What is an adjective?

An adjective is a word, or group of words, which describe a noun. An adjective may also describe a pronoun. Adjectives frequently come before the word they modify:

She was a young woman.
She held a small box in her hand.

Adjectives may also be placed after the noun they modify:

Your mother looks happy.
The teacher is ill.

Adjectives generally are placed in the following order: general opinion, specific opinion, size, shape, age, color, nationality, and material. Guide to Grammar and Style For example:

He was a nice, young, Asian man.
She rode a large, orange, stainless-steel bicycle.
He owned a terrible, enormous, black dog.

Note: The example below illustrates why you should avoid using more than three adjectives preceding a noun.

She was a mean, ugly, large, square, old, red, Russian woman.

Some adjectives may only be placed before the noun they modify: northern, southern, eastern, western, countless, occasional, lone, eventful, indoor, outdoor as well as others. Purdue University Grammar Lab

Bob lived in northern Spain.
There were occasional problems with the new technology.
The lone gunman caused extensive suffering.

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What are the types of adjectives?

Adjective of Quality

An Adjective of Quality answers the question, “what kind of?” when referring to a noun or pronoun. For example:

What is the shape of the ball? It is a round ball.
What is the size of the box? It is a small box.
What is the color of the car? It is a red car.
What are the feelings of the boy? He is an angry boy.
What is the tone of the play? It is a sarcastic play.
What is the origin of the myth? It is a Roman myth.
What is the age of the sword? It is an ancient sword.
What are the qualities of the girl? She is a nice, beautiful girl.
What is the timing of the storms? They are daily storms.
What is your opinion of the weather? It is a hot, humid day.
Of what material is this bike fabricated? Is is an aluminum bicycle.

Adjective of Quantity

An Adjective of Quantity indicates an approximate quantity of the noun or pronoun. For example:

She is very beautiful.
She has many cats in her apartment.
The boy has enough food.
I have complete faith in my wife.
We have much time.
I have enough problems already.
He knows little about starting business.
There is enough money in the account.
He cannot spend all his money buying you gifts.
The workers have completed some of the tasks.
She ate the whole peach.
He has little knowledge about this topic.
She drank little water.

Adjective of Number

An Adjective of Number indicates the exact number of the noun or pronoun. For example:

There are nine students in his class.
He was first to join the team.
His hand has four fingers.
She has only one leg.
She was the last student to leave.
The board was fourteen inches long.
The car was twelve feet long.
The truck motor had 520 horsepower.
We were fifty miles from home.

Words which indicate the part of a whole are also considered to be an Adjective of Number. For example: one-third, one-half, three-fifths, double, triple, etc.

Demonstrative Adjective

We use demonstrative adjectives to indicate which specific person, place, or thing is mentioned. The words this and that are demonstrative adjectives which are used with singular nouns. The words these and those are used for plural nouns. This is used to point out something that is close to the speaker:

This vase I'm holding is very old.

That is used to point out something that is farther away from the speaker:

That giant volcano looks small because it is so far away.

These is similar to this, but it is used to refer to plural nouns that are near:

These pens all have red ink, but I need blue ink.

Those is similar to that, but it is used to refer to plural nouns that are far away:

Those beaches we visited in Hawaii had dangerous currents.

Distributive Adjective

A Distributive Adjective is generally used with a singular noun. Some Distributive Adjectives are: each, every, either, and neither. Each Distributive Adjective is used to refer to members of a group as individuals. Let’s take a look at the sentence below:

The children received comic books before they were dismissed.

The sentence above does NOT specify whether all the children received comic books. Now, let’s look at the sentence:

Each child received a comic book before the children were dismissed.

This sentence states clearly that each child received a comic book. The Distributive Adjective, each is used to specify that a condition applies to all of the individual members of the group. Let’s review a few more examples:

Each book in the series was richly illustrated.
Each participant was asked to submit to a drug test.
Each of the contestants received a new microwave oven.

The Distributive Adjective, every is used in much the same way, however the sentence construction may vary.

Every book in the series was richly illustrated.
Every participant was asked to submit to a drug test.
Every contestant received a new microwave oven.

The Distributive Adjective, either implies one or the other of two options, as in:

I would be thrilled to receive either of these gifts.
Either movie is entertaining, but I recommend the latter.

The Distributive Adjective, neither indicates that not one of two options is acceptable.

Neither car will do, as I need to rent a truck.
Neither person in the relationship is willing to compromise.

Interrogative Adjective

The Interrogative Adjectives are whose, what, and which. Interrogative adjectives can’t stand on their own, they are used to modify a noun. Let’s look at a few examples:

Whose coat will they lend to us?
What CD is Sarah listening to?
Which team will win the game today?

You should note that there is a slight difference between the meaning of what and which.

What song is Sarah listening to?

This sentence implies that the speaker does not know the choice of songs available. We can use what when the options are unknown.

Which team will win the game today?

This sentence implies that the speaker does know the two teams competing today.

Possessive Adjective

A Possessive Adjective is used to show ownership. It comes before a noun in the sentence and lets us know to whom the noun belongs. The possessive adjectives are: my, your, his, her, its, our, their, and whose. Below are some example sentences:

My iphone is on the table.
You forgot your car keys.
Ron left his coat at school.
Maria left her hat on the boat.
The dog hid its toy.
Our truck is parked in the garage.
The elderly couple missed their tour bus.
Whose dog is this?

Emphasizing Adjective

An Emphasizing Adjective is one that emphasizes a noun. The words very and own are the most commonly used Emphasizing Adjectives. Walden University Grammar Handbook Let’s review a few example sentences:

I saw him hit her with my own eyes.
That is the very man who was instigating the protest.
This is the very car my boyfriend wants to buy.
That’s the very one I was telling you about!
Mind your own business.
Eat your own desert!
He is his own master.

Many other words can also be used as Emphasizing Adjectives.

Rumpelstiltskin? Is that your actual name?
That’s the perfect gift for my wife!
OK, now tell me the whole story?

Exclamatory Adjective

The words what and how are usually used as interrogative words or question words. They can also be used as Exclamatory Adjectives. Let’s look at a few examples of proper sentences:

What an idea!
What a blessing!
What large eyes you have!
What a wonderful feeling!
What a concept!
What a beautiful flower!
What a fool he is!
What a charming child!
How foolish!
How tasteless!
How magnificent!
How goosh!
How absurd!
How stupid!
How brilliant!
How small it is!

Proper Adjective

A Proper Adjective is formed from a proper noun. If we consider the proper noun, Shakespeare, then the proper adjective formed from this would be Shakespearean. The proper noun, France, would yield the proper adjective, French. The noun Canada, would yield Canadian. Proper adjectives are used to modify nouns and pronouns. Some examples of use are:

He always preferred Canadian bacon.
He usually ordered French toast.
His development of the Shakespearean characters was brilliant!

Although you may have never heard of them, proper adjectives are used extensively in everyday life.

The Chinese noodles are delicious.
German cars are renowned for luxury.
Japanese cars are renowned for quality and value.
African drums are the best in the world.
The Russian opera travels the world.