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Adjectives
Adjectives List of Adjectives Comparative and Superlative Adjectives Adjective Worksheets

An adjective is a word that describes, identifies, modifies, or quantifies something (a noun or a pronoun). In the phrase, "the black cat" the word black is an adjective because it describes the cat.

In English, an adjective usually comes before the noun it pertains to (for example, a red apple or a cute cat.).

Adjectives can be classified into many categories. In English, adjectives are generally used in the order: quantity-->opinion-->size-->age-->shape-->color-->origin-->material-->purpose. Some of these categories are (roughly in the order in which adjectives are used in English):

Using Hyphens for Compound Adjectives
Some adjectives are used as a group to provide a description; if the group of words form a single idea and are used before the noun, they should be connected by hyphens to make their meaning clear. Common examples of hyphenated adjectives include black-and-white, 6-foot-tall, 5-years-old, problem-solving, mother-in-law and fight-or-flight. A wonderful example of hyphenated adjectives is George Orwell's description of being from the lower-upper-middle class.

Example of the Sequence of Multiple Adjectives in Chart Form:
QUANTITY OPINION SIZE AGE SHAPE COLOR ORIGIN MATERIAL PURPOSE NOUN
five   huge young   black Canadian     bears
  battered   old shapeless gray   cotton work pants
many magnificent   antique     British   reference books
one studious   teenaged     American     boy
few shiny     round blue Indian     gems
many well-made tiny   elongated brown   wooden fishing boats
several cheap large     purple   polyester sleeping bags

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
A comparative adjective is used to compare two things. A superlative adjective is used when you compare three or more things. For example, looking at apples you can compare their size, determining which is big, which is bigger, and which is biggest. The comparative ending (suffix) for short, common adjectives is generally "-er"; the superlative suffix is generally "-est." For most longer adjectives, the comparative is made by adding the word "more" (for example, more comfortable) and the superlative is made by adding the word "most" (for example, most comfortable).

If a 1-syllable adjective ends in "e", the endings are "-r" and "-st", for example: wise, wiser, wisest.

If a 1-syllable adjective ends in "y", the endings are "-er" and "-est", but the y is sometimes changed to an "i". For example: dry, drier, driest.

If a 1-syllable adjective ends in a consonant (with a single vowel preceding it), then the consonant is doubled and the endings "-er" and "-est" are used, for example: big, bigger, biggest.

If a 2-syllable adjective ends in "e", the endings are "-r" and "-st", for example: gentle, gentler, gentlest.

If a 2-syllable adjective ends in "y", the endings are "-ier" and "-iest", for example: happy, happier, happiest.

Some 2-syllable adjectives use the standard "-er" and "-est suffixes", including adjectives that end in "er", "le", or "ow". For example: narrow, narrower, narrowest.

For most adjectives with two or more syllables, the comparative is formed by adding the word "more," and you form the superlative by adding the word "most", for example: colorful, more colorful, most colorful.

Some comparative and superlative adjectives are irregular, including some very common ones such as good/better/best and bad/worse/worst.

Irregular and confusing adjectives Comparative Form Superlative Form
bad worse worst
good better best
far (place) farther farthest
far (place or time) further furthest
late (time) later latest
late (order) latter last
little (size) littler littlest
little (amount) less least
many/much/some more most
old (people) elder eldest
old (people or things) older oldest


Related Reference Pages, Activities and Worksheets:


List of Adjectives

A word bank of common adjectives.


Adjectives:
Little Explorers Picture Dictionary

A page of adjectives from the Little Explorers Picture Dictionary in English.
Adjective for Each Letter

Find an Adjective for Each Letter

See if you can think of and write down words that describe a person, place or thing (a noun) for each letter of the alphabet. Or go to a sample answer page.
circle adjective, underline noun

Circle Adjective, Underline Noun it Describes

Circle the adjective and underline the noun it describes in the sentences in this printable worksheet. Or go to the answers.
Write Adjectives Describing Pictures
elephant

In this series of printable worksheets, the student writes adjectives describing a picture in and around that picture.

