Noun-adjective agreement in English involves ensuring adjectives correctly match the nouns they describe in number and meaning.
Noun-adjective agreement in English means that adjectives must correctly match the nouns they describe, primarily in terms of number (singular or plural) and context. Unlike some languages, English adjectives do not change form for gender or case, but they do need to make sense with the noun they modify.
- Adjectives come before the noun (e.g., a red apple).
- Adjective endings do not change in English.
- Agreement is mostly about singular vs. plural nouns and logical sense.
Basic Principles
English noun-adjective agreement follows three main rules:
- Adjectives do not change form (e.g., big = big, whether singular or plural).
- The noun determines number: singular or plural.
- The meaning must remain logical (e.g., these (plural) go with plural nouns).
Examples
Here are some examples of noun-adjective agreement in English:
| Singular Noun | Plural Noun | Example (Singular) | Example (Plural) |
|---|---|---|---|
| apple | apples | a red apple | red apples |
| cat | cats | a small cat | small cats |
| book | books | an interesting book | interesting books |
Common Mistakes
- Using a singular article with a plural noun: a cats (incorrect) → some cats (correct).
- Adding “-s” to the adjective: reds apples (incorrect) → red apples (correct).
- Mismatching demonstratives: this apples (incorrect) → these apples (correct).
What is wrong with the phrase ‘this apples’?
‘This’ is singular and cannot be used with plural noun ‘apples’.
‘This’ is for singular nouns; the correct plural form is ‘these apples’.
What is wrong with the phrase ‘reds apples’?
Adjective ‘red’ should not have an -s ending.
In English, adjectives do not take plural endings; ‘red’ stays the same for singular and plural.
Summary
- Adjectives do not change form in English.
- Nouns determine number (singular/plural).
- Use matching articles and determiners (a/an for singular, some/– for plural).
- Ensure the overall phrase makes logical sense.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
