easily	Forgotten	Easily-forgotten
Wide	Ranging	Wide-ranging
Late	Night	Late-night
Heavy	Duty	Heavy-duty
Full	Time	Full-time
Old	Fashion	Old-fashioned
First	Class	First-class

3. Adverb + Past Participle:

This combination creates compound adjectives to describe the noun it modifies based on a past action.

• Well + Known = Well-known (widely known)
• Easily + Forgotten = Easily-forgotten (quickly forgotten)

More examples:

Adverb	Past Participle	Adjective
Well	Known	Well-known
Easily	Forgotten	Easily-forgotten
Highly	Regarded	Highly-regarded
Deeply	Rooted	Deeply-rooted
Widely	Recognized	Widely-recognized
Fully	Charged	Fully-charged
Carefully	Planned	Carefully-planned
Clearly	Defined	Clearly-defined
Badly	Damaged	Badly-damaged
Tightly	Secured	Tightly-secured

4. Noun + Past Participle:

By combining a noun and a past participle, we form compound adjectives that describe the noun following it.

• Hand + Written = Handwritten (written by hand)
• Home + Cooked = Home-cooked (cooked at home)

More examples:

Noun	Past Participle	Adjective
Hand	Written	Handwritten
Home	Cooked	Home-cooked
Self	Driven	Self-driven
Time	Consumed	Time-consumed
Sun	Dried	Sun-dried
Heart	Shaped	Heart-shaped
State	Owned	State-owned
Machine	Operated	Machine-operated
Student	Centered	Student-centered
Child	Proofed	Childproofed

5. Number + Noun:

When a number is combined with a noun, it forms a compound adjective describing the quantity or amount of the noun.

• Five + Star = Five-star (having five stars)
• Three + Bedroom = Three-bedroom (having three bedrooms)

More examples:

Number	Noun	Adjective
Five	Star	Five-star
Three	Bedroom	Three-bedroom
Ten	Dollar	Ten-dollar
Two	Way	Two-way
Four	Leaf	Four-leaf
Six	Foot	Six-foot
Seven	Year	Seven-year
Twelve	Ounce	Twelve-ounce
Fifty	Mile	Fifty-mile
Hundred	Percent	Hundred-percent

6. Color + Noun:

This combination creates compound adjectives describing the color of the noun.

• Blue + Eyed = Blue-eyed (having blue eyes)
• Red + Carpet = Red-carpet (a red carpet)

More examples:

Color	Noun	Adjective
Blue	Eyes	Blue-eyed
Red	Carpet	Red-carpet
Green	Grass	Green grass
Pink	Flamingo	Pink flamingo
White	Snow	White snow
Black	Coffee	Black coffee
Yellow	Sun	Yellow sun
Brown	Bear	Brown bear
Orange	Juice	Orange juice
Purple	Flower	Purple flower

7. Noun + Color:

By reversing the order of color and noun, we can create compound adjectives that still describe the color of the noun.

• Sky + Blue = Sky-blue (having a blue color like the sky)
• Grass + Green = Grass-green (having a green color like grass)

More examples:

There are not as many common examples for “Noun + Color” adjectives.

Noun	Color	Adjective
Rose	Red	Rose Red
Wine	Red	Wine Red
Sky	Blue	Sky Blue
Coal	Black	Coal Black
Lemon	Yellow	Lemon Yellow

How adjectives are formed from proper nouns?

Adjectives can be formed from proper nouns in several ways. When forming adjectives from proper nouns, we often use the root of the proper noun and add a suffix to create the adjective. Here are some common ways to form adjectives from proper nouns:

1. Add “-ian”/”-an”: For countries, cities, or regions, we can add “-ian” or “-an” to the proper noun to create the adjective form.

• America → American (e.g., American culture)
• Italy → Italian (e.g., Italian cuisine)
• Paris → Parisian (e.g., Parisian fashion)

2. Add “-ese”/”-ish”: Similarly, for countries or cities, we can add “-ese” or “-ish” to form the adjective.

• Japan → Japanese (e.g., Japanese traditions)
• China → Chinese (e.g., Chinese art)
• London → Londonish (less common, but can be used for a local attribute)

3. Add “-ic”: For certain proper nouns or titles, adding “-ic” creates the corresponding adjective.

• Music → Musical (e.g., musical instruments)
• Hero → Heroic (e.g., heroic deeds)

4. Add “-ian”/”-ean”: For people or things related to a specific place, adding “-ian” or “-ean” can form the adjective.

• Rome → Roman (e.g., Roman architecture)
• Greece → Greek (e.g., Greek mythology)
• Paris → Parisian (e.g., Parisian fashion)

5. No Change: In some cases, the proper noun itself can function as an adjective without any suffix added.

• Shakespeare (adjective) language (correct)
• Shakespearean language (also correct)

FAQs About Formation of Adjectives

Read also:

• Nouns as Adjectives
• Determiners
• Emphasizing Adjective
• Limiting Adjective