Adjectives: Definition, Types & Examples

An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun by describing, identifying, or quantifying words. An adjective usually precedes the noun or the pronoun which it modifies.

In the following examples, the underlined words are adjectives:

• • • The truck-shaped balloon floated over the treetops.
    • Mrs. Morrison papered her kitchen walls with hideous wallpaper.
    • The small boat foundered on the wine  dark sea.
    • The coal mines are dark and dank.
    • Many stores have already begun to play irritating Christmas music.
    • A battered music box sat on the mahogany sideboard.
    • The back room was filled with large, yellow rain boots.

An adjective can be modified by an adverb, or by a phrase or clause functioning as an adverb. In the sentence

• • • My husband knits intricately patterned mittens.

for example, the adverb “intricately” modifies the adjective “patterned.”

Some nouns, many pronouns, and many participle phrases can also act as adjectives. In the sentence

• • • Eleanor listened to the muffled sounds of the radio hidden under her pillow.

for example, both underlined adjectives are past participles.

Grammarians also consider articles (“the,” “a,” “an”) to be adjectives.

Kinds of Adjectives:

i) Proper Adjectives: Adjectives that come from the proper nouns are called proper adjectives.

The underlined words in the following sentences are all proper adjectives:

• • • Alex is an Australian player.
    • Robin is an Indian player.
    • Sushi is an Asian player.
    • I love Chinese food.
    • My brother likes Italian cuisine.
    • Shakespearean sonnets are easy to comprehend.

ii) Adjectives of Quality: Adjectives of quality refer to the kind, degree, or quality of something. Sometimes, adjectives of quality are called descriptive adjectives.

The underlined words in the following sentences are all adjectives of quality:

• • • The greasy fries were just what I needed after a long, hot workout.
    • Do you see the woolly sheep in that pasture over there?
    • Eeyore is a depressed donkey in the classic story of Winnie the Pooh.
    • We have daily homework to complete for Mr. Jones.
    • The lovely roses are carefully tended by a sweet old lady who lives near me.

iii) Adjectives of Quantity: Adjectives of quantity refer to how many or how much of something.

The underlined words in the following sentences are all adjectives of quantity:

• • • She eats a whole apple daily.
    • I ate some rice today.
    • He has only little knowledge about this project.
    • He cannot spend his all money on you.
    • There is no milk in the glass.
    • All the students have passed the exam.
    • There is enough petrol to reach the destination.
    • There are hundreds of students who take part in the quiz competition.
    • Add some sugar to my coffee.
    • We have sufficient study-materials to pass the examinations.
    • We have enough time for practice.
    • He had supported poor people all through his life.
    • There is little water in the pot.
    • Is there any mango in the tub?

iv) Adjectives of Number: Adjectives which state the number of persons or things are called the Adjectives of Number or Numeral Adjectives.

The numeral adjective is categorized into three types:

• • • Definite numeral adjectives: one, sixth, fifth, double, two, fifty-five, second, triple, seven, eleven, seventy-fifth, quadruple, fifteen, first, one third, five seventh, twenty, third, ninth, first, etc.
    • Indefinite numeral adjectives: some, few, many, all, no, several, any, most, more, too, much, none, too many, certain, etc.
    • Distributive numeral adjectives: each, every, neither, either, etc.

The underlined words in the following sentences are all adjectives of number:

• • • The brilliant one of you can be the leader of this group.
    • Two children make a family perfect.
    • Few dogs are unhealthy.
    • My legs have eight fingers and two
    • Some women are upset.

v) Possessive Adjectives: A possessive adjective(“my,” “your,” “his,” “her,” “its,” “our,” “their”) is similar or identical to a possessive pronoun; however, it is used as an adjective and modifies a noun or a noun phrase, as in the following sentences:

• • • I can’t complete my assignment because I don’t have the textbook.

