DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES

Descriptive adjectives tell us the size, shape, age, colour, weight, height, make, nature and origin of the nouns they are describing.

Descriptive adjective are of two types.

1) Common descriptive adjectives

These are adjectives that give general features of somebody or something.

They are the adjectives of size, shape, age, colour, weight, height, make and nature.

Refer to the examples in the diagram above.

2) Proper adjectives

These ones are formed from proper nouns.

They are always capitalized.

They always appear last in a string of adjectives modifying the same noun, just before the noun itself.

Examples of proper adjectives:

The Japanese ambassador

A Mexican carpet

An Italian chef

Note that when a proper adjective comprises of two words, both are capitalized.

Examples: A South African farmer

A North American cowboy

Exercise

Find the adjectives in the following sentences and indicate what types they are.

1. Alaska is the largest state in the USA.
2. The Alaskan Senator is Lord John Mc Dougal.
3. Mt. Kenya is the tallest mountain in Kenya.
4. Alaska has a tiny population of one and a half million people.
5. Northern Province has small, scattered towns.
6. A trip to Northern Kenya will take you across vast wilderness.
7. American tourists are fond of wild animals.
8. There is a huge lake in the Rift Valley Province.
9. I sent a letter to my Australian pen pal.
10. I have a beautiful Egyptian robe.

See also:

ADJECTIVES

TROUBLESOME PAIRS OF VERBS

TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE VERBS

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VERB FORMS

REGULAR AND IRREGULAR VERBS