8 Types of Adjectives Examples Usages and Exercises

Uncover 8 types of adjectives with examples, usages, and engaging exercises to boost your descriptive skills. Enhance your grammar and writing skills as well with this comprehensive guide to adjectives.

Adjectives are the spice of language, enriching our communication with vivid descriptions. In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss 8 types of adjectives, providing examples, usages, and exercises to help you become a master of description.

What are Adjectives?

Adjectives are words that add something to the meaning of a noun or pronoun.

Examples:

1. He is a good boy.

2. This is a dark room.

3. Give a little milk.

4. Many men were present.

An Adjective also modifies a pronoun. – A B C of English Usage (Oxford)

Examples:

1. He seems angry. 

2. Ah, miserable!

8 Types of Adjectives with Examples

These are the 8 Types of Adjectives that are discussed with Examples and Usages in the following.

1. Proper Adjectives

Adjectives formed from Proper Nouns are called the Proper Adjectives. It must begin with a capital letter. They are generally classed with Adjectives of Quality. 

Examples: 

1. Indian rivers

2. French style

3. Pakistani army

4. Buddhist festival, etc.

2. Adjectives of Quality (or descriptive adjectives)

Adjectives of Quality describe the kind or quality of a person or thing. They answer the question “Of what kind?” or “Which one?”

Usage in Sentences

Descriptive adjectives can appear before nouns or after linking verbs like ‘be’.

Examples: 

1. He is a wicked man. 

2. Kolkata is a large city. 

3. The sky was cloudy.

2. Adjectives of Quantity.

Adjectives that show numbers or quantity are called Adjectives of Quantity. They answer the question “How many?”.

Usage in Sentences

Quantitative adjectives are typically followed by a plural noun.

Examples: 

1. Seven boys are absent today. 

2. I require a hundred rupees. 

3. There are many books in the library. 

4. There is a little milk in the cup. 

5. There is some water in the jug. 

6. Few people have much wealth. 

7. We have had enough exercise. 

8. He has no sense. 

9. Take great care of your health. 

10. Have you sufficient food for ten people? 

11. He ate the whole loaf. 

12. He did not take any food in the morning.

4.  Adjectives of Numbers(or Numerals Adjectives)

Numeral Adjectives or (Adjectives of Number) show how many persons or things are meant, or in what order a person or thing stands. Adjectives of Number answer the question: ‘How many?’

Adjectives formed from numbers are called Adjectives of Numbers(or Numerals Adjectives). They are classed with Adjectives of Quantity. 

Usage in Sentences

Indefinite adjectives (all, many, few, and several ) are often followed by a plural noun.

Examples:

1. The hand has five fingers.

2. Few cats like cold water.

3. There are no pictures in this book.

4. I have taught you many things.

5. All men must die.

6. Here are some ripe mangoes.

7. Most boys like cricket.

8. There are several mistakes in your exercise.

9. Sunday is the first day of the week.

Adjectives of Number (or Numeral Adjectives) are of three kinds:- 

(i) Definite Numeral Adjectives, which denote an exact number; as,

1. These are called Cardinals. i.e. denotes how many, (One, two, three, etc.)

2. These are called Ordinals. i.e. denote things in a series. (First, second, third, etc.)

(ii) Indefinite Numeral Adjectives, which do not denote an exact number.

Examples:

All, no; many, few; some, any; certain, several, sundry.

(iii) Distributive Numeral Adjectives, which refer to each one of a number.

Examples:

1. Each boy must take his turn.

2. India expects every man to do his duty.

3. Every word of it is false.

4. Either pen will do.

5. Distributive Adjectives

Distributive Adjectives refer to each one of a number of persons and things. They are each, every, either, neither.

Usage in Sentences

Two singular subjects joined by distributive adjectives like each, every, either, neither take singular verbs.

Examples: 

1. Each boy and girl is present at the prayer hall.

2. Each man and each woman was carrying the load.

3. Every (or each) man carried a torch. 

4. There was a child on each side of him.

5. Either pen will do. 

6. On either side, you will find a row of trees. 

7. Neither boy was present. 

8. Neither statement is true. 

9. I can agree in neither case (= In neither case can I agree.)

6.  Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative Adjectives point out which person or thing is meant. They are this/these, that/those, yonder, such.