In this sentence, the possessive adjective “my” modifies “assignment” and the noun phrase “my assignment” functions as an object. Note that the possessive pronoun form “mine” is not used to modify a noun or noun phrase.

• • • What is your phone number?

Here the possessive adjective “your” is used to modify the noun phrase “phone number”; the entire noun phrase “your phone number” is a subject complement. Note that the possessive pronoun form “yours” is not used to modify a noun or a noun phrase.

• • • The bakery sold his favorite type of bread.

In this example, the possessive adjective “his” modifies the noun phrase “favorite type of bread” and the entire noun phrase “his favorite type of bread” is the direct object of the verb “sold.”

• • • After many years, she returned to her homeland.

Here the possessive adjective “her” modifies the noun “homeland” and the noun phrase “her homeland” is the object of the preposition “to.” Note also that the form “hers” is not used to modify nouns or noun phrases.

• • • We have lost our way in this wood.

In this sentence, the possessive adjective “our” modifies “way” and the noun phrase “our way” is the direct object of the compound verb “have lost”. Note that the possessive pronoun form “ours” is not used to modify nouns or noun phrases.

• • • In many fairy tales, children are neglected by their parents.

Here the possessive adjective “their” modifies “parents” and the noun phrase “their parents” is the object of the preposition “by.” Note that the possessive pronoun form “theirs” is not used to modify nouns or noun phrases.

• • • The cat chased its ball down the stairs and into the backyard.

In this sentence, the possessive adjective “its” modifies “ball” and the noun phrase “its ball” is the object of the verb “chased.” Note that “its” is the possessive adjective and “it’s” is a contraction for “it is.”

vi) Demonstrative Adjectives: The demonstrative adjectives” this,” “these,” “that,” “those,” and “what” are identical to the demonstrative pronouns, but are used as adjectives to modify nouns or noun phrases, as in the following sentences:

• • • When the librarian tripped over that cord, she dropped a pile of books.

In this sentence, the demonstrative adjective “that” modifies the noun “cord” and the noun phrase “that cord” is the object of the preposition “over.”

• • • This apartment needs to be fumigated.

Here “this” modifies “apartment” and the noun phrase “this apartment” is the subject of the sentence.

• • • Even though my friend preferred those plates, I bought these.

In the subordinate clause, “those” modifies “plates” and the noun phrase “those plates” is the object of the verb “preferred.” In the independent clause, “these” is the direct object of the verb “bought.”

Note that the relationship between a demonstrative adjective and a demonstrative pronoun is similar to the relationship between a possessive adjective and a possessive pronoun, or to that between an interrogative adjective and an interrogative pronoun.

vii) Indefinite Adjectives: An indefinite adjective is similar to an indefinite pronoun, except that it modifies a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase, as in the following sentences:

• • • Many people believe that corporations are under-taxed.

The indefinite adjective “many” modifies the noun “people” and the noun phrase “many people” is the subject of the sentence.

• • • I will send you any mail that arrives after you have moved to Sudbury.

The indefinite adjective “any” modifies the noun “mail” and the noun phrase “any mail” is the direct object of the compound verb “will send.”

• • • They found a few goldfish floating belly up in the swan pound.

In this example, the indefinite adjective modifies the noun “goldfish” and the noun phrase is the direct object of the verb “found”:

• • • The title of Kelly’s favorite game is “All dogs go to heaven.”

Here the indefinite pronoun “all” modifies “dogs” and the full title is a subject complement.

viii) Interrogative Adjectives: An interrogative adjective (“which” or “what”) is like an interrogative pronoun, except that it modifies a noun or noun phrase rather than standing on its own (see also demonstrative adjectives and possessive adjectives):

• • • Which book do you want?

Like other adjectives, “which” can be used to modify a noun or a noun phrase. In this example, “which” modifies “book” and the noun phrase “which book” is the subject of the compound verb “want”:

• • • What book are you reading?

In this sentence, “what” modifies “book” and the noun phrase “what book” is the direct object of the compound verb “are reading.”