English Adjectives

Adjectives describe or modify a noun. In English, the adjective typically comes before the noun it describes. This is different from some languages, like French and Spanish, where the adjective can be written before or after the noun. English has a wide variety of adjectives, all of which can be placed into eight categories. These categories are opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, and purpose. These categories must be written in a very specific order, and ESL authors sometimes get this wrong.

Opinion

The first category contains adjectives of opinion. These adjectives explain what the author, narrator, or subject thinks of something or someone. This is a personal opinion and may not reflect the thoughts of others.

Common opinion adjectives are as follows:

Size

The second category contains adjectives of size. Common size adjectives are as follows:

Age

The third category contains adjectives of age. Common age adjectives are as follows:

Shape

The fourth category contains adjectives of shape. Common shape adjectives are as follows:

Color

The fifth category contains adjectives of color. Common color adjectives are as follows:

Origin

The sixth category contains adjectives of origin. This category describes where the noun belongs or comes from. Common origin adjectives are as follows:

Material

The seventh category contains adjectives of material. This category describes what an object is made from. Common material adjectives are as follows:

Purpose

The eighth category contains adjectives of purpose. This category illustrates what the noun is used for. These are usually verbs that end in -ing and have been changed into adjectives. Common purpose adjectives are as follows:

Examples

Now, there aren't usually eight different adjectives used in a sentence to describe a noun. But there are often two or three adjectives, and it's adjective order that is a major source of "awkwardness" in ESL work. Here are some examples of sentences that use multiple adjectives to describe a noun. The adjectives are italicized and the nouns they modify are in bold.

• The small, antique, Russian, stainless-steel jewelry box has been in my family for years.

• Not: The antique, small, stainless-steel, Russian jewelry box has been in my family for years.

• The beautiful, young, curvy, Canadian girl has just won a modelling competition.

• Not: The curvy, young, Canadian, beautiful girl has just won a modelling competition.

• The mischievous, tall, pale, Viking vampire makes the show interesting.

• Not: The tall, pale, Viking, mischievous vampire makes the show interesting.

Compound Adjectives

Often, two or more words work together to modify the same noun. These are referred to as compound adjectives. Compound adjectives are hyphenated.

• I work on the fifth floor of a twenty-six-floor building.

• They travelled to the Dutch-speaking country of Holland.

• I am looking for a part-time job.

When an adverb ending in -ly modifies an adjective, it does not become a compound adjective; thus, it should not be hyphenated.

• I might be able to fix the badly damaged automobile.

• Not: I might be able to fix the badly-damaged automobile.

If the adjectives in a compound adjective are capitalized, for instance, in a title, some style guides dictate that hyphens should be removed from compound adjectives. Check the appropriate style guide whenever there is a concern about the use of hyphens in titles.

• In a title: The article, "Gender Neutral Language and Modern Advertising," alerted many advertisers to the importance of appealing to wide audiences.

• Or in a sentence: Gender-neutral language is important in modern advertising.

Types of Compound Adjectives

Adjectives can be followed by past or present participles to create compound adjectives

Adjective + Past Participle

• absent-minded

• big-headed

• cold-blooded

• middle-aged

• left-handed

• thick-skinned

Adjective + Present Participle

• easy-going

• good-looking

• free-standing

• long-lasting

• never-ending

• record-breaking

A noun can combine with an adjective or another noun to create a compound adjective as well.

Noun + Adjective

• trouble-free

• computer-literate

• world-famous

Noun + Noun

• tenure-track

• city-state

Summary

Adjectives are rhythmic, and only with use and experience does adjective usage become intuitive. Start by remembering adjective order:

• opinion

• size

• age

• shape

• color

• origin

• material

• purpose

Purpose adjectives are often almost considered a part of the noun they modify (for example, sleeping bag, a bag in which one can sleep), so those aren't that difficult to place. From there, it's just a matter of usage before you can drop something like "terrifying, giant, ancient, oblong, sandy-colored, Egyptian, stone, burial vault" in casual conversation.

Last Updated: 09/29/2022