Adjectives are describing words. Large, grey, and friendly are all examples of adjectives. In the examples below, these adjectives are used to describe an elephant.
Examples:
 

• Large elephant

• Grey elephant

• Friendly elephant.

 

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ADJECTIVES

 

Adjectives are describing words. However, there are many other words that are classified as adjectives, some of which do not fall easily under this description.

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES

Possessive adjectives are used to show possession. They are my, your, his, her, its, our and their. (They are a type ofpossessive pronoun.)


THE ARTICLES

The words a, an, and the are known as articles. They are classified as adjectives. A and an are called the indefinite articlesbecause they are used to indicate non-specific people or things. The is called the definite article because it does indicate a specific person or thing.

• A cup (i.e., any cup)

• The cup (i.e., a specific cup)

Read more about articles.

DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES

Demonstrative adjectives are used to demonstrate or indicate specific things. This, that, these and those are all demonstrative adjectives.

• If I hear that parrot again, I will call the RSPCA.

• (That is a demonstrative adjective. It refers to a specific parrot.)

• Medals will only be given to those runners who complete the marathon in less than 8 hours.

• (Those is a demonstrative adjective. It refers to specific people.)

INDEFINITE ADJECTIVES

Unlike demonstrative adjectives, which indicate specific items, indefinite adjectives do not point out specific things. They are formed from indefinite pronouns. The most common indefinite adjectives are no, any, many, few and several.

• The chief has heard many people make the same promise.

• (The indefinite adjective many modifies the noun people.)

• According to a council spokesman, there are no wallabies left in Derbyshire. However, over the past few months, manywalkers have reported seeing several adults with young.

• (The indefinite adjectives in this example are no, few, many and several.)

 

​