Descriptive Adjective in English: What Are They & How to Use

What is a Descriptive Adjective?

As the name suggests, a descriptive adjective is a type of adjective we use to describe something. To put it simply, a descriptive adjective is a word we use to describe or modify a noun or pronoun in a sentence.

In addition to this, these are the most common types of adjectives which help us give more specificity or information about the noun or pronoun. We generally do this by describing or expressing their quality or characteristics, which can include anything from appearance, size, and shape, to color, condition, or other similar qualities.

To help you better understand descriptive adjective in English, let’s take a look at a few examples:

• “The green tree is tall,” Here we are using “green” to describe the tree’s colour.
• “He wore a soft, warm sweater,” In this, “soft” and “warm” are being used to describe the sweater’s texture and feel.

Types of Descriptive Adjectives with Examples

Now that you understand the descriptive Adjective definition, let’s take a look at its types. Essentially, they are categorised based on the specific aspect of the noun they are modifying. And while they can be broken down into multiple types, below are the four main ones that you can use in your everyday language:

Attributive Adjectives

These are the types of descriptive adjectives that directly precede and modify a noun within a noun phrase. For example, “white car,” “small bag,” or “happy woman.” Attributive adjectives generally tell about the noun’s appearance, size, age, etc.

Compound Descriptive Adjectives

The second type is the compound descriptive adjectives, which combine two or more words to act as a single adjective and modify the noun. For example, “well-known actor" or "part-time job.” These types of descriptive adjective in English are often hyphenated.

Comparative Descriptive Adjectives

To compare two nouns while describing them, we use comparative descriptive adjectives. These are generally made by adding -er to a shorter adjective or by adding more before the longer adjective. For example, “taller,” “happier,” or “more beautiful.”

In addition to this, they show a higher degree of quality in one noun as compared to others and can be used in sentences like "[Noun A] is [comparative adjective] than [Noun B]".

Superlative Adjectives

The last type of descriptive adjectives is superlative adjectives which are the same as comparative ones. The only difference is that they compare three or more nouns to show the highest degree of quality in a noun. For example, “tallest," "most beautiful," or "smallest".

Rules for Using Descriptive Adjectives

Now, understanding these adjectives is quite easy, but using them can get a little complex. There are things like overusing adjectives or choosing the wrong ones which can make your language confusing. However, there are a few grammar rules for Descriptive Adjectives that can help you use them in a sentence effectively:

1. The first grammar rule is to place these adjectives before the noun or before the linking verb you want to modify. Some descriptive adjective examples include "the red car,” “the beautiful girl,” and “the bed is small.”
2. Another important rule is that when we use more than one adjective to describe a noun, we follow a descriptive adjective order in English(we will talk about this in detail below.)
3. We limit the use of descriptive adjective in a sentence. Excessive adjectives can make the sentence feel overwhelming and cluttered. So make sure that you use them strategically to add clarity and vividness, but avoid overusing them.
4. Lastly, they also change their form to show comparison (comparative) and the highest degree of comparison (superlative). For example, "big," "bigger," "biggest," or adding –er and –est for short adjectives, and “more” or “most” for longer adjectives.

These are just a few of the grammar rules for descriptive adjectives which can significantly improve your writing. Now let’s take a look at different descriptive adjectives according to different categories.

List of Descriptive Adjectives with Categories

Below is a list of descriptive adjectives with categories that are most commonly used in everyday language. However, do keep in mind that there are some which can be categorised into multiple categories. For example, cold can describe both the temperature of the weather (a cold day) and a person's behavior (a cold response).

Standard Order of Descriptive Adjectives

As we said above, there is a descriptive adjective order in English that we follow when more than one adjective is being used to describe a noun or a pronoun. The order is as follows: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, and purpose. You can easily remember this by using the acronym OSASCOMP.

Here are a few examples of descriptive adjectives in sentences which follow this order:

1. A shiny large new round silver German clock (opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin)
2. A small rectangular metal toolbox (size, shape, material, purpose)
3. An old brown leather wallet (age, colour, material)
4. A beautiful tiny vintage oval gold Italian locket (opinion, size, age, shape, colour, origin, material)
5. A big square plastic storage container (size, shape, material, purpose)

How to Use Descriptive Adjectives in A Sentence with Examples

Before we go to the last part of this guide, let’s take a look at the use of Descriptive Adjective in a sentence. Take these sentences for example:

“She walked into a quiet, cozy little café on the corner.” In this, the adjectives “quiet,” “cosy,” and “little” create a clear and inviting image of the café to make its description feel more vivid and real.

