Types of Adjectives

Adjectives are terms to describe or alter other terms, making your writing and speech more particular and intriguing.

Adjectives are frequently placed well before nouns or pronouns that they alter since they are used to describe or measure specific individuals and things.

Descriptive words such as little, red, and pointy are all instances of adjectives. Multiple adjectives are used in some statements.

Adjective Examples

In the below mentioned sentences, the highlighted words are the adjectives:

1. They reside in a huge, attractive mansion
2. It is a hotday; I prefer to wear shorts.
3. The Himalayas are enveloped in sparkling snow.
4. On her anniversary, Bushra got an antique showpiece.

How Are Adjectives Used?

When modifying nouns, adjectives can be employed in a variety of ways.

1. To Describe Nouns and Pronouns

Adjectives are frequently used to characterize nouns and pronouns. Adjectives can be used to describe the properties of a noun or pronoun. They can also express approximate or exact noun/pronoun quantities. As an example:

• Quality: The hardworking beavers constructed a massive dam.
• Rough amount: I gave grains to some ducks.
• Exact number: She has five sisters in all.

2. To Compare Nouns and Pronouns

Adjectives are also used to compare persons and objects. A comparative adjective is utilized to compare two items. For instance, if the length of a blue pen surpasses the length of a white pen, we would conclude that the blue pen is longer than the white pen. A comparison adjective is longer. A superlative adjective is used when comparing more than two items.

For instance, if we had four boxes weighing 7, 8, and 11 Kgs, we would state that the 11-Kg box is the heaviest. A comparative adjective has an ending of -er or uses the terms more or less, whereas a superlative adjective has an ending of -est or utilizes the words most or the least.

Types Of Adjectives

1. Descriptive Adjectives

Descriptive adjectives are the most popular of the adjective categories.

Descriptive adjectives are typically what first to mind when thinking of a word that modifies a noun. This sort of adjective characterizes a noun by conveying a characteristic or quality.

A descriptive adjective might transform "the brother" into "the big brother" or "the flower" into "the cheerful daisy." The adjectives are bold in all instances, and the nouns they alter are emphasized.

Let us have a look at some instances of these types of adjectives;

1. For hours, the stupid dog played around in the disgusting dirt.
2. She's a fantastic cashier.
3. He injured her feelings when he referred to her as an irritating sister.

2. Adjectives with Coordinates (Coordinated Adjectives)

Coordinate adjectives are tiny sets of adjectives that all alter the same noun. They are split with the words "and" or commas.

An adjective phrase can be formed by using a phrase containing many adjectives to alter the same noun.

Let us have a look at a few examples of these types of adjectives;

1. Yesterday, she donned a pink and yellow shirt.
2. It was a cheerful, pleasant, and splendid morning along Beach.
3. Their murder was a sad, tragic, and heinous crime.

When stacking terms before a noun, be cautious. For instance, "purple dressing gown" lacks commas and the term "and." This is due to the word "purple" modifying the word "hospital gown."

If you are unsure about two terms that could be a modifier, put the word "and" between them. If it doesn't make sense, it suggests you are in work with the descriptive adjectives rather than a coordinate adjectives.

3. Adjectives that are compounded (Compounded Adjectives)

A compound adjective is one that is composed of many words. Unlike the coordinative adjective, this sort of adjective does not consist of independent words.

A compound adjective refers to the two or more terms (or a digit plus a term) that function together to alter the noun. They are commonly hyphenated.

Let us see some instances of these types of adjectives;

1. I have a 900-word article due.
2. I went out and purchased some fat-free cheese.
3. We'll be on a five-hour boat cruise.
4. I'm seeking a full-time position.

4. Proper Adjectives

A proper noun is a term that is distinctive to an individual, place, or thing. Since proper adjectives originate from proper nouns, they should be capitalized.

As a result, rather than "she," we have "Mary." We have "China" rather than "country." Proper adjectives resemble their ancestors, proper nouns. They only move slightly. They're usually utilized to describe something related to its noun counterpart.

