English Adjectives: Definition, Types, Formation, Preparation, Worksheet with Answers

An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or a pronoun. The main function of using adjectives in grammar in a sentence is to describe the nouns or pronouns, giving more information about their qualities, quantities, and identities. This description can be of features, attributes, or numbers. By adding such a description, the sentences become more specific and expressive. Without adjectives, the sentences would be vague and would lack clarity.

Check out the following examples to clearly understand the meaning of Adjectives.

1. She wore a beautiful frock.
("Beautiful" describes the noun frock.)

2. We visited an ancient temple.
("Ancient" gives more detail about the temple.)

3. There are five muskmelons on the table.
("Five" tells the number of muskmelons.)

4. He adopted a stray cat.
("Stray" describes the type of cat.)

5. The sky is clear today.
("Clear" describes the condition of the sky.)

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Collins Dictionary – Definition of Adjective

An adjective is a word, such as big, dead, or financial, that describes a person or thing or gives extra information about them. Adjectives usually come before a noun or after linking verbs such as be, become, seem, etc.

Oxford Dictionary – Definition of Adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈædʒɪktɪv/
A word that describes a noun or pronoun. For example, in the phrases tall building and blue sky, tall and blue are adjectives.

Pronunciation: /ˈædʒɪktɪv/

There are eight main kinds of adjectives in English. The kinds of Adjectives with examples are as follows:

1. Adjectives of Quality

The Adjectives of Quality are also known as Descriptive Adjectives. They describe the kind, quality or characteristics of a person, place, animal, or thing. The sentences with Adjectives of Quality will have words like big, small, beautiful, foolish, fat, etc.

Example:

• She is a clever witch.
• Lord is an honest man.

2. Adjectives of Quantity

These adjectives indicate or tell us how much of a thing is meant, but they do not tell the exact quantity. They do not give any information in the definite terms. The sentences with such adjectives will always have words like some, much, little, half, etc.

Example:

• Much clay is needed for this pottery class.
• He ate some candies.

3. Adjectives of Number

These can also be called Numeral Adjectives. These indicate how many persons or things are meant or in what order a person or things stand. They are of three types:

i) Definite Numeral Adjectives: They indicate the exact number.

Example:

• Two parrots are sitting on a tree.
• He has four fingers.

ii) Indefinite Numeral Adjectives: These types of adjectives do not indicate the exact number.

Example:

• There are many rooms in this hotel.
• The advertisement was displayed at several places.

iii) Distributive Numeral Adjectives: These adjectives refer to each single person or thing in a group.

Example:

• Every soldier should be ready to fight for the country.
• Either laptop will do.

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4. Demonstrative Adjectives

These adjectives indicate or point out which person or thing is meant

Example:

• Bring that cup.
• This boy is injured.

5. Interrogative Adjectives

These adjectives are used with nouns to ask questions. Words like what, which, whose, when, etc., are used to ask questions.

Example:

• Who will book the movie tickets?
• Which train shall we take?

6. Exclamatory Adjectives

Under exclamatory adjectives, the word what is used.

Example:

• What a fine dining it was!
• What a curious girl!

7. Possessive Adjectives

These adjectives indicate possession.

Example:

• He is my friend.
• He is mine.

8. Emphasizing Adjectives

Under emphasizing adjectives, words like very and own are used to give more emphasis.

Example:

• I saw him cheating in the exam with my own eyes.
• She is her own boss.

Adjectives as formed from Nouns, Verbs, and other Adjectives. Some Adjectives are formed from Nouns, some are formed from verbs, and many are formed from other adjectives.

1. Many Adjectives are formed from Nouns.

The following table gives some examples of Adjectives that are formed using Nouns:

Noun	Adjectives
Girl	Girlish
Dirt	Dirty
Man	Manly
Hope	Hopeful
Envy	Envious

2. Some of the Adjectives are formed from Verbs.

The following table gives some examples of adjectives that are formed using verbs:

Verb	Adjectives
Talk	Talkative
Move	Movable
Sleep	Sleepless
Break	Breakable
Create	Creative

3. Some Adjectives are also formed from other Adjectives.

The following table gives some examples of adjectives that are formed using other adjectives:

Adjectives	Adjectives
White	Whitish
Happy	Unhappy
Dark	Darker
Soft	Softer
Red	Reddish

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Adjectives have three degrees of comparison to show differences in quality, quantity, or condition. In order to show the comparison, the Adjectives change forms. These are called the Degree of Comparison.

1. Positive Degree

When an Adjective is in its simple form, it is known as the Positive Degree. Such a degree is used to denote the mere existence of some quality that we speak about. In this, no comparison is made.

Example: The questions in the test are easy.

2. Comparative Degree

Comparative degree is used to denote a higher degree of the quality than the positive degree. It is used when we have to make a comparison between two things.

Example: The questions in this test are easier than the last one.

3. Superlative Degree

Superlative Degree is used to denote the highest degree of quantity. It is used when we have to make a comparison when more than two things are involved.

Example: The questions in this test are the easiest of all the tests.

Degree of Comparison	Comparison	Example
Positive Degree	No comparison is made.	He is tall.
Comparative Degree	Comparison is made between two things.	He is taller than Kareem.
Superlative Degree	Comparison is made between many.	He is the tallest of all.

Examples of Comparison of Adjectives

The following table gives examples of Comparison of Adjectives:

Positive Degree	Comparative Degree	Superlative Degree
Bold	Bolder	Boldest
Young	Younger	Youngest
Noble	Nobler	Noblest
Merry	Merrier	Merriest
Fat	Fatter	Fattest
Sad	Sadder	Saddest
Industrious	More industrious	Most industrious
Courageous	More courageous	Most courageous
Polite	Politer/ More Polite	Politest/Most Polite
In	Inner	Inmost

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The following tips can help to master adjectives. Go through them and try to inculcate them in your lives.

1. Work on Basics: Start with knowing about Adjectives, its rules, degrees, usage, etc. Understand how adjectives are used with nouns, pronouns, in sentences, etc. For example, when to use the positive degree and when to use the comparative degree.
2. Practice daily: The best way to master your adjectives is to practice daily. Use them in your daily life conversation. Try to learn new vocabulary, practice them, and use them with different situations and conditions of the Adjectives given above. By this, you can learn how to use adjectives easily, and it will also build confidence.
3. Read Newspaper: Reading an English newspaper daily works like magic. It will not only help to improve your adjectives but also improve your English overall. To begin with, read the section in which you are interested. Some of the popular newspapers are The Indian Express, The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, etc. These newspapers are also available online.
4. Play Online Games and Quizzes: Many online games and Quizzes are available online, which are very interesting. You can learn while playing in no time. Simon Says, Sentence Building game, Bingo, Grammar Charades, etc., are some of the popular games.

 

To identify adjectives in a sentence, the following tips or rules can be helpful:

1. Identify the Words that Describe Nouns or Pronouns

Adjectives give more detail or describe the nouns and pronouns. They give details about kind, numbers, how many, how much, which one, etc.

Example: The car is clean.

Here, the word clean describes the car. So clean is an adjective here.

2. Position of the Adjectives

Always keep an eye on the position of the adjectives. They usually appear before nouns or after the linking verbs. Words like is, seems, becomes are linking verbs.

Example: She is wearing a beautiful suit.

Here, the word beautiful (Adjective) comes before the noun.

Example: The question paper was difficult.

Here, the word difficult comes after the linking verb. 

3. Ask Questions about Noun/Pronoun

Always ask questions about nouns and pronouns to know about the describing words (adjectives). Ask questions related to their kind, quantity, quality, numbers, etc.

Example: A ceramic bowl.

The question for this will be: What kind of bowls? And the answer for this will be ‘A ceramic bowl’. So ceramic is an adjective here.

4. Pay Attention to Comparative and Superlative Forms

Always check on words ending with –er or –est, more, most, as they are often objective. Words like happier, happiest, easier, easiest, more beautiful, and most beautiful.

Examples: She is happier than before.

5. Pay Attention to Suffixes

Always check on words ending with –ous, -able,-ive,-ic, etc. These words are adjectives most of the time.

Examples: curious, nervous, readable, understandable, attractive, historic, aesthetic

Example: I’m curious about the last scene of this movie.