what is adjective in grammar with examples

An adjective is a word used for qulifying (or adding something to) the meaning of a Noun or Pronoun. -J.C Nesfield.

An Adjetctive is a word used to add something to the meaning of Noun -Wrien & Martin

Adjective can be attribute not only of Noun but also of Pronoun. In fact, the word added to qualify or characterize a Noun or Pronoun is called an Adjective.

“The word Adjective means ‘adding’ -J.C Nesfield

Use of Adjective:

kamal is a good boy. Rimol is very clever. He is an Indian.

Lazy students fail in the examimantion. Lily plucked a red rose.
Our cow gives much milk. Give me two pens and three pencils.

In the above examples, good is boy noun, clever is Rimol noun, Indian is he’ Pronoun, Lazy is ‘Students’ noun, red, rose is little, ‘animal noun is large’ Animal noun much is specialized to ‘milk’ noun and two and three to pen’ and pencil’. So these are adjectives.

Types of Adjective:

Adjectives are words that modify or describe nouns or pronouns, providing more information about their qualities, characteristics, or attributes. They can help paint a clearer picture of the noun or pronoun they’re associated with.

There are several types of adjectives:

Descriptive Adjectives:

These adjectives describe the qualities or characteristics of a noun or pronoun. They answer questions like “What kind?” or “Which one?” For example, in the phrase “the blue sky,” “blue” is a descriptive adjective because it describes the color of the sky.

Quantitative Adjectives:

These adjectives indicate the quantity or amount of the noun or pronoun they modify. They answer questions like “How much?” or “How many?” For example, in the phrase “three books,” “three” is a quantitative adjective because it specifies the quantity of books.

Demonstrative Adjectives:

These adjectives point out specific nouns or pronouns. They include words like “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.” For example, in the phrase “this car,” “this” is a demonstrative adjective because it specifies which car is being referred to.

Possessive Adjectives:

These adjectives show ownership or possession. They include words like “my,” “your,” “his,” “her,” “its,” “our,” and “their.” For example, in the phrase “her dog,” “her” is a possessive adjective indicating that the dog belongs to her.

Superlative adjectives

Superlative adjectives are used to compare three or more things or people and indicate which one has the highest degree of the quality being described. They are formed by adding “-est” to the end of the adjective or by using the word “most” before the adjective. For example:

1.Adding “-est”:

“Big” (adjective) becomes “biggest” (superlative adjective)
“Fast” becomes “fastest”
“Tall” becomes “tallest”

2.Using “most”:

“Beautiful” becomes “most beautiful”
“Interesting” becomes “most interesting”
“Intelligent” becomes “most intelligent”
Superlative adjectives are used when you want to emphasize that something or someone has the highest degree of a certain quality among a group. For example:

“Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world.”
“She is the most talented singer I’ve ever heard.”
Superlative adjectives help us express comparisons clearly and indicate the highest level of a particular quality.

Interrogative Adjectives:

These adjectives are used to ask questions about a noun. They include words like “which,” “what,” and “whose.” For example, in the phrase “which book,” “which” is an interrogative adjective because it asks a question about the book.

Numeral Adjectives:

These adjectives indicate the numerical order or quantity of nouns. They include words like “first,” “second,” “third,” “single,” “double,” “triple,” etc. For example, in the phrase “the fifth chapter,” “fifth” is a numeral adjective because it indicates the numerical order of the chapter.

Distributive Adjectives:

These adjectives refer to individual members of a group or distribute the quality among the members. They include words like “each,” “every,” “either,” and “neither.” For example, in the phrase “every student,” “every” is a distributive adjective because it refers to each individual student.

Indefinite adjectives:
Indefinite adjectives are words that give a non-specific or vague idea about the noun they modify. They don’t point out a particular noun but rather refer to nouns in a general sense. They often convey a sense of uncertainty, quantity, or indefiniteness. Here are some common indefinite adjectives:

1.Some: It refers to an unspecified quantity or number of something. For example, “She bought some apples.”

2.Any: It indicates one or more unspecified members of a group or category. For example, “Do you have any questions?”

3.Many: It implies a large but unspecified number or quantity. For example, “There are many options to choose from.”

4.Few: It suggests a small number or quantity. For example, “There are few people in the room.”

5.Several: It indicates an indefinite but relatively large number or quantity. For example, “She has several friends.”

6.All: It refers to the entirety or entirety of a group without specifying individual members. For example, “All students must complete the assignment.”

7.Most: It indicates a large portion or majority of something. For example, “Most people enjoy traveling.”

8.None: It signifies the absence of something. For example, “There are none left.”

Indefinite adjectives play a crucial role in language by allowing speakers and writers to express ideas with flexibility and vagueness when specifics are not necessary or known. They are particularly useful in contexts where exact quantities or identities are not essential to convey meaning.

Proper adjectives:

Proper adjectives are adjectives derived from proper nouns, which are specific names of people, places, or things. They typically retain the same form as the proper noun from which they are derived but function as adjectives to describe other nouns. Proper adjectives are capitalized because they originate from proper nouns, which are always capitalized. Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Derived from Proper Nouns: Proper adjectives are formed from proper nouns. For example, “American” is a proper adjective derived from the proper noun “America,” and “Italian” is derived from “Italy.”

