Adjectives

So, what is an adjective?

Adjective Meaning | Definition

An adjective is a word that customizes and intensifies a noun or a pronoun. It gives additional information about what the noun or the pronoun refers to.  It is usually comes right before the noun or the pronoun that it modifies. We can use more than one adjective to describe a noun or a pronoun and when a noun comes before another noun, it becomes its adjective.

Example Sentences List

In this list the bold words in orange colour are adjectives.

  1. The colourful balloon floated over the treetop.
  2. The big dog chased the car.
  3. A yellow butterfly is sitting on the red rose.
  4. The tall giraffe is eating green leaves.
  5. A small rat is beside the brown cabinet.
  6. The beautiful princess is wearing a purple gown.

Type of Adjectives

Descriptive Adjectives

Adjectives of quality describe a person, a place or a thing and hence are also known as descriptive adjective.They show quality, size, origin, colour, shape, taste, acts, feel, look or some other quality of nouns and pronouns.

Example Sentences List

  1. He is a funny little man.
  2. The green grasshopper is sitting on the flower.
  3. He banged his head against the glass door. (In this example the noun ‘glass’ works as an adjective here because it describes the noun ‘door’.)

Proper Adjectives

Adjective formed from proper nouns, like Swiss chocolates and Italian pasta, are called proper adjectives. However, they are generally considered as adjectives of quality.

Example Sentences

  1. Swiss chocolates are famous all over the world.
  2. American jeans are probably the best jeans in the world.
  3. Hydrogen gas is the lightest gas and element.

Adjective of Quantity

Adjectives of quantity indicate the quantity of nouns and pronouns.

Example Sentences List

  1. Just a little juice is left in the jug.
  2. Did you have enough food?
  3. Sayda does not need much money.
  4. Bring all the notebooks from the classroom.
  5. Jenny takes great care of her pets.
  6. Many cars are parked in the basement.

Numeral Adjectives

Adjectives of number show how many things or persons are meant. They also tell us the order in which the person or thing stands. These types of adjectives are also known as numeral adjective.

Example Sentences List

  1. Peter secured first position in his class.
  2. Kim bought six apples.
  3. We ordered for two cups of coffee.
  4. The sixth girl standing from the left won a gold medal for the school.
  5. Please purchase one dozen eggs for me.
  6. Bring me two books from the shelf.
  7. A week has seven days.
  8. December is the twelfth month of the year.

Interrogative Adjectives

Interrogative adjectives are words used along with nouns to ask questions.

Example Sentences List

  1. Which road shall we take?
  2. What time would the match begin?
  3. Whose car is this?

Difference between interrogative adjectives and interrogative pronouns

We use the words what, which, whose as both interrogative adjectives and interrogative pronouns. However, in case of interrogative adjectives, nouns or pronouns follow them. In other words, an interrogative adjective modifies a noun or noun phrase rather than standing on its own.

  • Example of interrogative adjective: Whose pen is this?
  • Example of interrogative pronoun: Whose is this pen?

Demonstrative Adjectives

The word demonstrative suggests ‘pointing out’. The adjectives that point out nouns are called demonstrative adjectives. These show whether the noun they refer to is singular or plural and whether it is located near or far.

Demonstrative adjectives answer the question, ‘which?’

Example Sentences List

  1. This pen is very expensive.
  2. Look at that bill board.
  3. These mangoes are ripe.
  4. These apartments have been built recently.

Difference between demonstrative adjectives and demonstrative pronouns

A demonstrative adjective is always followed by a noun.
For example:

  • Those children are playing tennis.
  • That lake is very beautiful.

A demonstrative pronoun is used to refer back to a noun that is not mentioned specifically.
For example:

  • Would you deliver this parcel?
  • Does the tie you bought go with that?

Possessive Adjectives

The adjectives that show possession or belonging are called possessive adjectives. My, your, his, her its, our and their are possessive adjectives used with nouns to show ownership.

Example Sentences List

  1. This bicycle was gifted by my grandfather.
  2. The dog is licking its paws.

Difference between possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns

A possessive pronoun is used instead of a noun.
For example: Susan’s basket is small. Mine is big.

A possessive adjective is used to describe a noun. It comes before the noun.
For example: My basket is bigger than her basket.

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