Adjectives are words that describe the qualities or states of being of nouns: enormous, doglike, silly, yellow, fun, fast. They can also describe the quantity of nouns: many, few, millions, eleven.
Adjectives modify nouns
As you may already know, adjectives are words that modify (describe) nouns. Adjectives do not modify verbs or adverbs or other adjectives.
Margot wore a beautiful hat to the pie-eating contest.
Furry dogs may overheat in the summertime.
My cake should have sixteen candles.
The scariest villain of all time is Darth Vader.
In the sentences above, the adjectives are easy to spot because they come immediately before the nouns they modify.
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But adjectives can modify nouns even without appearing right before them in a sentence. Acting as what’s called a subjective complement with the help of a linking verb, a predicate adjective modifies the subject of a sentence. A linking verb is a verb like to be, to feel, to seem, or to taste that, rather than describing an action, helps to describe a state of being or a sensory experience.
That cow sure is happy.
It smells gross in the locker room.
Driving is faster than walking.
Uses of adjectives
Adjectives tell the reader what kind of something you’re talking about, or how much or how many of something you’re talking about.
Please use three white flowers in the arrangement.
Three and white are modifying flowers.
Often, when adjectives are used together, you should separate them with a comma or conjunction. See “Coordinate adjectives” below for more detail.
I’m looking for a small, good-tempered dog to keep as a pet.
My new dog is small and good-tempered.
Degrees of adjectives
Adjectives come in three forms, known as degrees: absolute, comparative, and superlative.
Absolute adjectives describe something in its own right.
A cool guy
A messy desk
A rigid guideline
An awful situation
A mischievous cat
Garrulous squirrels
Comparative adjectives, unsurprisingly, make a comparison between two or more things. For most one-syllable adjectives, the comparative is formed by adding the suffix -er (or just -r if the adjective already ends with an e). For two-syllable adjectives, some use -er to form the comparative while others use the word more. In general, two-syllable adjectives ending in –er, –le, –ow, –ure, or –y can be made comparative by adding -er (in the case of -y words, replace y with –ier). For adjectives of three or more syllables, add the word more.
A cooler guy
A messier desk
A rigider/more rigid guideline
A more awful situation
A more mischievous cat
More garrulous squirrels
Superlative adjectives indicate that something has the highest degree of the quality in question. One-syllable adjectives become superlatives by adding the suffix -est (or just -st for adjectives that already end in e). As with the comparative, some two-syllable adjectives use -est to form the superlative while others use the word most. In general, two-syllable adjectives ending in -y replace -y with -iest. Adjectives of three or more syllables add the word most. When you use an article with a superlative adjective, it will almost always be the definite article (the) rather than a or an. Using a superlative inherently indicates that you are talking about a specific item or items.
The coolest guy
The messiest desk
The rigidest/most rigid guideline
The most awful situation
The most mischievous cat
The most garrulous squirrels
Coordinate adjectives
Coordinate adjectives should be separated by a comma or the word and. Adjectives are said to be coordinate if they modify the same noun in a sentence to the same degree.
This is going to be a long, cold winter.
Isobel’s dedicated and tireless efforts made all the difference.
Sometimes, when two adjectives appear next to each other and modify the same noun, the one closer to the noun is so closely related to the noun that they form a single semantic unit together, and that unit is what is modified by the first adjective. In this case, the adjectives are not coordinate and should not be separated by a comma.
My cat, Goober, loves sleeping on this tattered woolen sweater.
No one could open the old silver locket.
In some cases, it’s pretty hard to tell whether two adjectives are coordinate or not. But there are a couple of ways you can test them. Try inserting the word and between the adjectives to see if the phrase still seems natural. In the first sentence above, “this tattered and woolen sweater” doesn’t sound right, because you really aren’t talking about a sweater that is both tattered and woolen in the same way. It’s a woolen sweater inherently, and it has become tattered. Woolen sweater forms a unit of meaning that is modified by tattered.
Another way to test for coordinate adjectives is to try switching the order of the adjectives and seeing if the phrase still works. In the second sentence, you wouldn’t say “No one could open the silver old locket.” You can’t reverse the order of the adjectives because silver locket is a unit that is modified by old.
Adjectives vs. adverbs
Many of us learned in school that adjectives modify nouns and that adverbs modify verbs. But as we’ve seen, adjectives don’t need to be right next to nouns in order to modify them; they can do so from after a linking verb in a sentence, as predicate adjectives. This leads to a common type of mistake: using an adverb when what you want is a predicate adjective. Here’s an example you’ve probably heard before:
I feel badly about what happened.
Because feel is a verb, it may seem to call for an adverb rather than an adjective. But feel isn’t just any verb; it’s a linking verb. An adverb would describe how you perform the action of feeling—an adjective describes what you feel. “I feel badly” would mean that you are bad at feeling things. If you’re trying to read Braille through thick leather gloves, then it might make sense for you to say “I feel badly.” But if you’re trying to say that you are experiencing a negative emotion, “I feel bad” is the phrase you want.
