What is an Adjective? Comprehensive List with Definitions and Examples

An adjective is a part of speech (POS), and parts of speech are incredibly important in writing. Each part of speech fulfills a purpose in a sentence, and not all parts of speech are created equal. Some parts of speech make our writing stronger while others make it weaker. So we must be careful using them.  

In this blog post, we will discuss the definition of an adjective, provide examples, and list them so that you can start using them in your own writing.

So, what exactly is a noun? Let's find out!

Adjectives Definition

An adjective is a content word, which means it creates an image in the reader's mind.It usually comes before the noun or pronoun it modifies. Adjectives don't just modify the objects around us, however; they can also be used to describe our feelings. For example, the adjectives "happy," "sad," "angry," and "jealous" can be used to describe how we feel.

However, it's important to use adjectives sparingly as they make writing heavier and more difficult to read. It's common for amateur writers to overuse adjectives, making the writing sound grandiose. We should always use adjectives with moderation.

An adjective is a word that modifies a noun or pronoun. 

Why are Adjectives Important?

Adjectives can be used in many different ways. They can be used to describe the physical appearance of a person or thing, describe the personality of someone, or describe how something feels. Adjectives are often used in writing to make the author's point clear.

Adjectives are important because they can either enrich our writing or make it heavy. Using too few adjectives makes writing blend, while using too many adjectives makes writing heavy and extravagant. It is always best to use adjectives in moderation and where appropriate. 

Adjectives Examples

Here are examples of different types of adjectives.

What are Descriptive Adjectives?

Descriptive adjectives describe the physical appearance or characteristics of a person or thing. For example, adjectives such as "green," "tall," and "furry" are all descriptive adjectives.

Descriptive Adjectives List

• Green
• Tall
• Furry
• Soft
• Fluffy
• Pretty
• Ugly
• Short

What are Proper Adjectives?

Proper adjectives are adjectives that come from proper nouns. A proper noun is the name of a specific person, place, or thing. For example, the proper adjectives "Canadian," "Chinese," and "Islamic" all come from proper nouns.

Descriptive Adjectives List

• Canadian
• Chinese
• Islamic
• American
• English

What are Quantitative Adjectives?

Quantitative adjectives are adjectives that describe the quantity of something. For example, adjectives such as "few," "several," and "many" are all quantitative adjectives.

Quantitative adjectives list

• Few
• Several
• Many
• Some
• A lot of

What are limiting adjectives?

Limiting adjectives are adjectives that specify the number or quantity of something. For example, adjectives such as "few," "several," and "many" are all limiting adjectives.

Limiting adjectives list

• Few
• Several
• Many
• Some
• A lot of

What are Demonstrative Adjectives?

Demonstrative adjectives are used to point out specific people or things. For example, the demonstrative adjectives "this," "that," "these," and "those" can all be used to point out specific objects.

Demonstrative adjectives list

• This
• That
• These
• Those

What Are Interrogative Adjectives?

Interrogative adjectives are adjectives that are used to ask questions. For example, the adjectives "what," "which," and "whose" are all interrogative adjectives.

Interrogative adjectives list

• What
• Which
• Whose
• Who

What Are Possessive Adjectives?

Possessive adjectives are adjectives that show who or what something belongs to. For example, the possessive adjectives "my," "your," "his," and "hers" all show possession.

Possessive adjectives list

• My
• Your
• His
• Hers

What Are Empty Adjectives?

Empty adjectives are adjectives that don't have any meaning. For example, the empty adjective "cool" is often used to describe people or things that we like.

Empty adjectives list

• Cool
• Nice
• Great
• Cute

What are Indefinite Adjectives?

Indefinite adjectives refer to people or things that are not specific. For example, the indefinite adjectives "some," "any," and "few" are all used to refer to nonspecific people or things.

Indefinite adjectives list

• Some
• Any
• Few
• Many
• Most

What Are Cardinal Adjectives?

Cardinal adjectives are adjectives that express quantity. For example, the cardinal adjectives "one," "two," and "three" all express quantity.

Cardinal adjectives list

• One
• Two
• Three
• Four
• Five

What Are Ordinal Adjectives?

Ordinal adjectives are adjectives that express order. For example, the ordinal adjectives "first," "second," and "third" all express order.

Ordinal adjectives list

• First
• Second
• Third
• Fourth
• Fifth

Adjectives in a Sentence

Now that you know the different types of adjectives, let's take a look at some examples of adjectives in sentences.

• The blue car is parked in front of the house.
• All of the students in my class are intelligent.
• Some of the pie is missing.
• His dog is very playful.

Adjectives List (3,000+)

Here is a list of adjectives that you can use in your next writing project: