What is an Adjective? Learn with 10 Clear Examples to Enhance Your Writing
Learn what an adjective is with 10 easy examples to make your writing better. Find out how to use adjectives in simple and meaningful ways. Don’t skip anything, read the full guide for more information.
How do you feel when somebody praises you? Good! Obviously. Who does not like admiration?
Whenever somebody uses good words for us, like brave, funny, intelligent, etc., we feel elated, and it helps us improve. Just like Croft M. Pentz once said, “Praise like sunlight, helps all things to grow.”
We ought to like these words. But do you know what these words are called?
These words are known as adjectives. They are used to define a characteristic of a noun in a sentence.
Adjectives are not as difficult to understand as the other parts of speech. So let’s just start learning them already.
What are the adjectives?
Adjectives are the words that describe or provide particular information about a noun. They are mostly present before the noun or pronoun they describe and after the sentence's main verb.
But the position is not that important, as it can vary according to the type of sentence we are making. What’s more important is the information we convey through adjectives.
We can tell what something is, how it is, what it does, its size, function, quality, almost everything. We can even compare things in a sentence using different forms of adjectives.
Forms of adjectives
What’s bigger, the sun or the moon? Obviously the sun, but the point is, the adjective “bigger” is defining the sun or the moon?
It is defining both but in comparison. Bigger here is in comparative form. Adjectives change their form when they are used to compare things in a sentence. They take three major forms, which we are going to learn next.
1. Positive form
This is its simplest form. It is used when there is no comparison going on in the sentence, just a simple description of a noun or pronoun.
As in,
- This is a great book (only one noun, “book”)
2. Comparative form
That’s the form we were talking about before. The quality of two nouns or subjects is compared in a sentence using these adjectives, like the “bigger” I defined above.
Two nouns that are being compared should have the same quality, which the adjective is defining. You cannot say, “Wolves howl louder than birds.” Birds do not howl; they chirp.
For example:
- My dog is much stronger than your cat. (Dog and cat are two nouns; “much stronger than” is the comparative form of “strong.”)
3. Superlative form
This form is used when we have to represent that the quality of a subject is superior to all the subjects possessing the same quality. It is all because a subject plays a vital role in sentence structuring and makes the random words meaningful and understandable.
Confusing! Isn’t it? So let’s learn through an example.
- The elephant is the strongest animal in the jungle. (All animals have some sort of strength, but the strength of an elephant is superior to all the other animals.)
4 main types of adjectives used in sentence writing
If the elephant is the strongest animal in the jungle, then it means that other animals are weaker. But that does not seem like a quality, or is it?
By quality, we do not mean praise all the time. It means there is something that describes the nature of something a human, an animal, or even a thing.
So depending upon the nature, we can divide the categories of adjectives.
1. Possessive adjectives
We use these adjectives to describe the possession of a quality by a noun like the subject owns this quality.
Possessive adjectives are “my, your, his, her, their, its, whose, etc.”
Examples:
- This is my car (my)
- It's your wallet (your)
- Their village is very beautiful (their)
2. Interrogative adjectives
With these adjectives, we ask questions about a noun or pronoun. Interrogative adjectives are few in number and are mostly used at the start of the sentence. These are “what, why, when, how, which, and who.”
Whenever we use these adjectives, the sentences are followed by a question mark, and the sentences are known as interrogative sentences.
Examples:
- Who are you?
- What is this?
- Why is this dog barking?
3. Demonstrative adjectives
When we say “The sun is bigger than the moon,” what moon are we talking about?
Obviously, this moon, the closest celestial body to Earth. Similarly, if we compare the size of the sun with the moon of Mars, what are we going to say? That moon, right?
It is difficult to understand at the initial level because we used to write simple sentences to make writing easy. But moving forward to advancement will add more clauses and other relevant things.
We use different adjectives for things that are closer or farther in space or time. Words used as demonstrative adjectives are “this, that, these, and those.”