Let us see some of the instances of these types of adjectives;

1. I love Japanese cuisine.
2. She'll be attending a Shakespearean event.
3. It was a Freudian slip, to be sure.

5. Demonstrative Adjectives

A demonstrative adjective usually indicates which word or pronoun is being discussed. In the English language, there are four demonstrative adjectives: this, that, these, and those.

Demonstrative Adjectives are most often (but not always) placed well prior the noun they change. Adjectives that are demonstrative are often positioned centrally before the noun they are altering.

Let us have a look at a few examples of these types of adjectives;

1. Do you want to buy this mountain bike?
2. That used to be my automobile.
3. I'm not interested in these awards.
4. Those slippers are stunning.

6. Distributive Adjectives

Specific individuals of a class or group are referred to as distributive adjectives. They denote the collective aspect of persons or things that can be counted.

Any, each, either, every, and neither are some of the best-known distributive adjectives. Like most of their group, such adjectives stand exactly next to the noun they're altering.

Let us have a glance at some of the examples of these types of adjectives;

1. Does any one of you know him?
2. Each student will receive an invitation.
3. Either shirt will fit you properly.
4. He bought every chocolate in that shop.
5. Neither student called me back.

7. Adjectives that are indefinite

Indefinite adjectives define nouns or pronouns in a broad sense. These adjectives refer to non-specific entities. Few, many, no, several, and some are examples of indefinite adjectives.

These euphemisms indicate that you're on the hunt for an indefinite adjective.

Let us have a look at a few examples of these types of adjectives;

1. Only a few individuals make it this far.
2. Does your company have many vacancies?
3. There seem to be no novels in this reading room.
4. I checked several sources.
5. There are still some spots left.

8. Adjectives of Interrogation

Interrogative adjectives are used to ask a question. They require the assistance of nouns or pronouns.

Keep an eye out for the terms what, which, and whose in this section.

Let us have a look at a few examples of these types of adjectives;

1. What colours do you like the villa to be?
2. Which jacket would you want to buy?
3. Whose property are we walking on?

Other words that ask questions, like "who" and "how," are not adjectives since they do not alter nouns. For example, you could inquire, "Whose property are we walking on?" However, it is incorrect or wrong to ask, "Who property are we walking on?" or "How property are we walking on?"

9. Possessive Adjectives

Possessive adjectives are useful indicators for showing possession. Possessive adjectives indicate ownership.

These are simple and easy to use and recognize. His, her, my, your, and their are key participants in the possessive adjective arena. Possessive adjectives are frequently used before possessive nouns.

Let us have a glance at some of the examples of these types of adjectives;

1. Is that their Sportscar?
2. Don't mess with our Porsche.
3. Oops, I didn't realize this was your Vehicle.

10. Predicate Adjectives

The instances mentioned above are of the attributive adjectives, except perhaps some of the possessive adjective. In other words, they occur just before the noun that they change. However, things become a bit challenging/tough when it pertains to linking verbs (am, is, are, was, were).

Predicate adjectives are those that come after the linking verbs and change the subject of the statement.

These adjectives can be tough to recognize since they are positioned after the verbs instead of prior the nouns, but they still nevertheless pertain to the adjective family.

Let us peek into some of the examples of these types of adjectives;

1. She is clever.
2. We are wealthy.
3. They were successful.

11. Adjectives with Quantitative Values

A quantitative noun is any quantity that provides additional info about a noun.

Quantitative adjectives express how much of something there is. They do more than just change a noun or pronoun. They also address questions such as "How much?" and "How many?"

Words like "one" and "two" become adjectives as a result of this.

Let us peek into some of the examples of these types of adjectives;

1. Diana has two kids.
2. I plan to have six pets in the coming years.
3. In fact, I'll carry the whole trash.

As an aside, it's commonly recognized practice to write down the digits 0 through 9 and use digits for any of them ten or above when writing digits.

12. Superlative adjectives

When comparing more than two individuals or objects, superlative adjectives are employed to indicate which is the more superior or extreme.

Words like sharpest, fastest, most remarkable, and least useful are instances of superlative adjectives.

1. Ryan is our group's fastest player.
2. That's the oldest of all of my publications.
3. We are trying to sort out the least complicated way of explaining the lesson to the undergrads.

