What is an adjective?

Adjectives are words that describe or modify, or add meaning to, other words.

They are usually placed before the noun or pronoun that they modify.

What is an adjective? 1

Adjectives can…

Describe feelings or qualities:

Examples

  • He is a sad man
  • They are happy people

Give nationality or origin:

Examples

  • Pierre is French
  • This clock is German
  • Our house is Victorian

Tell more about a thing’s characteristics:

Examples

  • wooden table.
  • The knife is sharp.

Tell us about age:

Examples

  • He is a young man.
  • My coat is very old.

Tell us about size and measurement:

Examples

  • John is a tall man.
  • This is a very long film.

Tell us about colour:

Examples

  • Paul wore a red shirt.
  • The sunset was crimson and gold.

Tell us about material/what something is made of:

Examples

  • It was a wooden table
  • She wore a cotton dress

Tell us about shape:

Examples

  • A rectangular box
  • square envelope

Express a judgement or a value:

Examples

  • A  fantastic film
  • Grammar is boring