Descriptive adjectives are part of the larger category of adjectives in English. They help us answer questions like "What kind?" "Which one?" or "How many?" by providing more detail about a noun.
What Are Descriptive Adjectives?
- They describe qualities or states of being.
- They can describe appearance, color, size, shape, emotion, and more.
- They give us a clearer picture of the noun in our minds.
Examples of Descriptive Adjectives
- Appearance: beautiful, ugly, tall, short
- Color: red, blue, green
- Size: big, small, tiny, huge
- Shape: round, square, flat
- Emotion: happy, sad, angry, excited
How to Use Descriptive Adjectives
- Usually come before the noun: "a red apple"
- Can come after certain verbs like be, seem, look: "The apple is red."
- Can be used in comparative or superlative forms: "bigger," "smallest"
Can descriptive adjectives come after verbs? If so, which ones?
Yes, they can come after verbs like be, seem, and look.
Descriptive adjectives can follow certain verbs, such as be, seem, and look (e.g., 'The apple is red.').
Order of Multiple Adjectives
When using more than one descriptive adjective, they usually follow this order:
- Quantity or number
- Quality or opinion
- Size
- Age
- Shape
- Color
- Origin
- Material
Example: "Three (quantity) beautiful (opinion) small (size) round (shape) red (color) apples."
What is the correct order when using multiple descriptive adjectives?
Quantity, opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material
Multiple adjectives should be used in the order: quantity, opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material.
Summary
Descriptive adjectives are an essential part of English that help you describe people, places, things, and experiences in detail. They make your speaking and writing more vivid and precise.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
