Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns, adding detail about qualities, quantities, or characteristics. They help us make language more precise and vivid, turning “a car” into “a sleek red car” or “a day” into “a memorable day.” Adjectives come in different types. Absolute adjectives describe qualities that usually cannot be compared, such as perfect or dead. Nominal adjectives act like nouns, referring to a group or class, as in “the rich” or “the elderly.” Proper adjectives are formed from proper nouns, like Indian food or Shakespearean drama. This page explores key adjectives of each type with clear sentence examples.
1. Absolute Adjectives (non-gradable / “all-or-nothing”)
Qualities that are logically complete, not normally “more” or “less”.
Common absolute adjectives
- perfect, ideal, complete, total, entire, whole, finished, final, irreversible
- equal, identical, same, unique, universal, infinite, eternal
- dead, alive, extinct, unborn, eternal
- married, single, divorced, widowed, engaged
- possible, impossible
- certain, sure, definite, absolute
- empty, full, blank, bare, vacant
- pure, sterile, spotless, flawless
- maximum, minimum, ultimate, terminal
- unanimous, sole, exclusive, only, chief, principal
- square, circular, round, triangular, cubic
- legal, illegal, valid, invalid, genuine, fake
- fatal, harmless, painless, priceless, worthless
Example sentences
- The plan seemed perfect, with no obvious weaknesses.
- After months of work, the project was finally complete.
- The jury returned a unanimous verdict.
- Sadly, the plant is dead and cannot be saved.
2. Nominal Adjectives (adjectives used as nouns)
Usually “the + adjective” to refer to a group/class of people.
Social / economic groups
- the rich, the poor, the wealthy, the needy, the disadvantaged, the privileged
- the middle-class, the upper-class, the lower-class, the unemployed
Age and life stage
- the young, the old, the elderly, the middle-aged, the newborn, the retired
- the teenage, the adult (less common), the juvenile
Health / physical condition
- the sick, the ill, the injured, the wounded, the disabled, the deaf, the blind, the mute, the handicapped (now dated/avoid in sensitive writing)
Moral / legal status
- the innocent, the guilty, the accused, the convicted, the condemned, the righteous, the wicked, the corrupt, the oppressed
National / cultural groups (overlap with proper adjectives)
- the English, the French, the Spanish, the Dutch, the Japanese, the Chinese, the Indians, the Italians, the Americans, the Africans
Example sentences
- Society has a duty to protect the vulnerable.
- New policies were introduced to support the unemployed.
- The war left many of the wounded in need of urgent care.
- The rich and the poor often live very different lives.
3. Proper Adjectives (from proper nouns)
Formed from names of people, places, languages, religions, brands, etc.
Nationality / region
- American, Indian, British, English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish
- French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Belgian
- Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Malaysian
- Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Romanian
- African, Nigerian, Kenyan, Egyptian, South African, Moroccan
- Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, Mexican, Brazilian, Argentine
Cities / places
- London, Parisian, New York, New Yorker, Roman, Venetian, Florentine
- Tokyo, Delhi, Mumbai, Dubai, Sydney, Berlin, Viennese, Hong Kong
Historical periods / styles
- Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian, Elizabethan, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque
- Gothic, Romantic, Modernist, Postmodern, Classical, Neoclassical
People / thinkers / writers
- Shakespearean, Dickensian, Orwellian, Kafkaesque
- Freudian, Jungian, Marxist, Darwinian, Newtonian, Einsteinian
Religion / philosophy / politics
- Christian, Muslim, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jewish, Judaic
- Confucian, Taoist, Stoic, Platonic, Aristotelian
- Republican, Democratic, Marxist, Leninist, Conservative, Liberal
Brands / institutions
- Shakespearean (from Shakespeare), Disney, Pixar, Hollywood
- Victorian (from Queen Victoria), Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Bollywood
- Google, Apple, Microsoft (e.g. Apple design, Google culture – borderline but often used)
Example sentences
- She prefers Italian cuisine to French cooking.
- The novel has a distinctly Victorian atmosphere.
- His theory was heavily influenced by Freudian ideas.
- Many tourists are drawn to Roman architecture.