Write Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Each adjective has a comparative and a superlative form. In each row, write the two missing words.
Worksheet #1 with adjectives: young, slow, small, long.
Worksheet #2 with adjectives: few, short, wide, high.
Worksheet #3 with adjectives: young, slow, small, long.
Worksheet #4 with adjectives: narrow, soft, large, sweet.

Comparatives Chart Worksheets
Write the missing adjectives in each chart.
Chart #1 Adjectives: red, far, icy, bad, easy, friendly, funny, busy, smelly, pretty. Or go to the answers.
Chart #2 Adjectives: blue, old, sweet, happy, shiny, clean, fine, high, nasty, rich. Or go to the answers.
Chart #3 Adjectives: red, far, icy, bad, easy, friendly, funny, busy, smelly, pretty. Or go to the answers.


Choose the Apt Animal Adjective

For each animal, underline the adjective that best describes it. Orgo to the answers.

Choose the Apt Food Adjective

For each food, underline the adjective that best describes it. Orgo to the answers.

Choose the Apt Adjective #1

For each picture, underline the adjective that best describes it. Orgo to the answers.

Choose the Apt Adjective #2

For each picture, underline the adjective that best describes it. Orgo to the answers.

Choose the Apt Adjective #3

For each picture, underline the adjective that best describes it. Orgo to the answers.

Choose the Apt Adjective #4

For each picture, underline the adjective that best describes it. Orgo to the answers.
Write adjectives

Write Adjectives Describing Words Related to a Theme
Printable Worksheets

On these printable worksheets, the student is given four related nouns. The student writes five adjectives describing each noun.
Adjective

Find 8 Adjectives Describing a Cat

Write eight adjectives describing a cat and then use each adjective in a sentence.
Adjective

Find 8 Adjectives Describing a Character

Think of a fictional character or make up one of your own. Write your character's name and draw a picture of your character in the center oval. Write eight adjectives that describe the character. Then use each adjective in a sentence.
Adjective

Find 8 Adjectives Describing a Dog

Write eight adjectives describing a dog and then use each adjective in a sentence.
Adjectives

Find 8 Adjectives Describing a Hat

Write eight adjectives describing a hat and then use each adjective in a sentence.
Adjective

Find 8 Adjectives Describing an Ice Cream Cone

Write eight adjectives describing an ice cream cone and then use each adjective in a sentence.
Adjectives

Find 8 Adjectives Describing Yourself

Write your name and draw a picture of yourself in the center oval. Write eight adjectives describing yourself. Then use each adjective in a sentence.
Adjectives

Find 8 Adjectives Describing Your Father

Write your father's name and draw a picture of your father in the center oval. Write eight adjectives describing your father. Then use each adjective in a sentence.
Adjectives

Find 8 Adjectives Describing Your Mother

Write your mother's name and draw a picture of your mother in the center oval. Write eight adjectives describing your mother. Then use each adjective in a sentence.
find related words

Senses: Write Eight Hearing-Related Words

Think of and write eight hearing-related adjectives, describing how things sound. Sample answers: loud, soft, quiet, noisy, raspy, high-pitched, low-pitched, rumblng.
find related words

Senses: Write Eight Smell-Related Words

Think of and write eight smell-related adjectives, describing odors, how things smell. Sample answers: rotten, flowery, burnt, delicious, putrid, bad, good, sweaty.
find related words

Senses: Write Eight Sight-Related Words

Think of and write eight sight-related adjectives, describing how things look. Sample answers: bright, dark, shiny, dull, colorful, purple, clear, twinkling.
Adjectives

Find 8 Adjectives Describing Your Teacher

Write your teacher's name and draw a picture of your teacher in the center oval. Write eight adjectives describing your teacher. Then use each adjective in a sentence.
find related words

Senses: Write Eight Taste-Related Words

Think of and write eight taste-related adjectives, describing how things feel. Sample answers: sweet, sour, bitter, gooey, salty, syrupy, lemony, tart.
find related words

Senses: Write Eight Touch-Related Words

Think of and write eight touch-related adjectives, describing how things feel. Sample answers: hard, soft, hot, cold, rough, smooth, grainy, sharp.
Wrote Adjectives

Write Adjectives by Category

Write 5 adjectives for each category. The categories include: quantity, opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, and material. Or go to sample answers.
Wrote Adjectives

Write Adjectives by Category

Write 10 adjectives for each category. The categories include: quantity, opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, and material. Or go to sample answers.
Wrote Adjectives

Chart of Adjectives

Write a few adjectives for each noun. Then pick other nouns and write some adjectives describing them. The chart includes room for adjectives describing a noun's: quantity, opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, and material.
Find a word for each letter

Find a Substitute for the Word "Good" for Each Letter

See if you can think of and write down a substitute or synonym for "good" for each letter of the alphabet. These words can be useful for less repetitive writing. Or go to a sample answer page.
senses chart

Which Senses Do You Use
Printable Worksheets

Students use these printable worksheets to write which senses they use to examine objects, with charts to fill in. The students describe how they sense various everyday objects.
Adjective for Each Letter

Find an Adjective plus Animal Word for Each Letter

See if you can think of and write down a phrase with an adjective and an animal word for each letter of the alphabet (for example, "angry ape"). Or go to a sample answer page.
Adjective for Each Letter

Find an Adjective plus Astronomy Word for Each Letter

See if you can think of and write down a phrase with an adjective and an astronomy word for each letter of the alphabet (for example, "alarming asteroid"). Or go to a sample answer page.
Adjective for Each Letter

Find an Adjective plus Bird Word for Each Letter

See if you can think of and write down a phrase with an adjective and a bird-related word for each letter of the alphabet (for example, "amazing archaeopteryx"). Or go to a sample answer page.
Adjective for Each Letter

Find an Adjective plus Body Word for Each Letter

See if you can think of and write down a phrase with an adjective and a body-related word for each letter of the alphabet (for example, "aching ankle"). Or go to a sample answer page.
Adjective for Each Letter

Find an Adjective plus Clothing Word for Each Letter

See if you can think of and write down a phrase with an adjective and a clothing word for each letter of the alphabet (for example, "awful apple"). Or go to a sample answer page.
Adjective for Each Letter

Find an Adjective plus Fish Word for Each Letter

See if you can think of and write down a phrase with an adjective and a fish-related word for each letter of the alphabet (for example, "adorable anchovy"). Or go to a sample answer page.
Adjective for Each Letter

Find an Adjective plus Food Word for Each Letter

See if you can think of and write down a phrase with an adjective and a food word for each letter of the alphabet (for example, "awful apple"). Or go to a sample answer page.
Adjective for Each Letter

Find an Adjective plus Insect Word for Each Letter

See if you can think of and write down a phrase with an adjective and a insect-related word for each letter of the alphabet (for example, "angry ant"). Or go to a sample answer page.
Adjective for Each Letter

Find an Adjective plus Mammal Word for Each Letter

See if you can think of and write down a phrase with an adjective and a mammal-related word for each letter of the alphabet (for example, "apt antelope"). Or go to a sample answer page.
Adjective for Each Letter

Find an Adjective plus Plant Word for Each Letter

See if you can think of and write down a phrase with an adjective and a plant word for each letter of the alphabet (for example, "average acorn"). Or go to a sample answer page.
Adjective for Each Letter

Find an Adjective plus Sports Word for Each Letter

See if you can think of and write down a phrase with an adjective and a sports word for each letter of the alphabet (for example, "avid archer"). Or go to a sample answer page.
Adjective for Each Letter

Find an Adjective plus Vehicle Word for Each Letter

See if you can think of and write down a phrase with an adjective and a vehicle word for each letter of the alphabet (for example, "ancient auto"). Or go to a sample answer page.


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