Learn English Adjectives: An Introduction for English Language Learners
This course is designed to be simple to learn English for Chinese students.
We continue with adjectives, example sentences, types of adjectives, comparative and superlative adjectives, and finally an explanation of the order of adjectives.
Listening practice for adjectives – Silent Night
Adjectives
To add more information to a word, to describe
- the blue pen
- John is my best friend
- The big park was fun
- describing feelings (happy, sad, excited)
- physical characteristics (tall, short, thin)
- She is happy
- He is tall
- The sun is hot
- The cake is delicious
- The cat is soft
- The balloon is red
size – texture – shape – time – size
- big
- small
- large
- huge
- little
- short
- tall
- tiny
- soft
- hard
- smooth
- rough
- slippery
- crunchy
- silky
- wooden
- circle
- square
- line
- round
- wide
- flat
- straight
- curved
- fast
- slow
- late
- old
- swift
- quick
- ancient
- new
- new
- old
- fast
- late
- slow
- quick
- ancient
- early
Adapted from: https://www.vedantu.com/english/big-and-small-adjectives
Adjectives - opposites
- The elephant is big, but the mouse is small.
- In summer, the weather is hot, but in winter, it’s cold.
- She was happy when she received a gift, but she became sad when it broke.
- The dishes are clean after washing, but they become dirty after a meal.
- My grandmother is old, but my little brother is young.
- Long – Short
- Big – Small
- Tall – Short
- Heavy – Light
- Fast – Slow
- Hot – Cold
- Hard – Soft
- Loud – Quiet
- High – Low
- Thick – Thin
- Rich – Poor
- Happy – Sad
- Strong – Weak
- Full – Empty
- Open- Closed
- Clean – Dirty
- Old – Young
- Wet – Dry
- Wide – Narrow
- Expensive – Cheap
Types of Adjectives
How a person (or thing) is described, or what qualities they have can be a descriptive, qualitative or attributive adjective
- The beautiful lady
- The brave man
- The foolish child
A quantitative adjective shows the amount or quantity of something
- There is not much left
- A little table
- Buy some bananas
Numeral adjectives indicate number, multiple of, or order in a sequence
- There is one apple. (definite numeral)
- There are some apples. (indefinite numeral)
- She came first.
- There are double doors.
A proper adjective is derived from a proper noun
- The Chinese language
- The Irish Sea
- The English Channel
A demonstrative adjective indicates the person or thing that is being referred
- This ball
- That ball
- Those balls
An interrogative adjective is used to ask a question.
- What is this?
- Which one would you like?
- Whose turn is it?
A Possessive adjective shows who or what something belongs to
- Here is my book
- Here is your book
- There is their books.
A Distributive adjective refers to one or more of a group
- A book was given to each student
- A book was given to every student
- Both were in trouble
Examples of Adjectives
feelings
Positive Words
amazed
attractive
bold
brave
bubbly
cheerful
comfortable
delightful
excited
festive
free
jolly
optimistic
proud
wonderful
Negative Words
aggravated
awful
chilly
dejected
dirty
dreadful
heavy
irritated
pessimistic
tearful
tense
terrible
tired
ugly
weak
Context-Specific Words
anxious
awestruck
bashful
cautious
composed
easygoing
horrified
intelligent
numb
puzzled
quizzical
ravenous
reluctant
settled
shy
emotions
Positive Words
appreciative
blissful
contented
ecstatic
elated
glad
happy
joyful
jubilant
merry
respectful
sweet
serene
upbeat
vivacious
Negative Words
angry
disenchanted
distressed
glum
gloomy
grumpy
grouchy
miserable
mad
moody
nervous
sad
sadistic
selfish
sour
Context-Specific Words
accepting
calm
confident
cool
earnest
easy
evenhanded
indifferent
neutral
nostalgic
passive
reserved
satisfied
sentimental
surprised
tones
Positive Words
agreeable
bright
clever
encouraging
fresh
gentle
hopeful
kind
loving
open
pleased
supportive
sympathetic
warm
Negative Words
annoyed
bitter
disgruntled
disgusted
evil
guilty
hostile
hurtful
nasty
obnoxious
oppressive
overbearing
resentful
sarcastic
Context-Specific Words
acerbic
ambivalent
ardent
cautionary
conciliatory
knowledgeable
mysterious
pragmatic
regretful
resigned
satirical
secretive
solemn
strong
Comparative & Superlative Adjectives
comparative
superlative
amounts
- high
- big
- fast
- (good)
- (bad)
more
- higher
- bigger
- faster
- better
- worse
most
- highest
- biggest
- fastest
- best
- worst
word
- cute
- big
- short
- sweet
- shiny
-er
- cuter
- bigger
- shorter
- sweeter
- shinier
-est
- cutest
- biggest
- shortest
- sweetest
- shiniest
magnificent
more magnificent
most magnificent
Order of Adjectives
- House – old, big, white
- How do we know the order?
The big old white house
The big old white brick house
The big old tall white brick house
- the
- beautiful
- big
- old
- tall
- white
- Thai
- brick
- farm
Same ‘category’
Try swapping them
- A tall, thin man
- A thin, tall man
called coordinated adjectives
order |
Determiner |
Opinion |
Size |
Age |
Shape |
Color |
Origin |
Material |
purpose |
More practice? Return to the main page of parts of speech to find out about other exercises ans worksheets.