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What is an Adjective?

Adjectives are those words that describe or modify noun or pronoun. For example: – happy, taller, green, cold, hot, big, beautiful, soft, etc.

Attributive Use: An adjective that is used before or immediately after a noun to describe or modify it.

  • The happy dog wagged its tail.
  • The red car was parked on the street.
  • The old house was in need of repairs.
  • The beautiful flowers were in full bloom.
  • The tall building was the tallest in the city.

Predicative Use: An adjective that is used after a linking verb, such as “to be”, “to seem”, or “to become” to describe or modify the subject of the sentence.

  • The dog seemed happy.
  • The car became red as it drove away.
  • The house seemed old and run-down.
  • The flowers looked beautiful from a distance.
  • The building was reported to be the tallest in the city.

Examples of Adjective in Sentences

  1. The fluffy kitten was so cute.
  2. The delicious pizza was loaded with toppings.
  3. The bright sun was shining down on the beach.
  4. The old man walked slowly down the street.
  5. The red car was speeding down the highway.
  6. The cold ice cream was melting in the heat.
  7. The loud music was blaring from the party.
  8. The beautiful sunset was breath taking.
  9. The shiny new car was parked in the driveway.
  10. The big elephant was grazing in the field.The fresh flowers were arranged in a vase.
  11. The expensive jewellery was displayed in the store.

Types of Adjectives

(a) Qualitative Adjective or Adjective of Quality
(b) Quantitative Adjective or Adjective of Quantity
(c) Numeral Adjective or Adjective of Number
(d) Emphatic Adjective or Emphasizing Adjective
(e) Demonstrative Adjective
(f) Distributive Adjective
(g) Interrogative Adjective
(h) Proper Adjective
(i) Possessive Adjective
(j) Exclamatory Adjective

(a) Qualitative Adjective or Adjective of Quality

Adjectives that describe the quality or characteristic of a noun or pronoun. They can be used to describe things such as size, shape, colour, texture, age, emotional state, etc.

Qualitative adjectives can be either attributive or predicative, as they modify or describe the noun or pronoun in a sentence. For example, big, round, green, smooth, old, happy, etc.

For example, “The big cat” is an example of a qualitative adjective used in an attributive way. And “The cat looked big” is an example of a qualitative adjective used in a predicative way.

It is also known as Descriptive Adjectives. It is used to describe the qualities or characteristics of a person or thing. They can be used to describe physical characteristics or personality traits.

Examples of Qualitative Adjective in Sentences

  1. The soft blanket was comfortable to sleep under.
  2. The fast runner finished the race in record time.
  3. The delicious meal was enjoyed by all.
  4. The cold drink was refreshing on a hot day.
  5. The smooth ice cream was creamy and delicious.
  6. The fragrant flowers were in full bloom.
  7. The sharp knife cut through the vegetables easily.
  8. The proud parents watched their child graduate.
  9. The strong coffee kept him awake all night.
  10. The bitter taste of the medicine was hard to swallow.

(b) Quantitative Adjective or Adjective of Quantity

Adjectives that describe the quantity or amount of a noun or pronoun. They can be used to indicate the number, size, or degree of something. Unlike Qualitative adjectives, these adjectives provide information about how much of something exists or is present.

They can be used in both attributive and predicative positions. For example, few, many, much, little, some, all, enough, sufficient, plenty, lots, several etc.

For example, “The few apples” is an example of a quantitative adjective used in an attributive way. And “The apples were few” is an example of a quantitative adjective used in a predicative way.

They are used to indicate the amount or quantity of something. They are often used with nouns that are countable or uncountable, such as “five books” or “much water” respectively.

Examples of Quantitative Adjective in Sentences

  1. He had only a little money left in his wallet.
  2. There were several options to choose from.
  3. I have a sufficient amount of time to finish the project.
  4. She had plenty of time to prepare for the exam.
  5. The store had a large number of customers.
  6. He had a few friends in the new city.
  7. We had all the ingredients we needed for the recipe.
  8. She had enough energy to run the marathon.
  9. The restaurant had a good amount of seating.
  10. There were a lot of people at the concert.

(c) Numeral Adjective or Adjective of Number

Adjectives that indicate the number of something. These adjectives refer to the number of things, people, or animals. They can be used to indicate the quantity or amount of something.