13. Comparative adjectives

Comparative adjectives are often used to contrast two dissimilar individuals or things.

Words like shorter, speedier, more costly, and less acceptable are examples of comparison adjectives.

1. Sharks are much larger than the dolphin.
2. We relocated to a cheaper locality.
3. The series was even more fantastic than the first film.

14. Adjectives as Articles

This is when things become complicated. In the English Grammar, there are three articles (a, an, and the). Aren't articles just that?

There are articles that are definite and articles that are indefinite. In statements, the articles also function as adjectives. They are placed next to the nouns they alter.

1. I recently adopted a puppy.
2. It's an elephant.
3. Don't pull the turtle away.

Other Kinds of Adjectives

Participial Adjectives

Participial adjectives are adjectives centered around participles, which are words that finish in -ed or -ing and are derived from verbs. Outstanding, delighted and intriguing are examples of participle adjectives.

Examples of Participal Adjectives

1. Austin was early for his swimming class.
2. Kindly return me my pair of reading spectacles.
3. The funny clown entertained the bored kids.

Limiting Adjectives

Adjectives that limit a noun or pronoun instead of express any of its properties or attributes are known as limiting adjectives. Other categories of adjectives, such as demonstrative adjectives and possessive adjectives, merge with limiting adjectives. Words like these, your, and some are examples of limiting adjectives.

Limiting adjective examples

1. I purchased some veggies at the shop.
2. She found three coins hidden beneath the couch pillows.
3. See that new building over there.

Attributive Adjectives

Attributive adjectives refer to the adjectives that appear immediately after the noun or pronoun they alter. Attributive adjectives are usually used directly prior to nouns and pronouns, but they change. They do, however, occasionally appear after them.

Examples of Attributive Adjectives

1. She has lovely handwriting.
2. The hungry gorilla devoured the fresh plums.
3. John gave his grandfather something special for his 70th birthday.

Appositive Adjectives

An appositive adjective (or a string of adjectives) appears after the noun it alters. It is usually separated by commas or dashes. It functions in the same way as an appositive noun.

Example of Appositive adjective in a statement

1. Then the hills, grave and dark, entered the view.
2. A man, with freckles and white beard entered the room.

Denominal Adjectives

A denominal adjective is an adjective that is generated from a noun, usually with the inclusion of a suffix (for example, "-ish," "-ly," or "-esque").

Example of Denominal adjective in a statement

1. Alia thinks Andrew is Childish but at least he talks nicely.
2. He was feeling puckish while travelling on the train.

Nominal Adjectives

A nominal adjective (also known as a substantive adjective) is a noun-functioning adjective. Nominal adjectives are usually followed by the definite article "the."

Examples of Nominal adjectives in a sentence

1. The candidate addressed to both the wealthy and the impoverished.
2. It is critical to care for the elderly people.

Some Adjective Usage Guidelines

Rule 1: An attributive adjective is usually placed just before the noun. For example, Monarch Charles was a hearty ruler who enjoyed royal sports.

Rule 2: However, in poetry, the Adjective usually appears after the noun. Ex. Oh god with brothers dear!

Rule 3: When numerous adjectives are linked to the same word, they are occasionally placed after it to emphasize their importance. For example, there lived a hale and courageous miller.

Rule 4: When a word or phrase is added to the Adjective to describe its meaning, the Adjective comes after the noun. For example, he was a resourceful man.

Rule 5: Adjectives always appear after the noun in specific phrases. For instance, the Almighty God

An Adjectival Attitude

Most of you must have heard of the term "flowery" applied to the content or writing. They usually stuff it with descriptions - most often the adjectives or adverbs - and thus make their write-up clumsy. Of course, it's critical to be aware of and comprehend the numerous forms of adjectives.

However always determine the number of adjectives you should use in your write-up. There is no need to utilize a variety of adjectives in every statement.

You don't want to go too far with this, just like you don't want to go too far with anything else. Keep a couple of adjectives from this big list in your back pocket with that in mind. Maybe one of them may come in handy in your next short story, poem, or discussion.