A Complete Guide to Adjectives | Common Adjective Examples in English A-Z List
What are adjectives?
Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns or pronouns, providing additional information about their size, shape, color, quantity, or other attributes: Yellow, Big, Silly, Fun, Slow.
What Is an Adjective?
An adjective is a part of speech that is used to describe or modify a noun or a pronoun. They are used to provide additional information about a noun or pronoun’s size, color, shape, age, origin, material, or other qualities. They help to make the language more descriptive and specific. The Crow is black.
Adjective Suffix
An adjective suffix is a group of letters that is added to the end of a root word to create a new adjective. Suffixes can change the meaning or grammatical function of the root word, and can also indicate the degree or intensity of the adjective. Some common adjective suffixes include:
–ous: full of, having the qualities of (e.g. famous, dangerous, curious)
–y: characterized by, tending to (e.g. rainy, windy, happy)
Important Note!!! all words that end in these suffixes are adjectives, and some adjectives may not have a recognizable suffix.
Common Adjectives Examples
Big
Red
Happy
Tasty
Fast
Beautiful
Smart
Heavy
Small
Soft
Bright
Old
Strong
Short
Round
Tall
Green
Brave
Quiet
Young
Types of Adjectives
Here we discuss different types of adjectives in English grammar that can be used to spice up your sentences. Types of adjectives help to organize the almost limitless amount of adjectives. You should remember that adjectives can modify as well as describe other words. So, you will find it much easier to identify different types of adjectives when you see them.
Descriptive Adjectives
Descriptive adjectives are words that are used to provide more information about a noun or pronoun by describing its qualities, characteristics, or attributes. They make the language more specific and descriptive and can be used to create vivid images in the reader’s mind.
Types Of Descriptive Adjectives
Size (big, small)
Shape (round, square)
Color (red, blue)
Texture (rough, smooth)
Age (old, young)
Origin (Italian, Chinese)
Use Of Descriptive Adjectives
Create comparisons (taller, more beautiful)
Express degree (extremely happy, somewhat sad)
Provide more information about a specific noun (a beautiful sunset, or a small dog)
Descriptive Adjectives Examples
The fluffy cat slept peacefully on the windowsill.
The sparkling diamond necklace caught her eye in the store.
The tiny baby bird chirped loudly in the nest.
The sleek sports car zoomed down the highway.
The delicious aroma of freshly baked bread filled the kitchen.
Demonstrative Adjectives
They are a type of adjective that is used to point out or identify a particular noun or group of nouns. Demonstrative adjectives in English are “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.” These adjectives are used to indicate whether the noun being described is near or far, singular or plural, and to distinguish between different objects or groups.
Demonstrative Adjectives Examples
This house is beautiful.
That car is too expensive.
These cookies taste amazing.
Those mountains in the distance are stunning.
This chair is more comfortable than that one.
Quantitative Adjectives
Quantitative adjectives are a type of adjective that provide information about the quantity or number of a noun or pronoun. These adjectives answer the question “how much” or “how many“. They are also used to describe the amount, size, or degree of something.
Quantitative Adjectives Examples
There were only a few people at the party.
She has many books on her shelf.
I have several errands to run today.
There isn’t enough food for everyone.
We have plenty of time to finish the project
Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives Spanish is a type of adjective that is used to indicate ownership or possession of a noun. These adjectives modify nouns and show who owns or possesses them. Common possessive adjectives in English are “my,” “your,” “his,” “her,” “its,” “our,” and “their.”
Possessive Adjectives Examples
This is my book.
Your dog is very friendly.
His bike was stolen yesterday.
Her phone is ringing.
Its color is bright red.
Interrogative Adjectives
Interrogative adjectives are a type of adjective that are used to ask questions about a noun or group of nouns. They are often used in sentences that begin with a question word such as “what,” “which,” or “whose.”
They can also modify the noun they precede and are used to gain more information or clarification about a particular subject.
Interrogative Adjectives Examples
Which book did you read?
Whose car is parked in front of the building?
What color is your shirt?
Which team won the game?
Comparative Adjectives
Comparative adjectives are a type of adjective that are used to compare two or more nouns or pronouns. These adjectives typically end in “-er” or are preceded by the word “more“. They are used to indicate that one thing has more or less of a particular quality than another.
Comparative Adjectives Examples
This car is faster than that one.
Mary is taller than her sister.
This book is more interesting than that one.
His essay was better than mine.
The weather today is worse than yesterday.
Superlative Adjectives
Superlative adjectives are a type of adjective that is used to describe the highest or lowest degree of a particular quality in a group of three or more nouns or pronouns. These adjectives typically end in “-est” or are preceded by the word “most“. They are used to indicate that one thing has the most or least of a particular quality in a group.
Superlative Adjectives Examples
This is the fastest car in the world.
She is the tallest person in her family.
This is the most interesting book I’ve ever read.
This is the best pizza in town.
He is the smartest student in his class.
Position of Adjectives
Adjectives can be placed in different positions in a sentence. Depending on the type of adjective and the intended meaning of the sentence. Generally, adjectives are placed before the noun they modify, but they can also be placed after the verb “to be” or after certain verbs of perception.
Placement of Adjectives Examples
Descriptive adjectives: They are typically placed before the noun they describe, such as “the red car” or “the beautiful sunset.”
Demonstrative adjectives: They can be placed before or after the noun, such as “this book” or “that book.”
Quantitative adjectives: Usually placed before the noun they modify, such as “several friends” or “a few apples.”
Possessive adjectives: You can place them before the noun they indicate ownership of, such as “my car” or “their house.”
Interrogative adjectives: They are placed before the noun they modify, such as “which book” or “whose phone.”
Comparative and superlative adjectives: They are usually followed by “than,” such as “bigger than” or “most beautiful of.”
Comparison of Adjectives
We can compare adjectives using comparative and superlative forms.
Comparative forms can compare two nouns.
Superlative forms are used to compare three or more nouns.
Most one-syllable adjectives form their comparative and superlative forms by adding –er and –est, respectively, such as “big,” “bigger,” and “biggest.”
Note! One-syllable adjectives, most two- and three-syllable adjectives form their comparative and superlative forms by adding “more” and “most,” respectively, such as “beautiful,” “more beautiful,” and “most beautiful.”
Comparison of Adjectives Examples
This car is faster than that one. (Comparative) This car is the fastest of them all. (Superlative)
John is taller than Tom. (Comparative) John is the tallest in the group. (Superlative)
The weather is worse today than yesterday. (Comparative) Today is the worst weather we have had this week. (Superlative)
This coffee is better than that one. (Comparative) This coffee is the best one I have ever tasted. (Superlative)
His house is larger than mine. (Comparative) His house is the largest one on the street. (Superlative)
My phone is more expensive than hers. (Comparative) My phone is the most expensive one in the store. (Superlative)
That movie was more entertaining than the other one. (Comparative) That movie was the most entertaining one I have seen this year. (Superlative)
Examples of Adjectives Ending in -ED and -ING
Below is an adjectives list ending in -ED and -ING:
Adjectives ending in “-ed”
Bored
Tired
Surprised
Interested
Confused
Excited
Frustrated
Amazed
Embarrassed
Satisfied
Adjectives ending in “-ing”
Boring
Tiring
Surprising
Interesting
Confusing
Exciting
Frustrating
Amazing
Embarrassing
Satisfying
List of Adjectives A-Z
Here is a complete commonly used adjectives list in English to improve your vocabulary in the English language. We sorted them alphabetically and by their grammatical functions.