Demonstrative adjectives this and that are the only adjectives that agree with their nouns and they agree only in number:

This (singular) →These (plural)

that (singular) → those (plural)

Usage in Sentences

Demonstrative adjectives are often used before nouns to indicate which one is being referred to.

Examples

1. I Iike this boy/ these boys. 

2. That boy is intelligent. 

3. Those boys are intelligent.

4. I hate such a thing.

5. Yonder Castle is said to be haunted.

7. Possessive Adjectives

Possessive Adjectives show possession. They are my, our, your, his, her, its, and their. They answer the question “Whose?” 

Usage in Sentences

Possessive adjectives are used to show who owns or possesses something.

Examples:

1. He’s my brother. 

2. This is our school. 

3. Where is your house?

4. Give him back his book.

8. Interrogative Adjectives

Interrogative Adjectives are used with nouns to ask questions. 

Usage in Sentences

Interrogative adjectives are used to ask questions about nouns.

Examples:

1. What kind of man is he? 

2. Which way shall we go? 

3. Whose pen is this?

How are adjectives used in sentences?

In a sentence, adjectives are mainly used in two ways.

(i) as an attribute adjective (ii) as a predicative adjective

When an Adjective comes before a Noun and expresses its attribute, it is called an attributive adjective, and It only qualifies a noun.

Example:

1. The intelligent boy stood first in the class. 

When an Adjective qualifies a Noun or Pronoun as a Predicate after a Verb, it is called a Predicative adjective, and it qualifies both a noun and a pronoun.

Example:

1. The boy was intelligent. 

2. She is lazy.

Forms of Adjectives – Degrees of Comparison

Most Descriptive Adjectives and some Adjectives of Quantity have three forms, and they are called degrees of comparison.

Usage in Sentences

There are three degrees of comparison, i.e., three forms of adjectives: The Positive, the Comparative, and the Superlative.

The Positive degree is the simplest form of the adjective. It is used when no comparison is meant.

Examples: 

1. Bina is a tall girl. 

2. This mango is sweet.

The Comparative degree is used when a comparison is intended between two persons or things with respect to some quality.

Examples:

1. Bina is taller than Rita. 

2. The mangoes of Malda are sweeter than the mangoes of Murshidabad.

The Superlative degree is used when comparison is intended between more than two things or persons (or between two sets of things or persons).

Examples:

1. Ram is the laziest boy in the class. 

2. She is the tallest of the three girls. 

3. This is the sweetest of all the mangoes.

NOTE: The superlative with most is sometimes used when there is no idea of comparison but merely an intention to show the possession of a quality to a very high degree. 

Examples:

1. This is a most useful book. 

2. He was most polite to me.

3. Your news is most interesting. 

4. This is most unfortunate.

Adjective Clauses

Adjective clauses, introduced by words like who, which, and that, provide additional information about a noun. 

Examples:

1. The book that she recommended is captivating.

2. The car which I bought is red.

Usage in Sentences

Adjective clauses are used to give more details about a noun.

Order of Adjectives

When there is more than one adjective in front of a noun, we follow an order.

Adjectives usually come in this order.

Remember:

1. If we have more than two adjectives in a sentence, we use commas after each adjective except the last one. (I have a big, red Mexican hat.)

2.  If there are only two adjectives to describe the noun, we do not put a comm between the adjectives. (I bought some colorful Kashmiri carpets.)

3. Adjectives help us to draw ‘word pictures’ for readers. This makes the sentence more interesting and descriptive.

4. It is not necessary to use adjectives in every sentence and with all nouns. 

Doing that would only clutter your writing…

The correct usage of 8 Types of Adjectives with Examples and Usages

1. Each and Every

Subjects joined by ‘each’, and ‘every’ take singular verbs.

1. Each boy and each girl is given a mango.

2. Every man, woman, and child was wounded.

‘Each’ is used

in speaking of two or more persons/things.

to direct the unit or individuals.

when the number of the group is limited.

