Descriptive Adjective: Definition, Examples & Rules | English Grammar
Last Updated: 01 Jul, 2025
Welcome! In this lesson, you'll learn everything you need to know about Descriptive Adjectives in English grammar. We'll cover what they are, why they matter, how to use them, and how to avoid common mistakes. You'll also find real-life examples, a quick quiz, and pro tips to help you master this essential grammar topic.
What is a Descriptive Adjective?
Descriptive Adjective Definition: A Descriptive Adjective is a word that describes or gives more information about a noun or pronoun. It tells us what kind, what color, what size, what shape, or what quality something has.
Why are Descriptive Adjectives Important? They help us create vivid, detailed pictures in our minds and make our writing and speaking more interesting and specific. Instead of saying "I saw a car," you can say "I saw a red, fast car."
Function in Grammar
Descriptive adjectives are used to modify nouns and pronouns by providing more details about their qualities, characteristics, or attributes. They usually come before the noun they describe. For example:
- Without Descriptive Adjective: I have a dog.
- With Descriptive Adjective: I have a friendly dog.
Descriptive Adjective vs Other Adjectives: Descriptive adjectives describe qualities (e.g., beautiful, tall, smart), while other types like quantitative adjectives tell us how many (e.g., three, many, few).
Descriptive Adjective vs Other Adjectives
| Descriptive Adjective | Quantitative Adjective |
|---|---|
| beautiful | three |
| tall | many |
| smart | few |
| happy | some |
| red | all |
A descriptive adjective describes qualities, while a quantitative adjective tells us how many.
📌 Descriptive Adjective Challenge!
Can you identify which words are descriptive adjectives in these sentences?
- The tall building is very old.
- She wore a beautiful red dress.
- The smart student answered the question.
Show Answers
- tall and old
- beautiful and red
- smart
Examples of Descriptive Adjectives in Sentences
- The tall tree provides shade.
- She has beautiful blue eyes.
- The smart student won the competition.
- We live in a big house.
- The happy child is playing.
- He drives a fast red car.
- The old book is very valuable.
- She made a delicious chocolate cake.
- The brave firefighter saved the cat.
- We saw a colorful rainbow.
- The friendly dog wagged its tail.
- He wore a warm winter coat.
- The quiet library is perfect for studying.
- She has long black hair.
- The bright sun is shining.
Notice how each descriptive adjective tells us more about the noun and makes the sentence more vivid and interesting.
Types of Descriptive Adjectives
- Size: big, small, tiny, huge, large, little
- Color: red, blue, green, yellow, black, white
- Shape: round, square, oval, rectangular, triangular
- Age: young, old, new, ancient, modern
- Quality: good, bad, excellent, poor, perfect
- Personality: friendly, shy, brave, kind, funny
- Physical: tall, short, thin, fat, strong, weak
- Emotional: happy, sad, angry, excited, calm
- Temperature: hot, cold, warm, cool, freezing
- Texture: soft, hard, smooth, rough, sticky
Descriptive Adjective Categories
| Category | Examples | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Size | big, small, tiny | The big elephant |
| Color | red, blue, green | The red apple |
| Personality | friendly, shy, brave | The friendly teacher |
| Quality | good, excellent, perfect | The excellent movie |
| Age | young, old, new | The young student |
Descriptive adjectives can be categorized by the type of quality they describe.
Special Rules and Notes
- Position: Descriptive adjectives usually come before the noun they describe (a beautiful flower), but they can also come after linking verbs (The flower is beautiful).
- Multiple Adjectives: When using multiple descriptive adjectives, follow this order: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose.
- Comparative and Superlative: Descriptive adjectives can change form to show comparison (tall, taller, tallest).
- Articles: Use "a" before consonant sounds and "an" before vowel sounds when the adjective starts with a vowel sound (a beautiful day, an amazing story).
- Hyphenation: Compound descriptive adjectives are often hyphenated when they come before a noun (a well-known author).
- Intensifiers: Use words like "very," "really," "quite," and "extremely" to make descriptive adjectives stronger (very tall, really smart).
Quick Quiz: Spot the Descriptive Adjective!
Which words are descriptive adjectives in these sentences?
- The tall building has many windows.
- She wore a beautiful red dress to the party.
- The smart student answered the difficult question.
- We saw a huge elephant at the zoo.
- The friendly dog wagged its long tail.
Answers: tall, beautiful, red, smart, difficult, huge, friendly, long
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a descriptive adjective?
A descriptive adjective is a word that describes or gives more information about a noun or pronoun, telling us what kind, what color, what size, what shape, or what quality something has.
How do you identify a descriptive adjective?
Descriptive adjectives describe qualities, characteristics, or attributes of nouns. They usually come before the noun they describe and answer questions like "what kind?" or "what color?"
What is the difference between descriptive and quantitative adjectives?
Descriptive adjectives describe qualities (e.g., beautiful, tall, smart), while quantitative adjectives tell us how many (e.g., three, many, few).
Where do descriptive adjectives usually appear in a sentence?
Descriptive adjectives usually come before the noun they describe (a beautiful flower), but they can also come after linking verbs (The flower is beautiful).
Can you use multiple descriptive adjectives together?
Yes, you can use multiple descriptive adjectives. Follow this order: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose (e.g., a beautiful large old round red Italian wooden dining table).
What are some common types of descriptive adjectives?
Common types include size (big, small), color (red, blue), shape (round, square), age (young, old), quality (good, excellent), personality (friendly, shy), and physical characteristics (tall, thin).
Do descriptive adjectives change form?
Yes, descriptive adjectives can change form to show comparison: positive (tall), comparative (taller), and superlative (tallest).
Are colors considered descriptive adjectives?
Yes, colors like red, blue, green, yellow, black, and white are descriptive adjectives that describe the color quality of nouns.
Conclusion
Understanding descriptive adjectives is key to writing and speaking English clearly and vividly. Descriptive adjectives help you create detailed pictures in your reader's mind and make your communication more engaging and specific. Always remember to place them correctly in sentences and use them to add color and detail to your descriptions. Practice identifying and using them in everything you read or write. The more you practice, the easier it gets!