Adjective facts for kids

An adjective is a special word. It helps describe a noun or a pronoun. Nouns are words that name people, places, things, or ideas. Adjectives give us more information about these nouns. They help us paint a clearer picture in our minds. Adjectives are an important part of speech.

Often, an adjective comes before the noun it describes. For example, "a tall man." Sometimes, an adjective can stand alone. It still describes a noun that is understood.

• The sky is blue. (We understand "the blue sky")
• The joke she told was so funny. (We understand "the funny joke")

Adjectives make writing more interesting. They add details and feelings.

Comparing Things with Adjectives

Sometimes, we want to compare things. Adjectives change their form for this.

The Comparative Form

When you compare two things, you use the comparative form.

• If one joke makes you laugh more than another, it's funnier.
• If one day is colder than another, it's a colder day.

For most short adjectives, you add -er to the end.

• cold becomes colder
• fast becomes faster

For longer adjectives, you use the word more before the adjective.

• We say "more reliable" instead of "reliabler."
• "Reliable" means you can trust something.
• Children are more intelligent than adults.

The Superlative Form

When you compare three or more things and say which one is the "most" or "least" of something, you use the superlative form.

• The day that is colder than any other is the coldest day.
• She is the most conscientious person I have ever known. (Conscientious means careful and hardworking.)

For most short adjectives, you add -est to the end.

• cold becomes coldest
• fast becomes fastest

For longer adjectives, you use the word most before the adjective.

• She is the most intelligent student in the class.

Nouns Acting as Adjectives

Did you know that sometimes a noun can act like an adjective? It happens when one noun describes another noun.

• Take the noun "angel" and the noun "face."
• Put them together: "angel face."
• Here, "angel" is a noun, but it describes the "face." It tells you what kind of face it is. So, "angel" is working like an adjective!

Adjectives and Adverbs

Adjectives describe nouns. But what about words that describe actions? Those are adverbs.

• Adjectives describe what kind or which one. Example: "a beautiful flower."
• Adverbs describe how, when, or where an action happens. Example: "She sings beautifully."

You can often make an adverb from an adjective by adding -ly to the end.

• Adjective: beautiful
• Adverb: beautifully

Sometimes, you can do the opposite too.

• Adverb: presumably
• Adjective: presumable (as in "presumable innocence," meaning assumed innocent until proven guilty)

Another example:

• Adjective: guilty
• Adverb: guiltily

Common Adjectives

Here are some common adjectives you might use:

• able
• angry
• beautiful
• black
• bright
• clean
• deep
• early
• fat
• good
• great
• happy
• hard
• high
• important
• kind
• long
• new
• open
• quick
• red
• right
• round
• same
• sharp
• strong
• sweet
• tall
• warm
• wide
• wise
• young

See also

In Spanish: Adjetivo para niños