A1 GrammarA1 Elementary

Adjectives: Old, interesting, expensive, etc.

Adjectives in English – grammar chart

Colorful educational chart explaining the use of adjectives in English grammar with examples in sentences, showing adjective-noun combinations, the use of adjectives with 'am/is/are', sensory verbs, and the rule against pluralizing adjectives.

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Adjective + noun

When we use adjectives with a noun in English, the adjectives go before the noun.

  • It’s an expensive guitar.
  • It’s a guitar expensive. 
  • She has a new car.
  • She has a car new.

Am/is/are + adjective

We can also use adjectives without a noun after the verb be.

  • This guitar is expensive. 
  • Her car is new. 

In questions, the adjective can go after be + subject.

  • Is your car new? 
  • Are your classmates nice? 

Feel/look/smell/sound/taste + adjective

We can also use adjectives without a noun after the verbs of the senses: feel, look, smell, sound, taste.

  • Your idea sounds interesting. 
  • I don’t like this soup. It tastes horrible.
  • You look tired. 
  • These cookies smell delicious. 
  • I feel depressed. 

No plural

Adjectives in English have no plural. They are always singular.

  • These are my favourite shoes.
  • These are my favourites shoes.
  • She has blue eyes.
  • She has blues eyes.

Very/quite

We can use very and quite before the adjectives.

  • It’s very expensive.
  • It’s quite expensive.

Ready to practice?

Put your knowledge to the test with interactive exercises (3 exercises available).