Adjective

Adjectives

An adjective describes or limits a noun or pronoun. A word, phrase, or even a clause can serve as an adjective.

The boy wore a striped cap to the circus.
The boy wearing the cap went to the circus.
The boy who wore the cap went to the circus.

Most adjectives are always singular in form.

Incorrect: browns shoes; cheerfuls women
Correct: brown shoes; cheerful women

Exceptions are the demonstrative adjectives that and this , which have the plural forms those and these. These adjectives and the nouns they modify should agree in number.

Incorrect: that cars; these boy
Correct: those cars; this boy

Adjectives should be placed as close as possible to the words they modify. However, to avoid an awkward phrase, you may insert words between an adjective and its noun as long their relationship to one another is still clear.

Awkward: Swimming was fun in the pool.
Better: Swimming in the pool was fun.

Several adjectives can be used to modify the same word, but avoid listing more than three adjectives in a row.

Awkward: a big round red wooden sign
Better: a big, round sign that was painted red and made of wood

Adjective-Adverb Confusion

Adjective-Adverb Confusion

Adjectives and adverbs are often confused and therefore misused. To modify a noun or pronoun, use an adjective. To modify a verb, an adjective, or an adverb, use an adverb instead.

Adjective: This cheap scarf is no bargain.
Adverb: This scarf can be purchased cheaply.

Similar Forms of Adjectives and Adverbs

Many adverbs end in ly, but some adjectives do as well. Do not mistake adjectives such as ugly, friendly, and motherly for adverbs.

Some words can be used as adjectives or adverbs. Examples include daily, fast, late, likely, long, low, much, short, slow, and very. Position these words carefully because where they appear in a sentence will determine whether they are read as adjectives or adverbs.

Adjective: He reads his daily horoscope.
Adverb: He reads his horoscope daily.

Predicate Adjectives

Use adjectives, not adverbs, after linking verbs (e.g., be, become, seem) and verbs that refer to sensory experience (e.g., feel, taste, smell).

Incorrect: The cake tastes deliciously.
Correct: The cake tastes delicious.

Adverbs as Adjective Modifiers

Use adverbs, not adjectives, to modify adjectives.

Incorrect: the amazing ordinary woman
Correct: the amazingly ordinary woman

In the first sentence, the woman seems to defy logic by being both amazing and ordinary. The correct example makes clear that the woman’s ordinariness is what is so amazing.

ORDER OF ADJECTIVES

Adjectives follow an order before a noun

This is the order of adjectives coming before a noun in English, although it is very unlikely that anyone would use eight adjectives before a single noun.

Generally speaking, few would use more than a couple or so. There are cases where the order isn't followed, but it works in almost all cases. The basic movement is from subjective (opinion) to objective (material/purpose).