Adjectives describe nouns by telling us about qualities, size, color, shape, and more, so they help create a clear picture. This guide focuses on common descriptive adjectives and how to use them naturally in sentences.
Adjectives
Adjectives are words that give more information about a noun, such as what kind, which one, or how many. They usually come before the noun they describe, and they agree in meaning and sometimes form with the noun.
Common Adjectives
Common adjectives describe everyday qualities like size, color, shape, and other noticeable traits that make it easy to identify or imagine the noun. Here are some frequent examples.
| English Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| big | small | |
| red | blue | |
| round | square | |
| tall | short | |
| old | new |
Usage
Placement
Multiple Adjectives
Usage
Adjectives typically come before the noun in English, and you can use more than one adjective by following a natural order: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose. Adjectives can also follow a linking verb to describe the subject more clearly.
Placement
Adjectives usually appear directly before the noun they modify, but when an adjective describes the subject through a linking verb like be, seem, or become, it comes after the verb.
Multiple Adjectives
When you use more than one adjective, they follow a typical order and you separate them with commas if they are coordinate adjectives; otherwise, no comma is needed. This order helps sentences sound natural and clear.
Summary
Descriptive adjectives tell us about qualities like size, color, and shape, and they normally appear before the noun. Learn common adjectives and practice placing them in the natural order to make your descriptions vivid and precise.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025