Adjective Definition, Types of Adjectives, Examples and Rules
- Home
- Adjectives in English
Adjective Definition
Adjective Definition: An Adjective is a word that describes a noun or noun phrase or pronoun and provides more information. Basically, A adjective tells the characteristics of a noun or noun phrase or pronoun. Its semantic role is to change the information given by the noun. Adjectives are usually placed before the nouns they describe. In simple words, Adjectives are words that describe the qualities or states of being of nouns: enormous, doglike, silly, many etc. So we may define an Adjective is a word used with a noun to add something to its meaning. In English Grammar, Adjectives have been described as a Part of Speech in various types and to understand each type of adjective in detail you must read the article further.
Adjective Examples
The adjective examples below would help you to understand the adjective with ease. To get a better grasp of these various adjective examples, take a look at these example sentences containing some adjectives.
| S. No. | Adjective Examples | Adjective Used in a Sentence |
| 1 | clever | Sita is a clever girl. |
| 2 | little | There is little time for preparation. |
| 3 | Five | He gave me five mangoes. |
| 4 | lazy | The lazy boy was punished by his teacher. |
| 5 | quite | I am quite well. |
| 6 | large | Kolkata is a large city. |
| 7 | honest | Sarabjeet is an honest man. |
| 8 | beautiful | Ashutosh bought her a beautiful saree on their anniversary |
| 9 | aggressive | Ben is an aggressive baby |
| 10 | ashamed | His parents are ashamed of his deeds |
| 11 | meaningless | He writes meaningless letters |
| 12 | nicer | This shop is much nicer |
Types of Adjectives
There are a total of 8 types of Adjectives in English grammar namely Descriptive adjective, Numeral adjective, Quantitative adjective, Demonstrative adjective, Interrogative adjective, Possessive adjective, Proper adjective, and Exclamatory adjective. Lets' have a look at the types of adjectives with examples:
| S.No. | Adjective Types/ Kinds | Examples |
| 1 | Descriptive Adjective | Large, beautiful, careful, hateful etc. |
| 2 | Numeral Adjective | Five, few, many, several, first etc. |
| 3 | Quantitative Adjective | Some, much, little, any, half, whole |
| 4 | Demonstrative Adjective | This, that, these, those, such |
| 5 | Interrogative Adjective | What, which, whose, |
| 6 | Possessive Adjective | Mu, our, your, his, her, its, their |
| 7 | Proper Adjective | English, Indian tea, French wines, Turkish tobacco |
| 8 | Exclamatory Adjective | What, how |
Types of Adjectives and Examples
In English Grammer, there have been 8 types of Adjectives, which are explained with examples in the below section.
1) Descriptive Adjective
Adjectives of Quality or Descriptive Adjectives show the kind of quality of a person or thing. Ex. Beautiful, large, small etc.
The foolish old crow tried to sing.
2) Numeral Adjective
Adjectives of number or Numeral Adjectives show how many persons or things are meant. This adjective represents numeral value. Ex. Eight, few, second, some etc.
Few dogs like hot water.
They are further divided into two kinds i.e. Definite Numeral adjectives and Indefinite Numeral adjectives.
3) Quantitative Adjective
Adjectives of quantity show how much quantity of a thing is meant. Ex. Some, little, whole, one fourth etc.
He ate some rice.
4) Demonstrative Adjective
Demonstrative Adjectives point out which person or thing is meant, ex. This, that, those, such etc.
This girl is taller than Rosie.
5) Interrogative Adjectives
What, which, and whose, when they are used with nouns to ask questions, are called Interrogative Adjectives.
Whose book is this?
6) Possessive Adjectives
We use Possessive adjectives to express who owns or possesses something. This is used in front of a noun. Ex. Own, my, our etc.
He is his own master.
7) Proper Adjectives
Adjectives formed from proper nouns are called Proper Adjectives. Ex. British, Chinese etc.
The British professor is teaching in the class.
8) Exclamatory Adjectives
The word what is sometimes used as an Exclamatory Adjective.
Ex. What a genius!
What a blessing!
Comparison of Adjectives
1. Ram’s mango is sweet.
2. Hari’s mango is sweeter than Ram’s
3. Govind’s mango is the sweetest of all.
Adjectives change in form (sweet, sweeter, sweetest) to show comparison. They are called the three Degrees of Comparison.
1. The Adjective sweet is said to be to the Positive Degree.
2. The Adjective sweeter is said to be in the Comparative Degree.
3. The Adjective sweetest is said to be in the Superlative Degree.
Some Rules regarding Adjectives
Rule 1. An Adjective used attributively is generally placed immediately before the noun. Ex. King Francis was a hearty king and loved a royal sport.
Rule 2. In poetry, however, the Adjective is frequently placed after the noun. Ex. Oh man with sisters dear!
Rule 3. When several Adjectives are attached to one noun, they are sometimes placed after it for emphasis. Ex. There dwelt a miller hale and bold.
Rule 4. When some word or phrase is joined to the Adjective to explain its meaning, the Adjective is placed after its noun. Ex. He was a man fertile in the resource.
Rule 5. In certain phrases, the Adjectives always come after the noun. Ex. God Almighty