Numeral Adjectives can be classified into two types: –

(i) Cardinal numbers
(ii) Ordinal numbers

(i) Cardinal numbers: – These are the numbers that indicate a quantity, such as one, two, three, four etc.

Examples:

  • I have three
  • I need five eggs for this recipe.

(ii) Ordinal numbers: – These are the numbers that indicate a position or order, such as first, second, third, fourth etc.

Examples:

  • He finished first in the race.
  • She was the third person to arrive.

The order of numeral adjectives is as follows:

  • Definite numeral adjectives (e.g., “the first”, “the second”, “the third”)
  • Indefinite numeral adjectives (e.g., “a few”, “several”, “many”)
  • Cardinal numeral adjectives (e.g., “one”, “two”, “three”)
  • Ordinal numeral adjectives (e.g., “first”, “second”, “third”)
  • Fractional numeral adjectives (e.g., “a half”, “a quarter”)

Examples of Numeral Adjective in Sentences

  1. I have a dozen eggs in the fridge.
  2. The store is having a buy one, get one free promotion.
  3. There are a hundred pages in this book.
  4. I need to buy two gallons of milk.
  5. The concert is sold out, but there are still five tickets available.
  6. She was the first person to finish the race.
  7. This is the second time I’ve read this book.
  8. He was the seventh person to be eliminated.
  9. This is the tenth anniversary of the company.
  10. The eleventh chapter is the most interesting.

(d) Emphatic Adjective or Emphasizing Adjective

An adjective that is used to add emphasis or stress to a noun or pronoun. They are typically used in the predicative position and are used to show emphasis on a particular characteristic or quality of the noun or pronoun.

These adjectives are used to add more strength to the statement or to express the speaker’s or writer’s feelings more strongly.

It is placed after the linking verb, such as “is”, “was” or “seems” to indicate the importance or emphasis on a particular characteristic.

They are often used to add more meaning or emphasis to a sentence, rather than providing new information. They are used to express the speaker or writer’s feelings or to make the sentence more powerful.

Examples of Emphatic Adjective in Sentences

  1. The cake is absolutely
  2. He is completely
  3. The music is utterly
  4. She is absolutely
  5. The dress is completely
  6. The movie was absolutely
  7. The food was utterly
  8. The service was completely
  9. The game was entirely too long.
  10. The dress is utterly

(e) Demonstrative Adjective

Adjectives that indicate which noun or pronoun is being referred to. They are used to demonstrate or point out a specific noun or pronoun in a sentence.

They can be used to indicate proximity, such as “this” or “that” or “these” or “those”. These are also known as demonstrative pronouns as they function as both adjective and pronoun.

They are used to indicate proximity of a noun or pronoun, whether it is close or far from the speaker or writer. “This” and “These” are used for nouns or pronouns that are close to the speaker or writer, while “That” and “Those” are used for nouns or pronouns that are farther away.

It is important to note that Demonstrative adjectives are not interchangeable, “this” and “these” are used to indicate singular or plural nouns or pronouns that are close to the speaker or writer, while “that” and “those” are used to indicate singular or plural nouns or pronouns that are farther away.

Examples of Demonstrative Adjective in Sentences

  1. This is my new car.
  2. That building over there is the tallest one in the city.
  3. These are my new clothes.
  4. Those are the best cookies I’ve ever had.
  5. This book is the one I’m currently reading.
  6. That movie was the best one I’ve seen this year.
  7. These flowers are my favourites.
  8. Those shoes don’t fit me anymore.
  9. This pen is the one I lost last week.
  10. That is the best idea you’ve had yet.

(f) Distributive Adjective

An adjective that indicates the distribution or separation of nouns or pronouns. They are used to refer to individual items or people within a group, rather than the group as a whole.

They are used to indicate that something is being distributed or divided among a group of people or things. The main distributive adjectives are: each, every, either, and neither.

They are used to indicate that something is being distributed or divided among a group of people or things, meaning that the noun or pronoun that follows is considered individually. They are used to specify a specific item or person within a group, rather than the group as a whole.

It’s important to note that distributive adjectives are not used with a plural noun, they are used with a singular noun or pronoun.