Examples:
- This chair looks nice (the chair is close to the speaker)
- That chair was not good at all (the chair is far from the speaker)
4. Compound adjectives
Not all adjectives are single-worded; some are combinations of two or more words. The combination could be of any two parts of speech.
Just like we previously learned about the structuring of compound-complex sentences with better readability, understanding each grammatical rule is necessary to become perfect in writing, reading, and even speaking the English language.
Examples:
- He is an open-minded person.
- I would like a cream-filled croissant.
- Her office has state-of-the-art technology.
Top 10 examples of adjectives that enhance your writing
That’s all for the theory about adjectives. I hope you understand the basic purpose of using adjectives while writing sentences.
However, there are online tools that work best by providing a prompt or main keyword for writing and rewriting sentences. Among them, the online AI sentence reworder is my top choice, offering unlimited modes and language options.
Simply input your sentence in the given area, select your desired tone, and click the "rewrite sentences" button for the best paraphrasing results. Let’s look at some examples to see how you can effectively use adjectives in your writing.
- You can complement somebody with adjectives:
- You look great today
- I have a beautiful wife
- To compare two things, you can do it like:
- My car gives better mileage than yours
- My biceps are bigger than yours
- If you want to declare something to be the best, do this:
- China is the most populated country
- Jupiter is the biggest planet in our solar system
- We can also declare an absolute state with adjectives, states that cannot change or be compared
- He is dead
- The lost shoes were expensive
- Two or more adjectives can be used in the following way to modify a single noun
- He bought an expensive Italian watch yesterday
- I need a large, rectangular table for my dining room
- It is not necessary to put adjectives before the noun; we often use them after the noun, mostly in compound sentences.
- The clouds, heavy and gray, loomed overhead
- The waves, strong and rough, hit the shore.
- Two words can also be combined to form a singular adjective, like
- She is a well-known author
- I am currently pursuing a full-time job
- Sometimes, a participle form of a verb is also used as an adjective
- That is a confusing task
- She is a working woman
- Other than verbs, we also use proper nouns as adjectives, mostly to indicate the origin of something
- I will bring Belgian chocolate for you
- I am fond of Thai cuisine
- Not only proper nouns but other nouns are also used as adjectives, often with an addition of “-ish” or “ly” at the end
- I really like his friendly nature (friend + ly)
- You have childish behavior (child + ish)
- Last but not least, you can tell that something belongs to you or is in your possession by having an adjective in your sentence
- I have parked my car in the basement
- How much money is in your wallet?
Conclusion
In conclusion, adjectives are an important part of English grammar, providing vivid descriptions and comparisons.
By effectively using adjectives, writers can enhance their prose, making it more engaging and informative.
Whether it's to express emotions, compare objects, or convey specific qualities, adjectives offer a versatile tool for crafting compelling and expressive language.
Understanding the various types of adjectives and their proper usage can significantly elevate your writing skills and make your ideas more impactful.
So go ahead and explore the colorful world of adjectives—your writing and communication will be all the richer for it!
Frequently asked questions
Can I use other parts of speech as adjectives?
Yes, other parts of speech can function as adjectives when they describe a noun or pronoun. For example, in the sentence: “I cannot bear your childish behavior,” the noun “childish” is used as an adjective.
Is it necessary for adjectives to always come before the noun they're describing?
No, adjectives don’t always have to come before the noun. In complex sentences, they can also appear after the noun. For example, “The clouds, heavy and gray, loomed overhead.”
What are compound adjectives?
Compound adjectives are created by combining two or more words to form a single descriptive unit. For example, in the sentence “Your clothes are old-fashioned” includes the compound adjective “old-fashioned.”
Additional information
- Sentence Structure: Parts, Rules, Types and Examples
- Paragraph Expander: Expand Sentences Even After Rewriting
- Complex Sentences: Top 6 Ways to Write + Additional Examples
