What are descriptive adjectives?

Grammar Toolkit

Descriptive adjectives

Grammar Toolkit

Descriptive adjectives

A descriptive adjective gives colour, shape, size and feeling to a noun or pronoun. They work

with nouns to give us clear and interesting pictures of people, places and things.

huge “I have a bear that is …”

fierce

heavy

strong

warm

adorable

cheeky

stuffed

angry

hungry

broad

soft

loveable

friendly

frightening

Choose adjectives carefully — they have a big influence on what you want to say.

The road ran alongside the ______ river. Simone’s _ _ , _ _ sports car seemed to enjoy the challenge of this

road. Its ____ paintwork glinted in the sun and its _______ engine roared at each corner. Simone could not imagine a more ___ day.

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Descriptive adjectives

Some adjectives, like nice, big, cute and pretty, are used too often. Try to think of more precise,

interesting adjectives instead. Choose adjectives to complete the sentences below.

winter glorious twisty blue

difficult perfect mighty raging

new

twisty ragingnew

difficult perfectmighty

glorious

winter

blue

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Descriptive adjectives

Some descriptive adjectives are called proper adjectives because they are formed from proper

nouns. They usually have a capital letter.German sausage

Not every proper adjective has a capital letter — a dictionary will show you if it does.

venetian blind brussels sprout manila envelope

the Australian outback

Scottish bagpipes

Chinese food

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Descriptive adjectives

• An adjective describes a noun or pronoun. A descriptive (or describing) adjective gives colour, shape, size and feeling to nouns and pronouns.• Proper adjectives are formed from proper nouns

and usually have capital letters.• In the following sentence, the descriptive

adjectives are red and the proper adjective is blue: Holly slurped a large, steaming bowl of Chinese noodles.

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Descriptive adjectives

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