Adjectives are describing words.

Definition of Adjective
Adjectives are describing words. Large, grey, and friendly are all examples of adjectives. In the
examples below, these adjectives are used to describe an elephant.

Examples:
Large elephant
Grey elephant
Friendly elephant

Adjectives Modify Nouns

The word elephant is a noun. Adjectives are added to nouns to state what kind, what colour, which
one or how many. Adjectives are said to modify nouns and are necessary to make the meanings of
sentences clearer or more exact.

Examples:
 Follow the yellow cab.
(In this example, the adjective yellow modifies the noun cab.)
 Craig caught a large bass.
(In this example, the adjective large modifies the noun bass.)
 It is the girl with the pale face again.
 The principal words should be in bold.
(Beware of the adjective principal - see right)
 The rusty nail he stood on was the cause of the infection.
 Please put the old documents in the shredder.
 There is an essential matter we need to discuss.
 Peter guessed the right number.

Adjectives Modify Pronouns

Although less common, adjectives can also modify pronouns.

Examples:
 It is a blue one.
(In this example, the adjective blue modifies the pronoun one.)
 Only a brave few have received a recommendation.

The Different Types of Adjectives

Adjectives are describing words. However, there are many other words that are classified as
adjectives, some of which do not fall easily under this description.

What Are Possessive Adjectives?

A possessive adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun to show who (or what) owns something. For
example:
Here is a list of the possessive adjectives:

 my
 your
 his
 her
 its
 our
 their
 whose

Examples of Possessive Adjectives

Here are some examples of possessive adjectives in sentences:

Subjective Possessive Example

Pronoun Adjective
I my I like my new car.
you your You can leave your hat on.
he his He accidentally cut his finger.
she her She plays to her strengths.
it its It will show its teeth.
we our We have our reasons.
they their They washed their hands.
who whose Whose writing is this?

Examples of Possessive Adjectives

Here are some more examples of possessive adjectives in sentences:

 My head goes woozy when you climb your ladder.

 Take his spoon and put it by your plate.
 She got her looks from her father. He's a plastic surgeon. (Groucho Marx)
 It only wants its ball back.

Possessive Adjectives and Possessive Pronouns

Here is a list of personal pronouns with their corresponding possessive adjectives and possessive
pronouns (i.e., their possessive forms):

Personal Pronoun Possessive Form

 Possessive Adjective Possessive Pronoun
I my mine
you your yours
he his his
she her hers
it its [not used]
we our ours
they their theirs
who whose whose

Beware

Possessive Adjectives Are Technically Possessive Pronouns

A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun. As possessive adjectives replace nouns, you will
occasionally (and rather unhelpfully) see them classified as possessive pronouns. Look at this
example:

 This is Sarah's hat.

 This is her hat.
(In this example, the possessive adjective her replaces Sarah. That's why it's classified as
a pronoun as well as an adjective.)

It is more helpful to group possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns under the
term possessive form. This helps to differentiate between possessive adjectives (e.g., my, your, her)
and possessive pronouns (e.g., mine, yours, hers).

What Are Articles? (with Examples)

The articles are a, an, and the. Articles are words that define whether something is specific or
unspecific. For example:

Use 'the' to define something as specific:

 This is the lake.
(This is a previously specified lake, i.e., one already known to the audience.)
Use 'a' or 'an' to define something as unspecific:
 This is a lake.
(This is a previously unspecified lake.)
Even though there are three articles (the, a, an), there are two types of articles:
 The Definite Article (the)
 The Indefinite Article (a and an).
The is called the definite article because it is used to indicate something specific. A and An are
called the indefinite articles because they are used to indicate something unspecific.

Of note, the articles are classified as determiners, which are type of adjective.

Examples of the Definite and Indefinite Articles

Here are some examples of the articles in use:
 I fell over the chair again.
(The chair is specific. It is known to the audience.)
  Can you pass me a chair?
(This means an unspecific chair, i.e., any chair.)
 I loved the apple pie after the meal.
(In this example, the audience knows which apple pie is being praised, e.g., the one at last
night's dinner.)
 I love an apple pie after dinner.
(The audience understands that the speaker likes to eat an apple pie after dinner (any
apple pie will do).)

 I'm not a troublemaker. I'm the troublemaker!

(This means "I'm not any old troublemaker. I'm the one you all know about.")

When Do You Use An and A?

The main question regarding articles is when to use an instead of a.

An is used instead of a to make speaking easier. An is used when the first sound of the next word is
a vowel sound. Note: Consonants can create a vowel sound, and vowels can create a consonant
sound. The use of an is determined by the sound not the letter. Look at these examples:
 A house
 An hour
(House and hour start with the same three letters; however, house attracts a,
and hourattracts an. This is because house starts with a consonant sound, but hour starts
with a vowel sound.)
 A uniform row
 An unidentified man
(Uniform and unidentified start with the same three letters; however, uniform attracts a,
and unidentified attracts an. This is because uniform starts with a consonant sound (yoo),
but unidentified starts with a vowel sound.)

Articles Go before Adjectives

An article often modifies a noun that is already being modified by an adjective. When this happens,
the article goes before the adjective (or adjectives). For example:
 Please open the small box first.
(Here, the noun box is being modified by the adjective small. The definite article the sits
before the adjective. Remember, the use of the tells us that we are talking about a box
already known to the audience.)

 You will get an excellent pizza at Papa Antonio's.

(Here, the indefinite article an sits before the adjective excellent.)

Indefinite Articles Are Used with Singular Nouns

The indefinite article (a, an) is only for singular nouns. It is not used for plural nouns.

As the indefinite article (a, an) specifies one thing (e.g., a cup means one cup), it is not used
with non-countable nouns (e.g., water, air, integrity). For example:
 I need an air.
 Play me a music.
 Give me a heat.
Most commonly, the indefinite adjective some is used instead.
Articles Are Not Used with Possessive Adjectives or Possessive Pronouns
Articles are not used with possessive adjectives (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) or possessive
pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs) as these already show that something is specific. For
example:
 Take me to the your leader.
 Take me to your leader.

 Can I borrow a yours?

 Can I borrow yours?

What Are Demonstrative Adjectives? (with Examples)

The demonstrative adjectives are this, that, these, and those. They are used to point out specific
people or things.
This and That for Singular Nouns
This and that are used to modify singular nouns.

This is used to point out something close by. For example:

 This plate is very hot.
That is used to point out something farther away. For example:
 Can you see that ranch?
These and Those for Plural Nouns
These and those are used to modify plural nouns.

These is used to point out something close by. For example:

 These flowers smell nice.
Those is used to point out something farther away. For example:
 Do not approach those dogs.

The Difference between Demonstrative Adjectives and Demonstrative Pronouns

The demonstrative pronouns are the same words as the demonstrative adjectives
(i.e., this, that, these, and those). They are also used to point out specific people or things. However,
they do not modify nouns or pronouns. They stand alone as pronouns. For example:
 This is very hot.
 Can you see that?
 These smell nice.
 Do not approach those.

What Are Indefinite Adjectives? (with Examples)

An indefinite adjective is used to describe a noun in a non-specific sense.

The most common indefinite adjectives are any, each, few, many, much, most, several,
and some.

They are often used to describe a noun to show an element of uncertainty.

Indefinite adjectives should not be confused with indefinite pronouns. Indefinite adjectives modify
nouns or pronouns. Indefinite pronouns are standalone pronouns. For example:
 We are all born with genius, but most of us only keep it for a few minutes.
 (In this example, most is an indefinite pronoun, and few is an indefinite adjective. It
modifies minutes.)
 However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do
you if you do not act on upon them? (Buddha)
(In this example, only the first many is an indefinite adjective. (It modifies holy words.) The
second many is an indefinite pronoun.)

Examples of Indefinite Adjectives

Here are some examples of indefinite adjectives:
 There are several people in the safe room.
(This is an indefinite adjective. It modifies the noun people.)
 There are several in the safe room.
(This is an indefinite pronoun. It stands alone. It does not modify a noun.)
 I have seen some cartridges in the cupboard.
(This is an indefinite adjective. It modifies the noun cartridges.)
 I have seen some in the cupboard.
(indefinite pronoun)
 There are only a few deer left
(This is an indefinite adjective. It modifies the noun deer.)
 There are only a few left.
(indefinite pronoun)

More Examples of Indefinite Adjectives

Here are some indefinite adjectives that feature in witty quotes:

Everyone is born with genius, but most people only keep it a few minutes. (Edgard Varese, 1883-
1965)
Many people would sooner die than think; In fact, they do so. (Bertrand Russell, 1872-1970)
I bought some batteries, but they weren't included. (Steven Wright)

Numbers are classified as adjectives too.

 Four dolphins stayed with the boat until dawn.
(The adjective four modifies the noun dolphins.)
 All we could muster was 9 cans of beans.
(The adjective 9 modifies the noun cans.)
A compound adjective is a single adjective made up of more than one word (e.g., two-
seateraircraft, free-range eggs).

The words in a compound adjective are often linked together with a hyphen (or hyphens) to show
they are part of the same adjective.

Definition of Compound Adjective

A compound adjective is an adjective that comprises more than one word. Usually, a hyphen (or
hyphens) is used to link the words together to show that it is one adjective. For example:
 Please request a four-foot table.
(Four-foot is an adjective describing table. A hyphen is used to link four and foot to show
they are part of the same adjective.)
 It is a 6-page document.
 Claire worked as a part-time keeper at the safari park.
 That is an all-too-common mistake.
Compound Adjectives from Proper Nouns
Often adjectives are formed from proper nouns (i.e., the names of things), which should be written
using capital letters. In these circumstances, there is no need to group the words together using
hyphens. For example:
 Did you manage to get the Billy Elliot tickets?
(The words Billy Elliot are one adjective describing the tickets. As the capital letters group
the words, there is no need to use a hyphen.)

(Waking the Dead is correct. It is a compound adjective using title case.)

Compound Adjectives with Quotation Marks and Italics

Although a less common practice, it is also possible to group the words in a compound adjective
using quotation marks, italics or a combination of the two. (Italics tend to be used for foreign words.)

Examples:
 It is an ab initio course (i.e., for beginners).
(italics used to group the adjective)
 Amber looked at the stick in the water, looked me in the eye and then turned away, giving
me a "get it yourself" look.
(quotation marks used to group the adjective)
 For more than ten years, Jack claimed to be part of the "Mary Celeste" crew before
admitting to his cousin at a party that he was not.
(capital letters, italics and quotation marks used to group the adjective)

Adverbs and Compound Adjectives

As covered in the lesson on adverbs, an adjective is often preceded by a word
like very, well, beautifully, or extremely. (These are adverbs.)

Usually, there is no need to link an adverb to an adjective using a hyphen. For example:
 Young Tracey is an extremely brave girl.
(The adverb extremely modifies the adjective brave but is not part of it. There is no need
to group it and brave together with a hyphen.)
 It was a beautifully painted portrait in a skilfully carved frame.
(The adverb beautifully adds to the adjective painted but is not part of it. It is the same
with skilfully and carved. There is no need for hyphens.)

Ambiguous Adverbs
However, with words like well and fast (which are both adjectives and adverbs), a hyphen can be
used to avoid ambiguity. For example:
 Jacob took the well-fatted calf to the riverside.
(well-fatted calf as in a very plump calf)
 Jacob took the well fatted calf to the riverside.
(well fatted calf could be construed as a well (i.e., healthy) and fatted calf. In the first
example, the well-fatted calf could be ill.)

What Is an Adjective Clause? (with Examples)

When we think of an adjective, we usually think about a single word used before a noun to modify its
meanings (e.g., tall building, smelly cat, argumentative assistant). However, an adjective can also
come in the form of an adjective clause.
An adjective clause usually comes after the noun it modifies and is made up of several words which,
like all clauses, will include a subject and a verb.

Examples of Adjective Clauses

Here are some examples of adjective clauses:
 The carpets which you bought last year have gone moldy.
 The film which you recommended scared the kids half to death.
 The follies which a man regrets most in his life are those which he didn't commit when he
had the opportunity. (Helen Rowland, 1876-1950)
 Bore: a person who talks when you wish him to listen.

The Components of an Adjective Clause

An adjective clause (which can also be called an adjectival clause or a relative clause) will have the
following three traits:
 It will start with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, that, or which) or a relative
adverb (when, where, or why).
(This links it to the noun it is modifying.)(Note: Quite often, the relative pronoun can be
omitted. However, with an adjective clause, it is always possible to put one in. There is
more on this below.)
 It will have a subject and a verb.
(These are what make it a clause.)
 It will tell us something about the noun.
(This is why it is a kind of adjective.)
Look at the three traits in this example:

Quite often, the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause. Look at the three traits in this example:

The Relative Pronoun Can Be Omitted

It is common for the relative pronoun to be omitted. Look at these examples:
 The carpets which you bought last year have gone moldy.
 The film which you recommended scared the kids half to death.
 The follies which a man regrets most in his life are those which he didn't commit when he
had the opportunity. (Helen Rowland, 1876-1950)
This is not always possible though:
 Bore: a person who talks when you wish him to listen.
Commas or No Commas around an Adjective Clause?
The big question with an adjective clause is whether to offset it with commas or not. The rule is this:
 Don't use commas if your clause is essential; i.e., it is required to identify its noun. (This is
called a restrictive clause.)
 Do use commas if your clause is just additional information. (This is called a non-
restrictive clause.)
This is a good test: If you would happily put brackets around it or delete it, then use commas.

Here is an example of a non-restrictive clause:

 My brother, who claimed to have a limp, sprinted after the bus.

(This clause is not required to identify My brother. It is just additional information.)
 My brother (who claimed to have a limp) sprinted after the bus.
(As it's just additional information, you can put it in brackets.)
 My brother sprinted after the bus.
(As it's just additional information, you can even delete it.)
Compare this to a restrictive clause:

 The tramp who claimed to have a limp sprinted after the bus.
(This clause is required to identify The tramp. Without it, we don't know which tramp we're
talking about.)
 The tramp (who claimed to have a limp) sprinted after the bus.
(This sentence is only appropriate if we know which tramp we're talking about.)
 The tramp sprinted after the bus.
(This sentence is only appropriate if we know which tramp we're talking about.)
What Is an Adjective Phrase?

An adjective phrase is a group of words headed by an adjective that modifies a noun.

Example:
 She had extremely menacing eyes.
(In this example, the adjective phrase is highlighted and the head adjective is in bold. This
adjective phrase modifies the noun eyes.)

What Is an Adjective Phrase? (with Examples)

An adjective phrase (or adjectival phrase) is a phrase that tells us something about the noun it
is modifying. The head (principal) word in an adjective phrase will be an adjective. In the examples
below, the adjective phrase is shaded and the head word (i.e., the adjective) is in bold:
 These are unbelievably expensive shoes.
(In this example, the head adjective ends the adjective phrase.)
 Sarah was fairly bored with you.
(In this example, the head adjective is in the middle of the adjective phrase.)
Like a normal adjective, an adjective phrase can be used before the noun it is modifying (like in the
first two examples above) or after the noun it is modifying (like in the last example).

More Examples of Adjective Phrases

Here are some more examples of adjective phrases (with the head adjectives in bold):
 The extremely tired lioness is losing patience with her overly enthusiastic cub.
 My mother was fairly unhappy with the service.
 Her baking always smells very tempting.
 The consequences of agreeing were far too serious.
 The dog covered in mud looked pleased with himself.