Examples:

1. Each boy carried a load.

2. Each boy will get two chances.

‘Every’ is used

in speaking in more than two.

for very small numbers.

to direct the whole or total group.

when the number is indefinite/unknown.

Examples:

1. Every boy in the class passed the exam.

2. Every man respects him.

2. Some/Any

(i) Some and any are generally used with uncountable and plural nouns. They have the same sort of meaning as the indefinite article a/an. 

1. Have you got any pencils? 

2. Please give me some milk. 

3. Have you any sugar? 

4. We haven’t any tea. 

5. There are some men outside. 

6. She has some intelligence. 

7. They haven’t any children.

8. I doubt whether there are any flowers in the garden.

(ii) Some is generally used in affirmative sentences; any is used in questions and negatives. 

1. I want some pencils. 

2. Have you got any pencils? 

3. I haven’t got any pencils.

(iii) Any is used in affirmative sentences that really have a negative meaning 

1. Do you have any difficulty in understanding the passage?

2. Try to prevent any loss while the goods are on the way. 

3. Come any day you like. 

4. Any excuse will do.

3. Little/a little/the little.

Little has a negative meaning and means ‘almost nothing’.

1. She has little intelligence.

A little has a positive meaning and means “some, though not much” 

1. She has a little patience with me. 

2. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

1. The little has a negative meaning and means “not much”.

2. The little knowledge that he had did him no good.

4.  Few/a few/the few

Few has a negative meaning and means “almost none (i.e. hardly any): 

1. Few men are free from faults.

2. He has few friends.

A few has a positive meaning and it means “some at least” though the number

is small.

1. I know a few of these people. 

2. We are going away for a few days.

3. The few means “not many” (): 

4. The few friends that he had deserted him.

5. As an adjective, few cannot qualify a singular noun.

5. Elder and eldest:

The words, ‘Elder‘ and ‘eldest‘ are used only of persons, not of animals or things, and are now confined to members of the same family.  Elder cannot be placed before than. Older and oldest are used of both persons and things.

Examples:

1. Bina is my elder sister. 

2. Pompi is my eldest daughter. 

3. He is the elder of the two brothers.

4.  He is older than his sister. 

5. The farmer is the oldest man in the village. 

6. This is the oldest temple in our village.

6. Farther further: 

Farther means more ‘distant’. 

Further means “additional“. 

Examples:

1. Berhampore is farther from Kolkata than Krishnagar. 

2. After this, he did not seek further help. 

3. You must reply without further delay.

7. Later, latest, latter, last:

Later and latest refer to time; 

Latter and last indicate order,

Examples:

1. He arrived later than we expected. 

2. I have not heard of the latest news. 

3. The latter chapters of the book are interesting. 

4. He was the last to arrive here. 

5. Ours is the last house in the street.

8. Nearest, next.

Nearest means the shortest distance away. 

Next refers to one of a sequence of things coming one after the other.

Examples:

1. Mumbai is the seaport nearest to Europe.

2. Where is the nearest phone box?

3. Karim’s shop is next to the Post Office.

4. My uncle lives in the next house.

Adjectives used as Noun, and Adverb

Adjectives used as Noun

1. He was generous even to his enemies. (Adj)

He showed generosity even to his enemies. (Noun)

2. The two pictures are slightly different. (Adj)

There is a slight difference between the two pictures. (Noun)

3. He has sufficient intelligent to do the job. (Noun)

 He is sufficiently intelligence to do the job. (Adj)

4. I am fully sure that it is necessary. (Adj)

I am fully sure of its necessity. (Noun)

Adjectives used as Adverb

1. It is probable that he will come today. (Adj)

He will probably come today. (Adv)

2. He passed an anxious hour. (Adj)

He passed an hour anxiously. (Adv)

3. The answer appears to the point. (Verb)

The answer is apparently to the point. (Adv.)

4. He is certain to come. (Adj)

 He will certainly come. (Adv)

5. Her dress was poor and mean. (Adj)

She was poorly and meanly dressed. (Adv)

Adjectives Exercises

Now, Exercises have been provided for practice that can be done easily with the above discussion of 8 types of adjectives with examples and usages

Exercise 1:

Pick out all the Adjectives in the following sentences and write to which class each of them belongs.

