Adjectives
Elementary School
Definition
A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, telling which one, what kind, or how many. For example, in "the tall, old tree," both "tall" and "old" are adjectives. Adjectives add detail and make writing more precise and vivid.
Worked examples
The curious kitten explored the dark basement.
"Curious" describes the kitten (what kind) and "dark" describes the basement (what kind).
I need three sharp pencils for the exam.
"Three" tells how many pencils, and "sharp" tells what kind of pencils.
Common mistakes
- Using an adverb instead of an adjective: "She runs quick." → "She runs quickly." (adverb) or "She is quick." (adjective) Adjectives modify nouns/pronouns; adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
- Confusing articles with adjectives: counting "a" in "a dog" as the only adjective → Articles (a, an, the) are a special type of adjective Articles are adjectives, but don't overlook other descriptive adjectives in the sentence.
- Placing adjectives after the noun in English: "a car red" → "a red car" — adjectives usually come before the noun In English, adjectives typically precede the noun they modify, unlike some other languages.
Where you'll use it next
You'll use adjectives when writing comparative and superlative forms, analyzing descriptive passages in literature, and crafting vivid narratives and persuasive essays throughout middle and high school English.
See also
Reviewed by Pat Cheng, M.Ed. — StudyPug Curriculum Lead · Last updated June 6, 2026