It’s easier to see this distinction with a different linking verb. Consider the difference between these two sentences:
Max smells badly.
Max smells bad.
“Max smells badly” means that Max, the poor thing, has a weak sense of smell. “Max smells bad” means that Max stinks—poor us.
When nouns are adjectives and adjectives are nouns
One more thing you should know about adjectives is that, sometimes, a word that is normally used as a noun can function as an adjective, depending on its placement.
Never try to pet someone’s guide dog without asking permission first.
Guide is a noun, but in this sentence, it is being put to use as an adjective to modify dog.
It works the other way too: Sometimes words that are normally adjectives shift into use as nouns. Many times this happens with adjectives used to denote a group of people, with the addition of the:
The French are known for valuing their leisure time.
Robin Hood stole from the rich to give to the poor.
In the above examples, the word people has been elided and the adjectives French, rich, and poor are functioning as nouns. This kind of shift happens with other kinds of adjective-noun pairs too, however, especially when they are commonly used together:
Our English class took our final this morning.
Camille tends to focus on intangibles like communication style and a sense of camaraderie when deciding whether to accept a job offer.
In these sentences, the nouns exam and qualities have been elided.
Adjective usage advice
We’ll end with a few words about adjectives and style. It’s one thing to know how to use an adjective; it’s another to know when using one is a good idea. Good writing is precise and concise. Sometimes you need an adjective to convey exactly what you mean. It’s hard to describe a red sports car without the word red. But often, choosing the right noun eliminates the need to tack on an adjective. Is it a big house, or is it a mansion? A large crowd or a throng? A mixed-breed dog or a mutt? A dark night or just . . . night? Always aim to make every word count in your writing. If you need an adjective, use it. But if it’s not pulling its weight, delete it.
Adjective FAQs
What is an adjective?
An adjective is a word that describes the traits, qualities, or number of a noun.
What are examples of adjectives?
Descriptive words like beautiful, smooth, and heavy are all adjectives, as are numbers (“twelve eggs”).
What is the difference between adjectives and adverbs?
Adjectives modify nouns, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. For example, in the phrase “very funny movie,” funny is an adjective describing the noun movie, and very is an adverb describing the adjective funny.
Can adjectives modify adverbs?
Adjectives can modify only nouns. Only adverbs can modify other adverbs.
What Is an Adjective? | Definition, Types & Examples
Published on August 21, 2022 by Eoghan Ryan. Revised on October 3, 2023.
An adjective is a word that modifies or describes a noun or pronoun. Adjectives can be used to describe the qualities of someone or something independently or in comparison to something else.Examples: Adjectives in a sentenceI like old houses.
The boy is tall and skinny.
Jane is smarter than her brother.
Table of contents
How are adjectives used in sentences?
Adjectives modify or describe nouns and pronouns. They can be attributive (occurring before the noun) or predicative (occurring after the noun). Predicative adjectives typically follow a linking verb (such as forms of the verb “to be”) that connects the subject of the sentence to the adjective.Examples: Attributive and predicative adjectivesThe proud soldier is home.
The soldier is proud.
The dedicated employee starts early.
The employee is dedicated.NoteWhile most adjectives can occur in both the attributive and predicative position, some can only be used in one position. For example, the word “main” can only be used in the attributive position, while the word “asleep” can only be used in the predicative position.
- The main reason is that …
- The reason is main.
- The man is asleep.
- The asleep man is …
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Comparative and superlative adjectives
Comparative adjectives are used to compare two things. They’re usually formed by adding the suffix “-er” (or “-r” if the word ends in the letter “e”). For two-syllable words that end in “y,” the “y” is replaced with “-ier.”
Comparative adjectives can also be formed by adding “more” or “less” before an adjective that has not been modified. The “more” form is typically used for words with two or more syllables, while the “less” form is used for all adjectives.Examples: Comparative adjectives in a sentenceSimon’s essay is longer than Claire’s.
The room is cozier with the fire lit and less cozy without it.
I have never met a more honorable person.
Superlative adjectives are used to indicate that something has the most or least of a specific quality. They’re typically preceded by the definite article “the” and usually formed by adding the suffix “-est” (or “-st” if the word ends in the letter “e”). For two-syllable words that end in “y,” the “y” is replaced with “-iest.”
Superlative adjectives can also be formed by adding “most” or “least” before an adjective that has not been modified. The “most” form is typically used for words with two or more syllables, while the “least” form is used for all adjectives.Examples: Superlative adjectives in a sentenceEven the greatest athletes need adequate rest.
All the courses were delicious, but the dessert was the tastiest.
Alicia is the most charming person at the party, but her partner is the least charming.
Absolute adjectives
An absolute adjective is an adjective describing an absolute state that cannot be compared. For example, the word “dead” is often considered to be an absolute adjective because it’s not possible to be “deader” than someone else.
However, actual usage varies, and absolute adjectives are often modified by words such as “almost.”
Coordinate adjectives
Coordinate adjectives are two or more adjectives that modify the same noun in a sentence. Coordinate adjectives can be separated by commas or by the conjunction “and.”Examples: Coordinate adjectives in a sentenceThe plums were cool and delicious.
Aaron wrote a heartbreaking, inspiring novel.
Adjectives vs. adverbs
Adverbs can be used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, whereas adjectives only modify nouns and pronouns. When used to modify a verb, an adverb describes how an action is being performed (e.g., Brandon runs slowly).
Adverbs are often formed from adjectives by adding the suffix “-ly.” However, not all words ending in “-ly” are adverbs (e.g., “ugly” is an adjective).
Adverbs can be formed from adjectives in numerous other ways, depending on the ending.
| Original ending | Adverbial ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -y | -ily (replacing the “y”) | easy; easily |
| -le | -y (replacing the “e”) | gentle; gently |
| -ic | -ally | tragic; tragically |
Some words can be used as either an adjective or adverb without being changed (e.g., “fast,” “late,” “early”).TipIf you are unsure whether a word is being used as an adjective or an adverb, check the word that it’s modifying. If it’s modifying a noun or a pronoun, it’s an adjective. If it’s modifying a verb, adjective or adverb, it’s an adverb.
For example, in the sentence “the man left early,” the word “early” is an adverb because it’s modifying the verb “left.”
In the clause “an early dinner,” the word “early” is an adjective because it’s describing the noun “dinner.”
Adjectives with linking verbs
Adjectives are often confused with adverbs when they are used as complements for linking verbs (e.g., “the wife is devoted”). In these instances, a common mistake is to use an adverb in place of an adjective.
While adverbs describe how an action is performed, linking verbs (e.g., “be,” “seem,” “become,” “feel”) often refer to a state rather than an act and therefore take an adjective. In the example below, an adjective is needed because “feel” is a linking verb.Examples: Adjectives and adverbs with linking verbs
- Jesse feels badly when he doesn’t finish his homework.
- Jesse feels bad when he doesn’t finish his homework.
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How to order adjectives
Attributive adjectives and determiners are typically given in a specific order according to their function. This isn’t an order that English speakers learn as a set of rules, but rather one that people pick up intuitively and usually follow without thinking about it:
- Determiner (e.g., a, the, one)
- Opinion (e.g., beautiful, valuable, indecent)
- Size (e.g., big, small, tiny)
- Shape or age (e.g., round, square, hundred-year-old)
- Color (e.g., white, brown, red)
- Origin (e.g., Dutch, aquatic, lunar)
- Material (e.g., wooden, metal, glass)
Examples: Adjective word orderA valuable lunar stone.
A beautiful, small, Dutch windmill.
Other types of adjectives
There are many types of adjectives in English. Some other important types of adjectives are:
- Appositive adjectives
- Compound adjectives
- Participial adjectives
- Proper adjectives
- Denominal adjectives
- Nominal adjectives
Appositive adjectives
An appositive adjective is an adjective (or series of adjectives) that occurs after the noun it modifies. It is typically set off by commas or dashes. It works similarly to an appositive noun.Example: Appositive adjective in a sentenceThen the cliffs, ominous and dark, came into view.
Compound adjectives
A compound adjective is an adjective that is formed using two or more words that express a single idea (e.g., in-depth). When a compound adjective occurs before the noun it modifies (attributive), the individual words are typically connected by a hyphen. Frequently, no hyphen is needed when the compound adjective is placed after the noun (predicative).Examples: Compound adjectives in a sentenceA well-known man lives here.
Mark is well known.NoteWhen a compound adjective is formed using an adverb that ends in “-ly,” no hyphen is used regardless of its position.
- A highly-respected public official.
- A highly respected public official.
Participial adjectives
A participial adjective is an adjective that is identical to the participle form of a verb (typically ending in “-ing,” “-ed,” or “-en”).Examples: Participial adjectives in a sentenceThe light produced a blindingeffect.
Eva was pretty confused.NoteA noun formed from a present participle is called a gerund.
Proper adjectives
A proper adjective is an adjective formed from a proper noun and used to indicate origin. Like proper nouns, proper adjectives are always capitalized.Examples: Proper adjectives in a sentenceThere is a popular Indian restaurant nearby.
Liza is not a fan of Shakespearean drama.
Denominal adjectives
A denominal adjective is an adjective formed from a noun, often with the addition of a suffix (e.g., “-ish,” “-ly,” “-esque”).Example: Denominal adjective in a sentenceAmira thinks Han is childish, but at least he’s friendly.
Nominal adjectives
A nominal adjective (also called a substantive adjective) is an adjective that functions as a noun. Nominal adjectives are typically preceded by the definite article “the.”Nominal adjectives in a sentenceThe candidate appealed to both the rich and the poor.