Examples of Distributive Adjective in Sentences

  1. Each of the children got a prize.
  2. Every person at the party was having a good time.
  3. Either of the two cars will work for me.
  4. Neither of the houses is available for rent.
  5. Every one of the books on this shelf is a classic.
  6. Each of the students in this class is unique.
  7. Either of the two routes will take you to the destination.
  8. Neither of the two options are suitable for me.
  9. Every piece of this puzzle has to be in the right place.
  10. Each of the employees received a bonus.

(g) Interrogative Adjective

An adjective that is used to ask a question about a noun or pronoun. They are used to ask which noun or pronoun is being referred to. They are similar to Interrogative pronouns as they are used to ask a question but they are used as adjective. The main Interrogative adjectives are: which and what.

They are used to ask a question about a noun or pronoun, they are usually used at the beginning of a sentence, and they are followed by a noun or pronoun. They are used to ask for specific information about a noun or pronoun and they are used to ask which one or what kind of a noun or pronoun is being referred to.

Examples of Interrogative Adjective in Sentences

  1. Which book are you reading?
  2. What kind of music do you like?
  3. Which colour do you want your car to be?
  4. What size of shoes do you wear?
  5. Which of the two options do you prefer?
  6. What type of food do you want to order?
  7. Which of the two candidates do you support?
  8. What is the name of your new dog?
  9. Which of the two routes is the quickest?
  10. What is the name of your favourite restaurant?

(h) Proper Adjective

An adjective that is derived from a proper noun. A proper noun is a specific name of a person, place, or thing, such as “John” or “New York”. Proper adjectives are formed by capitalizing the first letter of the proper noun and then adding “-ish” or “-ian” to the end of the proper noun. 

They are used to indicate specific characteristics of a person, place, or thing, and they are always capitalized. They are used to provide more information about a noun or pronoun, and they are often used to indicate a specific origin or association.

They adjectives are used to indicate the origin, culture, or association of a noun or pronoun. They can also be used to indicate a specific characteristic of a noun or pronoun, such as “Italian cuisine” which indicates the origin and characteristics of the cuisine.

Examples of Proper Adjective in Sentences

  1. The Egyptian pyramids are a popular tourist attraction.
  2. The French cuisine is renowned worldwide.
  3. The Roman empire was one of the most powerful in history.
  4. The Brazilian soccer team is one of the best in the world.
  5. The Greek mythology is a rich source of stories and legends.
  6. The German engineering is known for its precision.
  7. The Chinese culture is one of the oldest in the world.
  8. The Scottish accent is known for its distinct sound.
  9. The Irish whiskey is famous for its smooth taste.
  10. The Swedish furniture is known for its sleek and minimalist design.
Proper Nouns Proper Adjectives
Paris Parisian
London Londoner
Israel Israeli
Berlin Berliner
Africa African
Britain British
Brazil Brazilian
Nepali Nepalese
Rome Roman
England English
Indian Indian
China Chinese
Russia Russian
France French
Germany German
Pakistan Pakistani

(i) Possessive Adjective

An adjective that indicates possession or ownership of a noun or pronoun. These adjectives are used to indicate that a noun or pronoun belongs to or is associated with a specific person or thing.

Possessive adjectives always come before a noun or pronoun and indicate to whom or what the noun or pronoun belongs to. They are also known as Possessive Pronouns as they act as adjectives and pronouns

Examples of Possessive Adjective in Sentences 

  1. My cat is very playful.
  2. His laptop is brand new.
  3. Her hair is curly.
  4. Its fur is soft.
  5. Their car is parked in the garage.
  6. My sister’s phone is always ringing.
  7. His dog’s tail is always wagging.
  8. The teacher’s lesson plan is well-organized.
  9. Its leaves are falling off.
  10. Their house’s roof needs to be repaired.

(j) Exclamatory Adjective

An adjective that is used to express strong emotion or to make a statement more dramatic. They are used to indicate surprise, excitement, or emphasis, and they are used to show that the speaker or writer is making a strong statement.

They are usually used in exclamatory sentences and always come before a noun or pronoun. They are also known as exclamatory adverbs as they function as adjective and adverb.

Examples of Exclamatory Adjective in Sentences

  1. How beautiful the sunset is!
  2. What an exciting game!
  3. How delicious this ice cream tastes!
  4. What a funny movie!
  5. How cold it is today!
  6. What a great day to go out!
  7. How talented the singer is!
  8. What a fantastic idea!
  9. How warm it is today!
  10. What a great opportunity!
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