Adjective Phrases Can Be Used Attributively or Predicatively

An adjective phrase can be an attributive adjective or a predicative adjective.

Attributive Adjective. An attributive adjective is one that sits inside the noun phrase of the noun it
modifies. Look at these two examples:
 The beautifully carved frames are worth more than the painting.
(This is an attributive adjective phrase. It sits inside the noun phrase The beautifully
carved frames.)
 The frames beautifully carved by monks are worth more than the painting.
(This is also an attributive adjective phrase. It sits inside the noun phrase The frames
beautifully carved by monks.)
When an adjective appears before its noun, it is very likely to be an attributive adjective. However,
an adjective that appears after its noun can also be attributive.

Predicative Adjective. A predicative adjective sits outside the noun phrase of the noun it modifies.
Typically, a predicative adjective is linked to the noun it modifies with a linking verb. For example:
 The curtains look far too long.
(This is a predicative adjective phrase. The linking verb is look.)

 The frames were beautifully carved by monks.

(This is a predicative adjective phrase. The linking verb is were.)

Examples of Adjective Phrases Used Attributively and Predicatively

Let's look at the earlier examples:

The extremely tired lioness is losing patience with her overly enthusiastic cub.(Both adjective
phrases are used attributively. They appear inside the noun phrases The extremely tired
lioness and her overly enthusiastic cub.)
 My mother was fairly unhappy with the service.(The adjective phrase is used predicatively. It
appears outside the noun phrase My mother. The linking verb is was.)
Her baking always smells very tempting.(The adjective phrase is used predicatively. It appears
outside the noun phrase Her baking. The linking verb is smells.)
The consequences of agreeing were far too serious.(The adjective phrase is used predicatively.
It appears outside the noun phrase The consequences of agreeing. The linking verb is were.)
The dog covered in mud looked pleased with himself.(In this example, the first adjective phrase
is used attributively. It appears inside the noun phrase The dog covered in mud. The second is used
predicatively. It appears outside the same noun phrase. The linking verb is looked.)

The order of adjectives in English is opinion, size, age, shape, colour, origin, material, and purpose.
For example:
 A lovely, large, antique, round, black, Spanish, wooden, mixing bowl

The Order of Adjectives in English

When two or more adjectives are required to describe something, there is an established order for
the adjectives. The order is generally as follows:
 opinion
 size
 age
 shape
 colour
 origin
 material
 purpose
The following example with eight adjectives is ordered correctly:
A lovely, large, antique, round, black, Spanish, wooden, mixing bowl
(These adjectives are modifying the noun bowl.)

 opinion (lovely)
 size (large)
 age (antique)
 shape (round)
 colour (black)
 origin (Spanish)
 material (wooden)
 purpose (mixing)
Note: Using two or more adjectives is called enumeration of adjectives.

Stick to the Order

Of course, it is very rare to describe something with eight adjectives. Enumeration of adjectives
occurs most commonly with just two adjectives and occasionally three. Stick to the order. For
example:
With two adjectives:

A lovely, mixing bowl

A black, wooden bowl

With three adjectives:

A large, round, mixing bowl

A lovely, antique, Spanish, wooden bowl

A Spanish, lovely, wooden

bowl
(This is wrong because opinion (lovely) should precede origin (Spanish).

Let Your Instinct Guide You

If you're a native English speaker, you should let your instinct guide you. The list of precedence
given on this page is not universally agreed, but all versions are pretty similar. The area of most
dispute is age and shape.

Here at Grammar Monster, we think age trumps shape, but others have this the other way around.
In other words, we think "old round box" sounds better than "round old box". However, we would
agree that "round antique box" sounds better than "antique round box".

Confusion arises because it is not always clear which category an adjective belongs to. You could
make a case for "antique" not being about age but purpose (i.e., it's part of the compound
noun"antique box").