ADJECTIVES
The Describing Words
Learn • Identify • Form • Use Correctly
English Grammar | Std. 9–12
1. What is an Adjective?
An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. It tells us more about a person, place, animal or thing.
Beautiful describes the noun girl.
Three tells us the number of books.
Sweet describes the mango.
2. Types of Adjectives and Their Usage
1. Adjective of Quality
Describes the quality or nature of a noun.
Examples: beautiful, honest, brave, tall, clever.
2. Adjective of Number
Tells us how many persons or things.
Examples: one, five, many, several, few.
3. Adjective of Quantity
Tells us how much of something.
Examples: some, much, little, enough, sufficient.
4. Demonstrative Adjective
Points out a particular noun.
Examples: this, that, these, those.
5. Interrogative Adjective
Used with a noun to ask questions.
Examples: which, what, whose.
6. Possessive Adjective
Shows ownership or possession.
Examples: my, your, his, her, its, our, their.
7. Distributive Adjective
Refers to members of a group individually.
Examples: each, every, either, neither.
8. Proper Adjective
Derived from a proper noun.
Examples: Indian, Shakespearean, Victorian.
3. Order of Adjectives
When we use more than one adjective before a noun, they generally follow a particular order.
OSASCOMP
Opinion → Size → Age → Shape → Colour → Origin → Material → Purpose| Order | Category | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| O | Opinion | beautiful, lovely, wonderful |
| S | Size | big, small, huge |
| A | Age | old, young, ancient |
| S | Shape | round, square, oval |
| C | Colour | red, blue, black |
| O | Origin | Indian, Italian, Japanese |
| M | Material | wooden, cotton, silk |
| P | Purpose | sleeping, cooking, running |
Example: Observe the correct order
Complete sentence: She bought a beautiful large old round brown Indian wooden dining table.
4. Formation of Adjectives
Adjectives can be formed by adding prefixes or suffixes to nouns, verbs and other words.
A. Formation using Suffixes
| Suffix | Root Word | Adjective |
|---|---|---|
| -ful | Beauty | Beautiful |
| -less | Care | Careless |
| -ous | Danger | Dangerous |
| -al | Nature | Natural |
| -ive | Act | Active |
| -able | Comfort | Comfortable |
| -y | Cloud | Cloudy |
| -ic | Poetry | Poetic |
| -ish | Child | Childish |
| -en | Gold | Golden |
B. Formation using Prefixes
| Prefix | Root Word | Adjective |
|---|---|---|
| Un- | Happy | Unhappy |
| Im- | Possible | Impossible |
| In- | Active | Inactive |
| Ir- | Regular | Irregular |
| Il- | Legal | Illegal |
| Dis- | Honest | Dishonest |
5. Degrees of Comparison
Adjectives have three degrees of comparison.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| Tall | Taller | Tallest |
| Small | Smaller | Smallest |
| Happy | Happier | Happiest |
| Beautiful | More beautiful | Most beautiful |
| Good | Better | Best |
| Bad | Worse | Worst |
| Little | Less | Least |
Comparative: Ram is taller than Mohan.
Superlative: Ram is the tallest boy in the class.
6. Identify the Adjective
Reveal the answer and identify the function of the highlighted adjective.
Beautiful – Adjective of Quality.
Three – Adjective of Number.
This – Demonstrative Adjective.
My – Possessive Adjective; kind – Adjective of Quality.
7. Mini Practice Test
Test your understanding. Select the correct option for each question.
0 of 10 answered
Learning Challenge
Describe your classroom using at least five adjectives.
Example: My classroom is spacious, clean, bright, beautiful and comfortable.
EnglishForMe.in
Learn English Grammar with Confidence!
