The English language is made up of various parts of speech, each essential to effective communication. Among these, adjectives play a crucial role. You’ve likely heard the term “adjective” before, but do you know what it truly means? If not, don’t worry. This blog is here to guide you through everything you need to know about adjectives. Read on to discover what an adjective is, adjective examples, as well as different forms and types of adjectives.
What is an Adjective?
An adjective is a descriptive word that provides more information about a noun or pronoun. It adds detail and colour to our language by describing qualities, characteristics, or attributes of the person or thing being referenced. Adjectives usually come before a noun or pronoun in a sentence or after link verbs.
An adjective can also be described as a word belonging to the major form classes in varying languages. These words typically serve as modifiers that denote the quality of a person or a thing or describe their quantity. However, the purpose of using adjectives is not limited to quantity and quality. It can be any word that describes a noun or pronoun.
How to Use an Adjective in a Sentence?
Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns, usually appearing before the noun they describe. For example: The blue sky or She is intelligent. An adjective can also follow a linking verb: The sky is blue.
Examples of Adjectives
Here are a few common examples of adjectives in sentences:
- Beautiful (The beautiful garden)
- Happy (She is always so happy)
- Large (He owns a large house)
These adjectives describe the characteristics of the nouns in the sentences, enriching the meaning.
Degrees of Adjectives
There are three degrees of adjectives:
Positive Degree of Comparison
The first degree of comparison of adjectives is the positive degree of comparison. In this comparison, an adjective is used in its original form. For example: This book is informative. In this, informative is an adjective, and it is used in its original form with no subject to be compared.
Comparative Degree of Comparison
The comparative form of the adjectives is used when there are two subjects in comparison. For example: The essay I wrote yesterday was better than the one I wrote today. Here, the comparative degree of comparison of adjectives is better than that of the comparative degree of comparison.
Superlative Degree of Comparison
The superlative degree of comparison is the next form of adjectives. It is used when two or more than two subjects are compared. For example: This book is the most interesting one that I have ever come across. Here, the most interesting is the superlative degree of comparison.
Degrees of Adjectives Examples
To recap: what are comparative and superlative adjectives? Comparative and superlative adjectives are used to compare two or more subjects. For example, smarter is the comparative form of the adjective smart, while smartest is the superlative form. The table below highlights these comparisons:
| Positive Degree | Comparative Degree | Superlative Degree |
|---|---|---|
| Tall | Taller | Tallest |
| Fast | Faster | Fastest |
| Smart | Smarter | Smartest |
Difference Between Adverb and Adjective
An adjective is a word that modifies a noun or pronoun, providing more detail about its qualities, while an adverb modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. For example, in the sentence She sings beautifully, beautifully is an adverb because it modifies the verb sings. In contrast, She has a beautiful voice, beautiful is an adjective describing the noun voice.
Types of Adjectives
Comparative Adjectives
These are comparative adjectives, which compare two subjects to each other. For instance: more expensive, smaller, less reasonable, and faster are examples of this type of adjective.
Superlative Adjectives
Next on the list of different types of adjectives are superlative adjectives. These adjectives compare two of more than two subjects to one another to indicate which is the most supreme among them. Least valuable, loudest, fastest, smartest and most impressive are some examples of superlative adjectives.
Predicate Adjectives
Predicate adjectives appear in a sentence’s predicate as a subject complement, providing additional information about the subject. Unlike attributive adjectives, which directly precede a noun or pronoun, predicate adjectives follow linking verbs such as to be, to become or to seem. For example, in the sentence The flowers are beautiful, beautiful is a predicate adjective describing the subject flowers.
Compound Adjectives
Compound adjectives are the next type of adjectives. They are formed from multiple words. The multiple words in these adjectives get connected by hyphens. Some common examples of compound adjectives include cross-eyed and never-ending.
Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives are used to show possession or ownership. Some common examples of possessive adjectives include her, its, his, whose, their, my, your and our.
Demonstrative Adjectives
Next on the list of different types of adjectives are the demonstrative adjectives. These adjectives are used to express the relative position of a noun or pronoun in time and space. This, that, those and these are the most common demonstrative adjectives.
Proper Adjectives
Adjectives forming from proper nouns are known as proper adjectives. These adjectives are used to say something related to a certain place or person, for example, Indian, African, and Shakespearian.
Participial Adjectives
Adjectives based on participles are known as the participial adjectives. These adjectives usually end with an -ed or -ing. These adjectives are derived from verbs. Some common examples of participial adjectives include fascinating, determined and computerised.
