What Are Adjectives?
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.
Possessive
Adjectives
Possessive
adjectives are used to show possession. They are my, your, his, her, its, our
and their. (They are a type of possessive pronoun.)
Read
more about possessive adjectives.
The
Articles
The
words a, an, and the are known as articles. They are classified as adjectives.
A and an are called the indefinite articles because they are used to indicate
non-specific people or things. The is called the definite article because it
does indicate a specific person or thing.
A
cup (i.e., any cup)
The
cup (i.e., a specific cup)
Read
more about articles.
Demonstrative
Adjectives
Demonstrative
adjectives are used to demonstrate or indicate specific things. This, that,
these and those are all demonstrative adjectives.
If
I hear that parrot again, I will call the RSPCA.
(That
is a demonstrative adjective. It refers to a specific parrot.)
Medals
will only be given to those runners who complete the marathon in less than 8
hours.
(Those
is a demonstrative adjective. It refers to specific people.)
Read
more about demonstrative adjectives.
Indefinite
Adjectives
Unlike
demonstrative adjectives, which indicate specific items, indefinite adjectives
do not point out specific things. They are formed from indefinite pronouns. The
most common indefinite adjectives are no, any, many, few and several.
The
chief has heard many people make the same promise.
(The
indefinite adjective many modifies the noun people.)
According
to a council spokesman, there are no wallabies left in Derbyshire. However,
over the past few months, many walkers have reported seeing several adults with
young.
(The
indefinite adjectives in this example are no, few, many and several.)
Read
more about indefinite adjectives.
Numbers
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.)
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