What Are Adjectives?
Adjectives are words that describe nouns.
Nouns are words for people, places, animals, or things. Adjectives give us more information about these nouns.
- Example: a nice day. Here, nice tells us about the day.
- Example: a big elephant. Here, big tells us about the elephant.
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How Do We Use Adjectives in English?
There are two main ways to use adjectives in simple English sentences.
- Before a noun: The adjective comes before the noun it describes.
- a big house
- a long river
- After the verb “to be” (is, am, are): The adjective comes after the verb.
- The house is big.
- The river is long.
Common Adjectives to Describe Things
Here are some useful adjectives you can use to describe many things:
- big: large in size. Example: An elephant is big.
- great: very good or important. Example: This is a great idea!
- slow: not fast. Example: A snail is slow.
- fast: quick. Example: A cheetah is fast.
- nice: pleasant or kind. Example: She is a nice person.
- long: having a great distance from end to end. Example: a long road.
- dangerous: not safe. Example: Lions can be dangerous.
- clever: intelligent, smart. Example: He is a clever student.
- beautiful: very pretty or attractive. Example: a beautiful flower.
| Adjective | What it means |
|---|---|
| big | large in size |
| great | very good |
| slow | not fast |
| fast | quick |
| nice | pleasant or kind |
| long | not short |
| dangerous | not safe |
| clever | smart, intelligent |
| beautiful | very pretty |
Examples
- The car is fast.
- She has a beautiful dress.
- That movie was great!
- Be careful, the road is long and dangerous.
- My dog is big and clever.
Practice
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Chat with an Advisor on WhatsAppCommon mistakes for Spanish speakers
In Spanish, adjectives often come after the noun. But in English, they usually come before the noun.
- Mistake: a car fast
- Correct: a fast car
- Mistake: a house big
- Correct: a big house
Remember this rule to sound more natural in English!
Frequently asked questions
What is an adjective?
An adjective is a word that describes a noun. It tells you more about a person, place, animal, or thing. For example, in a big dog, big is the adjective.
Where do adjectives go in an English sentence?
Adjectives usually go before the noun they describe, like a nice day. They can also go after the verb to be (is, am, are), like The day is nice.
Can I use more than one adjective for one noun?
Yes, you can! For example, you can say a big, fast car or a beautiful, long river.
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