1. The ship sustained heavy damage.

2. I have called several times.

3. What manner of man is he?

4. Which way shall we go?

5. Whose book is this?

6. It will be seen that what is used in

7. Every dog has his day.

8. A live ass is better than a dead lion.

9. Every man has his duties.

10. Say the same thing twice over.

11. Several persons were present at the time.

12. He is a man of few words.

13. Neither party is quite in the right.

14. What time is it?

15. Which pen do you prefer?

16. He comes here every day.

17. I have not seen him for several days.

18. There should not be much talk and little work.

19.  In the following sentences the

20. I saw it with my own eyes.

Exercise 2:

Put proper words in the blank spaces, adding ‘han’, ‘the’, or ‘of’ as

Required:-

(A) Later, latter: 

1. He came _______ my brother.

2. This is a _______edition of the book.

3. I want the former, not _______.

4. He went _______the appointed time.

5. I know both Ram and Shyam, but prefer _______. 

(B) Last, latest:

1. He is _______ man to do it.

2. I want a book of the _______ edition.

3. What is _______ news?

4. When did you hear from them _______?

5. He is _______ house in the lane.

(C) Nearest, next:

1. The Chairman took up _______item.

2. We ran for shelter to _______house available.

3. He sists _______to me in the class.

4. He is my_______ relative here.

5. He knows _______to nothing about this subject.

(D) Older, oldest; elder, eldest: 

1. The tree is _______that.

2. She is _______the two sisters.

3. She is _______the three sisters.

4. She is my _______child.

5. He is my _______brother.

6. This house is _______any other here.

7. This is _______house here.

8. He is _______man in the village.

9. He is _______member of his family.

10. He is _______ any other man in the village.

Exercise 3:

Use the proper form (comparative/superlative) of the adjectives given in brackets:

1. Prevention is _________ than cure (good). 

2. February is_________  than all other months (short)

3. She’s in the country_________  than in the town (happy). 

4. He is_________ than intelligent (clever).

5. The pen is_________ than the sword (mighty).

6. Bombay is the _________ city in India (beautiful).

7. That is the _________ price I can take (little). 

8. Iron is_________ than any other metal (useful).

9. Honour is _________ to him than life (precious). 

10. The Eiffel Tower is _________ than Kutab Minar(high). 

11. My uncle is _________ than my father (old). 

12. Of the two boys he is _________ (brave).

13. Of the three girls she is the _________ (beautiful). 

14. This is _________ path of all (dangerous).

15. Prakash is the_________ bowler in our eleven (good).

Exercise 4:

4. Rewrite these adjectives and nouns in the correct order. Use commas between adjectives where required.

1. a sharp pencil red lead

___________________

2. a small biscuit chocolate round

___________________

3. a warm beach sandy beautiful

___________________

4. a handsome brilliant Hollywood actor

___________________

5. a singer talented young Indian

___________________

6. a yummy hot chocolate cake

___________________

7. fresh cool morning breeze

___________________

8. a warm soft pink blanket

___________________

Exercise 5:

Point out the Adjectives and name the degrees of comparison

1. The poor woman had seen happier days.

2. Do not talk such nonsense,

3. Make less noise,

4. That child has a slight cold.

5. A live ass is stronger than a dead lion.

6. Say the same thing twice over.

7. Solomon was one of the wisest men.

8. Hunger is the best sauce.

9. His simple word is as good as an oath.

10. There was not the slightest excuse for it.

11. My knife is sharper than yours.

12. Small people love to talk of great men.

13. Of two evils choose the less.

14 I hope the matter will be cleared up someday.

Exercise 6: Describe the Image

Look at an image and list five descriptive adjectives to capture its essence.

Exercise 7: Count and Describe

Count the objects around you and use quantitative adjectives to describe them. For example, “I have three colorful pencils.”

Exercise 8: Choose and Explain

Select an object in the room and use a demonstrative adjective to explain why you chose it.

Exercise 9: Personal Possessions

Describe your favorite possession using a possessive adjective and explain its significance.

Exercise 10: Ask and Answer

Create questions using interrogative adjectives and then answer them.