Adjectives
An adjective describes a noun. A noun is a word for a person, place or thing. An adjective tells us what it is like.
Structure
- Before a noun: adjective + noun. Example: a beautiful garden, an old man.
- After be, look, seem: subject + be/look/seem + adjective. Example: The sky is blue. She looks happy.
- One form only: the adjective stays the same for one or many. Example: a big dog, two big dogs.
How the Grammar Works
- Find the noun. Example: car.
- Put the adjective before the noun. Example: a small car.
- Or use be, look or seem and then the adjective. Example: The car is small.
- Do not add -s to the adjective. Example: two small cars.
- With two adjectives, put size before colour. Example: a small red car.
Common Use Cases
- Say how a person or thing looks: size, colour, age. Example: a tall boy, a green apple, an old city.
- Say how you feel or what you think. Example: a happy child, a boring film.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Wrong: He is a teacher good. Right: He is a good teacher. The adjective goes before the noun.
- Wrong: The house red. Right: The house is red. After the noun, you need is before the adjective.
- Wrong: two bigs dogs. Right: two big dogs. The adjective never takes -s.
Comparison with Related Grammar
Do not mix adjectives with -ly words. An adjective describes a noun: a quick runner. A word like quickly tells how someone does something: She runs quickly.
Example Sentences
- She has a red dress.
- The food is good.
- I have a small car.
- He has a friendly dog.
- The book is interesting.
- We met two young teachers.
- She looks happy.
When to Use This Rule
Use adjectives to say what a person or thing is like. They go before a noun or after be, look and seem. They never change for one or many.