12 Types of Adjectives in English! Learning English adjectives can seem like a daunting task, but with the right tools and resources, you can be on your way to becoming an adjective master! In this post, we will take a look at 12 different types of adjectives in English. Each type has its own unique set of rules and usages, so it is important to learn them all in order to accurately describe items and ideas. Ready to get started? Great! Let’s dive in!
Definition of Adjectives
Adjectives are words that describe or modify people, places, things, and other nouns.
- He is happy.
- This cake looks good.
- She has a large
In the above examples; happy, good, and large are adjectives.
How to Learn Adjectives as an ESL Students?
If you are a student studying English as a second language, then adjectives can be a difficult concept to grasp. Adjectives have all kinds of different rules and usages that might seem overwhelming at first. However, there are a few simple things that can be done in order to get a better grasp of the English language.
Firstly, it is important to understand the different uses of adjectives. This will help you understand how words can be used in a sentence to provide detail and description.
Secondly, it is important to practice using adjectives in your writing and speaking. Doing this will give you a better idea as to which type of adjective best suits your needs. For example, do you need a descriptive adjective or a demonstrative adjective?
Finally, it is important to keep practicing and learning new words. The more adjectives that you learn, the better your writing and speaking skills will become.
12 Different Types of Adjectives in English
- Adjective of Quality
- Adjective of Quantity
- Interrogative Adjective
- Possessive Adjective
- Adjective of Number
- Demonstrative Adjective
- Distributive Adjective
- Compound Adjectives
- Coordinate Adjectives
- Emphasizing Adjective
- Proper Adjectives
- Descriptive Adjectives
Adjective of Quality
Adjectives of quality are used to describe the characteristics of a noun. They are usually treated as attributive adjective, meaning they are used before the noun it describes.
Usually, adjectives of quality are preceded by determiners such as ‘the’, ‘this’, or ‘my’. However, there are times when adjectives of quality are not preceded by determiners.
Examples
1) “I have a full set of the Lord of the Rings extended edition DVDs.”
2) “The blue bicycle is mine.”
Adjective of Quantity
Adjectives of quantity are used to express the amount or quantity of something. Usually, they come before a noun and can be followed by an indefinite article such as ‘a’ or ‘some’.
The adjective of quantity is often replaced by a phrase that includes ‘of’ and uses a preposition to show possession.
Examples
1) “I only have a few dollars.”
2) “Some of the pie remains.”
Interrogative Adjective
An interrogative adjective is used to form questions about a noun or pronoun and usually comes before the word it is describing.
Examples:
1) “Which shirt do you want to wear?”
2) “Am I going to have to work tomorrow?”
Adjective of Number
An adjective of number is used to express the number or amount of something. Usually, it is preceded by a determiner such as ‘the’ or ‘my’.
Examples
1) “The camel is one of several animals at the zoo.”
2) “I’d like to buy two tickets, please.”
Demonstrative Adjective
A demonstrative adjective indicates a specific item or idea and is used as an adjective before a noun. Most of the time, it is preceded by a determiner such as ‘this’, ‘that’, or ‘those’.
Examples
1) “I prefer this blue shirt.”
2) “I’m going to order those olives again!”
Distributive Adjective
A distributive adjective is used to specify different portions of a larger group. They come before nouns and are usually preceded by determiners such as ‘all’, ‘every’, or ‘some’.
Examples
1) “All of the pies are gone!”
2) “Every time I see that guy, he gives me an unpleasant look.”
Compound Adjectives
A compound adjective is a special type of adjective that is made up of two or more words. For example, the compound adjective “blueberry” consists of two words: “blue” and “berry”.
There are several types of compounds adjectives, some include: noun + noun, verb + noun, noun + adjective.
Examples
1) “I found a four-leaf clover.”
2) “That cake tastes incredible!”
Coordinate Adjectives
A coordinate adjective is a special type of adjective that can be positioned before or after the word it describes without changing the meaning of the sentence. Usually, they are preceded by determiners such as ‘my’, ‘the’, or ‘your’.
Examples
1) “That bright red shirt looks good on you.”
2) “I’m going to buy a few of those big chocolate bars.”
Emphasizing Adjective
An emphasizing adjective is a special type of adjective that adds emphasis to the word it describes. Usually, they are preceded by determiners such as ‘very’, ‘really’, or ‘such’.
Examples
1) “The red dress came back from the cleaners.”
2) “My dog is such a pain sometimes!”
Proper Adjectives
A proper adjective is a special type of modifier that is derived from the name of a person, place, or organization. Usually, it is preceded by determiners such as ‘the’ and followed by the name it describes.
Examples
1) “The Beatles were an incredibly famous band.”
2) “I’m going to call my mother.”
Exclamative Adjectives
An exclamative adjective is used to express strong feelings or emotions about something. It is usually preceded by determiners such as ‘what’ or ‘how’. Also, it is sometimes found in the middle of a sentence.
Examples
1) “What an incredible dress!”
2) “How wonderful!”
Negative Adjective
A negative adjective is used to express that something or someone is not a part of a group, does not possess certain qualities, or is the opposite of something else. Usually, they are preceded by determiners such as ‘no’ and ‘none’.
Examples
1) “None of the students were prepared for the test.”
2) “She has no plans to go out tonight.”
Possessive Adjectives
A possessive adjective is used to indicate ownership or possession of something. Usually, they are preceded by determiners such as ‘my’, ‘her’, or ‘their’.
Examples
1) “My phone is lost and I don’t know where it is.”
2) “Is that your cat?”
Infographics (Types of Adjectives)