Limiting Adjectives
These adjectives restrict a noun or pronoun instead of describing its qualities or characteristics. Some common examples of limiting adjectives include your, these and some.
Descriptive Adjectives
Next on the list of types of adjectives are descriptive adjectives. These adjectives describe the traits, characteristics and qualities of a noun or pronoun. Some popular examples of descriptive adjectives include attractive, red and friendly.
Interrogative Adjectives
Interrogative adjectives are the type of adjectives that ask questions. Whose, what and which are common examples of interrogative adjectives.
Attributive Adjectives
Attributive adjectives are used directly next to the noun or pronoun they are modifying. These adjectives can also appear just before a noun or a pronoun. Some common examples of attributive adjectives include eldest, fastest and slowly.
Distributive Adjectives
Distributive adjectives are next on the list. These adjectives are members of a group. Every, each, neither and either are some common examples of distributive adjectives.
Use of Adjective
Adjectives are used in four major ways.
Using Adjectives for Description
Adjectives serve as powerful tools for writers, adding depth and detail to their prose. By incorporating descriptive adjectives, writers can captivate readers and enhance the quality of their writing. In academic compositions, leveraging a rich variety of adjectives can elevate the sophistication of your work. Take the time to explore different types of adjectives and seek out synonyms to diversify your vocabulary.
Enhancing Text with Descriptive Adjectives
Adjectives play a pivotal role in crafting engaging and informative writing. These descriptive words enable writers to construct thought-provoking sentences that resonate with readers. By skillfully employing adjectives, you can amplify the impact of your text, transforming standard passages into captivating narratives that hold the reader’s attention.
Expressing Emotion through Adjectives
In emotive language, adjectives take on a heightened significance, allowing writers to convey feelings and emotions with precision. Whether delivering a speech or composing an essay, strategically incorporating adjectives enables you to articulate your message with clarity and resonance, fostering a deeper connection with your audience.
Elevating Writing with Adjectives
Adjectives are indispensable elements of the English language, essential for refining and enriching your writing. By infusing your prose with carefully chosen adjectives, you can elevate the clarity and specificity of your expression, creating more vivid and engaging compositions that leave a lasting impression.
Test Your Knowledge of Adjectives
Ready to put your understanding of adjectives to the test? These questions are designed to challenge you and help you further sharpen your skills. Take your time to analyze each sentence carefully, identifying the adjectives and understanding their role in the sentence structure.
1. The remarkably tall skyscraper casts a long shadow over the city.
Which word is the adjective in this sentence, and what is it describing?
A) remarkably – Describes how the skyscraper is tall.
B) tall – Describes the skyscraper.
C) long – Describes the shadow.
D) city – Describes where the shadow falls.
2. The vintage car, which had been meticulously restored, gleamed under the warm sunlight.
What type of adjective is “vintage” in this sentence, and what is it modifying?
A) Descriptive adjective – It modifies the noun “car.”
B) Possessive adjective – It indicates ownership.
C) Limiting adjective – It restricts the noun “car” to a specific category.
D) Interrogative adjective – It is used to ask a question.
3. The recent, severe economic downturn has led to unexpected changes in the job market.
What is the role of the adjectives “recent” and “severe” in this sentence?
A) Both are descriptive adjectives, modifying “economic downturn.”
B) “Recent” is a comparative adjective, and “severe” is descriptive.
C) “Severe” is a limiting adjective, and “recent” is an attributive adjective.
D) “Recent” is a descriptive adjective, and “severe” is an adverb.
Answers:
- B) tall – Describes the “skyscraper.”
- A) Descriptive adjective – “Vintage” modifies “car,” describing its age and condition.
- A) Both are descriptive adjectives – Modifying “economic downturn.”
Wrapping Up
Adjectives play a pivotal role in language, offering nuance and depth to our expressions. Understanding the different types of adjectives and their distinct applications is key to elevating your writing. By employing these words thoughtfully and accurately, you can significantly enhance the quality and impact of your prose.
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FAQs on Adjectives
How can you identify an adjective?
An adjective describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. It gives more information about the qualities, size, or other attributes of the subject, such as beautiful, fast, or friendly.
What are the rules for adjectives?
Adjectives usually come before the noun they modify or after linking verbs like is, are, or seem. They provide more detail or describe qualities, size, or quantity of the noun.
Is “smart” an adjective?
Yes, smart is an adjective as it describes the qualities or intelligence of a person or thing.
What is the correct way to list adjectives?
Adjectives follow a specific order: quantity, opinion, size, age, shape, colour, proper adjective, purpose. For example: three large green chairs.