Capitalization: Proper adjectives are always capitalized, just like proper nouns. This capitalization distinguishes them from common adjectives.

Descriptive: Proper adjectives describe the characteristics or qualities associated with the proper noun from which they are derived. For instance, “French cuisine” uses the proper adjective “French” to describe the cuisine associated with France.

Specificity: Proper adjectives often convey a sense of specificity or uniqueness. For example, “Shakespearean drama” refers specifically to drama associated with the playwright William Shakespeare.

Cultural or Geographic Significance: Many proper adjectives are used to denote cultural or geographic origins. For instance, “Japanese culture” uses the proper adjective “Japanese” to describe the culture of Japan.

Familiarity and Recognition: Proper adjectives are frequently used in contexts where the proper noun they derive from is well-known or recognized. For example, “Olympic athletes” uses the proper adjective “Olympic” to denote athletes associated with the Olympic Games.

Function as Modifiers: Like common adjectives, proper adjectives function as modifiers to provide additional information about nouns. For example, in the phrase “the Russian ballet,” “Russian” is a proper adjective describing the type of ballet.

Proper adjectives enrich language by allowing speakers and writers to convey specific attributes or associations related to proper nouns. They play an important role in providing clarity and precision in communication.

Demonstrative adjectives:

Demonstrative adjectives are words that indicate which noun or nouns a speaker is referring to in a sentence. They help specify whether the noun is singular or plural and whether it is near or far in distance or time from the speaker. Demonstrative adjectives include “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.” Here’s a detailed explanation of demonstrative adjectives:

“This” and “That”: These demonstrative adjectives are used to point out singular nouns.

“This” is used to refer to a singular noun that is near in distance or time to the speaker. For example, “This book is interesting.”
“That” is used to refer to a singular noun that is farther away in distance or time from the speaker. For example, “That movie was amazing.”
“These” and “Those”: These demonstrative adjectives are used to point out plural nouns.

“These” is used to refer to plural nouns that are near in distance or time to the speaker. For example, “These cookies are delicious.”
“Those” is used to refer to plural nouns that are farther away in distance or time from the speaker. For example, “Those cars are expensive.”
Indicating Position or Time: Demonstrative adjectives can help indicate the position or time of the noun they modify relative to the speaker.

In terms of position, “this” and “these” usually refer to something closer to the speaker, while “that” and “those” refer to something farther away.
In terms of time, “this” and “these” typically refer to something happening now or in the immediate future, while “that” and “those” refer to something happening in the past or in the more distant future.
Clarifying Reference: Demonstrative adjectives are used to clarify which specific noun or nouns are being talked about in a sentence. They help avoid ambiguity by pointing out the relevant objects.

Modifying Nouns: Like other adjectives, demonstrative adjectives modify or describe nouns. They provide additional information about the nouns they precede.

Demonstrative adjectives are essential for clear communication, especially when indicating or referencing objects in a specific context. They help speakers and writers convey precisely which nouns they are referring to in a sentence.

Compound adjectives:

Compound adjectives are formed by combining two or more words to create a single adjective that describes a noun. These adjectives are hyphenated when they appear before the noun they modify. They can be made up of various combinations, including nouns with nouns, adjectives with nouns, adverbs with nouns, and participles with nouns. Here’s a detailed explanation:

Noun-Noun Compounds: In this type of compound, two nouns are combined to form an adjective that describes another noun. For example:

“Chocolate chip cookies” (cookies with chocolate chips)
“Mountain bike” (a bike designed for mountainous terrain)
“Airplane ticket” (a ticket for air travel)
Adjective-Noun Compounds: These compounds combine an adjective with a noun to create an adjective that describes another noun. For example:

“High-speed train” (a train that travels at high speed)
“Red-hot chili peppers” (chili peppers that are very hot and red in color)
“Old-fashioned movie” (a movie with a style or theme reminiscent of the past)
Adverb-Noun Compounds: In this type, an adverb is combined with a noun to create an adjective that describes another noun. For example:

“Well-known author” (an author who is widely recognized)
“Deep-sea diving” (diving that takes place in deep waters)
“Hard-earned money” (money that has been earned through significant effort)
Participle-Noun Compounds: These compounds involve combining a participle (often ending in “-ed” or “-ing”) with a noun to form an adjective that describes another noun. For example:

“Broken-hearted lover” (a lover who is suffering from a broken heart)
“Breathtaking view” (a view that takes one’s breath away)
“Fascinating story” (a story that is captivating and intriguing)
Hyphenation: Compound adjectives are typically hyphenated when they appear before the noun they modify to clarify their relationship and ensure clarity in meaning. For example, “a well-known author” is hyphenated when used before a noun, but “the author is well known” is not.

Compound adjectives allow for greater specificity and precision in describing nouns by combining multiple elements into a single modifier. They enrich language and contribute to effective communication by providing nuanced descriptions.

Understanding the different types of adjectives allows us to express various nuances and details about the nouns or pronouns they modify, enriching our language and communication.

so we say that , An adjective qulifies a noun or a pronoun.
When an adjective is placed before a noun it is used attributively.But when it qualifies a noun or a pronoun and is placed after a verb it is used predicatively.
If placed before noun that is attributive adjective and if placed after verb that is predicative adjective.

Use of Adjective: