Learn 8 Types of Adjectives with Examples

The adjective is used to modify a noun, in other words, we use adjectives to add something to the meaning of a noun. For example, we know the meaning of ‘girl’. However, girl + intelligent means something different from girl + stupid. Similarly, girl + beautiful means something different from girl + ugly. The word ‘girl’ meaning the same thing in each sentence. But the adjectives – intelligent, stupid, beautiful and ugly, make the meaning of ‘girl’ very different.

Adjectives answer the questions; What kind? Which one or ones? How many or How much?

What kind?

• Pretty girl
• Right answer

Which one or ones?

• First person
• This house
• Those dogs

How many or how much?

• Full house
• Ten rupees
• No time

Note: Adjectives do not always come before the word that they modify. Sometimes they follow it. For example, in the sentence “The cup is full” – ‘full’ is adjective as it modifies ‘cup’.

Types of Adjectives

There are eight types of adjectives which are briefly discussed here.

1. Proper adjective
2. Descriptive, qualitative or attributive adjective
3. Quantitative adjective
4. Numeral adjective
5. Demonstrative adjective
6. Distributive adjective
7. Interrogative adjective
8. Possessive adjective

A proper adjective is one derived from a proper noun. For example, “The English language”, “The Indian Ocean”, “The Victorian attitude.

A descriptive, qualitative or attributive adjective is one that shows the kind and quality of a person or thing. For example, “A brave person.”, “A beautiful child.”, “A careful mother.” 
Some attributive adjectives are derived from nouns, e.g. a law college, a flower garden, pay-day.

A quantitative adjective is one that shows how much (quantity) of a thing is meant. For example, I did not eat any apple, he ate much bread, you drink little milk. 
A quantitative adjective is always followed by a singular material or abstract noun.

A numeral adjective is one that shows the number or serial order of persons or things. They are further divided into two main classes.

• Definite numerals show some exact number. They are of three kinds
  • Cardinals (One, two, three, four)
  • Ordinals (First, second, third, fourth)
  • Multiplicatives (Single, double, triple, quadruple)
• Indefinite numerals do not show an exact number e.g. all, some, enough, none, many, few, several etc.

A demonstrative adjective is one that points out which person or thing is meant, e.g. this boy, that person, those men.

A Distributive adjective is one that refers to each one of a number. They are four in number; each, every, either, neither.

An interrogative adjective is used to ask a question. For example, “Whose pen is this?”, “What book is that?”, “Which flower do you like best?”

Possessive adjective: The words my, our, your, his, her, its, their, when used before a noun, are called possessive adjectives.

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