Introduction to Adjectives
An adjective is a word that describes or clarifies a noun. It tells us more about a particular object, person, place, or idea by providing more details about them. The use of adjectives makes the sentence more interesting and insightful.
Examples of Adjectives
Here are some examples of adjectives in sentences:
- The red apple is on the table.
- She is a smart student.
- It's a wonderful day.
In the above examples, the words 'red', 'smart' and 'wonderful' are adjectives as they describe the noun (apple, student, and day respectively).
Types of Adjectives
Adjectives have various types, all of them play a different role in a sentence to make it more expressive. Here are some types of adjectives:
Descriptive Adjectives
These are the most common types of adjectives and are used to express the characteristics or qualities of a noun. For example:
- The green grass.
- A delicious meal.
Quantitative Adjectives
These adjectives describe the quantity of something. For example:
- He has three dogs.
- I need some sugar.
Demonstrative Adjectives
These adjectives point out to a noun or a pronoun. For example:
- These books are mine.
- That cat is cute.
Possessive Adjectives
These adjectives show ownership or possession. For example:
- Her car is new.
- My phone is lost.
Interrogative Adjectives
These adjectives are used to ask questions. For example:
- Which route should we take?
- What time does the movie start?
Rules for Using Adjectives
There are several important rules to follow while using adjectives in sentences:
Adjective Order
If you are using more than one adjective before a noun, you should follow this order – quantity or number, quality or opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, and purpose. For example, you’d say “She wore a beautiful long red silk gown” and not “She wore a red beautiful silk long gown”.
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
When comparing two things, the comparative form of the adjective is used, usually by adding "-er"; and when comparing more than two things, the superlative form is used, usually by adding "-est". For example, a cat can be faster than a turtle, but the cheetah is the fastest of all animals. Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms, so it's recommended to learn them individually.
Using Adjectives after Linking Verbs
Adjectives can be used after linking verbs like feel, smell, look, and taste. For example: The cake smells delicious.
Conclusion
By understanding adjectives and how they work, you will become more precise and expressive in both your written and spoken English. Begin by practising a few adjectives and progressively include more into your vocabulary.
Practice Exercise
Try to spot the adjectives in these sentences:
- The loud crowd cheered for their team.
- The little boy ate a huge watermelon.
- She bought an old antique clock.
Make sure you understand the type of each adjective and why it was used in the sentence. This will greatly improve your understanding and use of this key part of speech.
