Grammar
Adjectives: describe people and things clearly
Do you ever say a car red instead of a red car? This lesson shows the usual English order.
Adjectives give clear details about people and things. This page helps you place red and other describing words in the right spot.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
adjectives AJ-ik-tivz
The short answer
Put an adjective before a noun or after a linking verb such as be or look. Do not add plural -s to make it agree with a plural noun.
She bought a red car and felt very happy.
Why it works: The describing word red sits directly before the noun car.
4 more examples
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Talking about a house
They live in a quiet street near the park.
The adjective quiet comes before the noun street.
Not this:They live in a
street quietnear the park. What changes: The sentence feels awkward because English puts the describing word first. -
Shopping for clothes
These new shoes feel very comfortable.
The adjective new stays singular even though shoes is plural.
Not this:These
news shoesfeel very comfortable. What changes: Adding an s makes news sound like a report on television. -
Eating dinner
The hot soup smells delicious.
The verb smells links the soup to the adjective delicious in this sentence.
Not this:The hot soup smells
deliciously. What changes: The sentence sounds like the soup has a nose and smells things well. -
On a sunny day
Let's find something cold to drink.
Words like something take the adjective cold after them.
Not this:Let's find
cold somethingto drink. What changes: Putting the adjective first sounds unnatural with words like something.
Quick check
Which sentence puts the adjective in the right place?
You want to tell a friend about your new car.
Answer: We bought a red car yesterday.
Show the answer
Answer: We bought a red car yesterday.
English puts describing words before the noun or after a linking verb.
Read the full guide
You walk into a cafe on a cold morning. You order a hot drink and sit on a soft chair. Describing words help people understand what you see and need.
Put these words in two places
The problem: I put the word after the noun because that is how my first language works.
Put the word directly in front of what you name.
We saw an old house.
Put the word after verbs like be, look, or feel.
That house is old.
-
Not this:
She bought a coat warm for winter.Say: She bought a warm coat for winter.
English puts the describing word before the thing, not after it.
One form with plural nouns
The problem: I added -s to the word when the noun was plural.
Keep the word simple for one thing.
a red apple
Keep the word the same for many things.
three red apples
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They bought two expensive tickets.
Why it works: It does not add an s for two tickets.
-
We met some friendly people today.
Why it works: It stays the same with plural people.
Your turn
Which phrase uses the adjective correctly with a plural noun?
Answer: two expensive tickets
Show the answer
Answer: two expensive tickets
The plural noun tickets takes -s, but the adjective expensive stays the same.
Adjectives after sense verbs
The problem: I used happily after looks, though the word tells us how she seems.
Describes a person or thing when look or feel links it to a detail.
She looks happy today.
Describes how someone does an action.
She smiled happily.
-
Not this:
The soup tastes deliciously.Say: The soup tastes delicious.
Taste links the soup to the word delicious here, so use delicious without -ly.
Your turn
Which sentence uses a sense verb to link the soup to a description?
Answer: The soup tastes delicious.
Show the answer
Answer: The soup tastes delicious.
Tastes links soup to the describing word delicious in this sentence.
Describe words like something and anyone
The problem: I tried to say cold something and felt unsure about the order.
-
Would you like something sweet?
Why it works: The word sweet sits directly after something.
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Did you meet anyone interesting?
Why it works: The word interesting follows anyone.
-
Not this:
Let's find new someone to join us.Say: Let's find someone new to join us.
Place new after someone.
Before you go
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence is correct?
A coworker talks about buying new computers.
Answer: We ordered three fast laptops.
Show the answer
Answer: We ordered three fast laptops.
Fast does not take plural -s before the plural noun laptops.
Question 2 of 2 · One new sentence
What do you tell the baker about the warm rolls?
At a bakery, you order a fresh loaf of bread.
Answer: These warm rolls smell fantastic.
Show the answer
Answer: These warm rolls smell fantastic.
Warm comes before rolls without an s, and smell takes the adjective fantastic.
Remember this
Do not add plural -s to an adjective when its noun is plural. Try describing one object and then two objects with the same adjective.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Adjectives: describe people and things clearly"
Where does an adjective go in an English sentence?
An adjective usually goes before the noun it describes or after a linking verb such as be, seem, or look. Some adjectives work in only one of these positions.
We bought a small table.
It looks perfect.
Do English adjectives become plural?
Do not add plural -s to an adjective just because its noun is plural. Keep the adjective the same and change the noun when you need a plural.
I bought one red apple.
I bought three red apples.
Why do we use an adjective after look, feel, smell, or taste?
Use an adjective when a sense verb links the subject to a description. If the verb describes a deliberate action instead, an adverb may describe how the action happens.
The soup smells delicious.
The dog smelled the bag carefully.
Why does the adjective come after something or anyone?
Indefinite pronouns such as something, anyone, and nobody normally put the adjective after them. This differs from the usual adjective-before-noun order.
Would you like something cold?
What order should I use for several adjectives before a noun?
When several adjectives come before a noun, opinion normally comes before details such as age, color, origin, material, or purpose. Use only the details your listener needs.
She bought a beautiful old wooden desk.