Similarly, if we say “She walked into a quiet, cozy, small, warm, delightful little café on the corner.” While this sentence is descriptive, it feels overwhelming. To describe the same thing in a better way, we can use “She walked into a cosy little café on the corner.” It’s still descriptive, but more natural and easier to follow.

Exercises and Practice Questions for Descriptive Adjectives

Finally, let’s test your descriptive adjective knowledge with the help of some practice questions. Below is a descriptive adjective worksheet with answers that can help you improve your language skills:

Exercise 1: Complete the Sentences

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate descriptive adjective.

1. The __________ puppy wagged its tail happily.
2. We enjoyed a __________ meal at the new restaurant.
3. She has a __________ smile that brightens the room.
4. The __________ road was difficult to drive on.
5. That’s a __________ painting hanging in the gallery.
6. The __________ sun warmed the beach all afternoon.
7. He gave me a __________ gift for my birthday.
8. They live in a __________ house near the park.
9. The __________ flowers filled the garden with color.
10. I saw a __________ bird sitting in the tree.

Exercise 2: Correct the Mistake

In this part of our descriptive adjective worksheet with answers, you will have to find and correct the mistake in the use or order of adjectives.

1. She wore a cotton red dress.
2. I have a dog small and friendly.
3. They bought an old, beautiful car.
4. He lives in a house wooden large.
5. We saw a blue bright bird.
6. The man drove a car fast red.
7. I bought a shirt cotton white.
8. The kids played with a ball big yellow.
9. She found a ring gold beautiful.
10. He wore shoes black leather new.

Answer Key:

Exercise 1:

• playful / cute / friendly
• delicious/tasty/wonderful
• bright / warm / charming
• bumpy / narrow / winding
• beautiful/famous/old
• bright / hot / shining
• thoughtful/special / amazing
• cozy / large / modern
• colorful/fragrant / blooming
• small/colorful/rare

Exercise 2:

• She wore a red cotton dress.
• I have a small friendly dog.
• They bought an old beautiful car.
• He lives in a large wooden house.
• We saw a bright blue bird.
• The man drove a fast red car.
• I bought a white cotton shirt.
• The kids played with a big yellow ball.
• She found a beautiful gold ring.
• He wore new black leather shoes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a descriptive adjective is an important part of English grammar which can help in not only improving your language proficiency. But even evoke emotions, create atmosphere, and develop characters in a way that plain language simply cannot achieve. Besides all the information above like the list of descriptive adjectives with categories, if you want to know more about different types of adjectives. Then you can connect with our experts at Gradding.com who will give you tailored help to improve your writing and communication skills. Connect with us and get help today!

FAQs

How Many Descriptive Adjectives Are There in The English Language?

There is no fixed number on how many descriptive adjectives are there in the English language. However, based on qualities like size, color, shape, age, emotion, and more, there can be thousands of descriptive adjectives.

How Do You Identify a Descriptive Adjective in A Sentence?

To identify a descriptive adjective in a sentence, you can look for words that are modifying or giving more information about the noun or pronoun. In addition to this, you can look for words that are directly before or after the noun that describe its features. For example, “The sweet pie has a chocolate frosting.”

What is the Difference Between Descriptive and Limiting Adjectives?

The main difference between descriptive and limiting adjectives is that descriptive adjectives describe the qualities or characteristics of a noun, for example, “The sweet pudding.” On the other hand, limiting adjectives restrict or specify a noun without describing its qualities. For example, "I ate some cookies.”

Can a Sentence Have More Than One Descriptive Adjective?

Yes, a sentence can have more than one descriptive adjective to modify the noun or pronoun. You can separate these adjectives by commas, or you can use cumulative adjectives that work together.

Why are Descriptive Adjectives Important in Writing?

Descriptive adjectives are an important part of writing because they enhance clarity, engage the reader, and bring writing to life. In addition to this, they can also allow writers to paint vivid pictures with words, making descriptions more precise, engaging, and memorable.