Adjective Exercises
ADJECTIVE DEFINITION AND EXERCISES:
An adjective is a word that modifies or describes a noun or pronoun by providing additional information about its qualities, characteristics, or attributes.
Adjectives describe the qualities or characteristics of nouns (e.g., tall, blue, happy).
They help to make writing more descriptive and expressive by providing vivid details about the subject.
Adjectives typically come before the noun they modify:
adjective + noun (nice day/grey clouds, etc.)
It’s a nice day today.
There are dark clouds in the sky.
Do you like Mexican food?
My friend speaks three foreign languages.
There is a vase with beautiful red roses on the table.
The ending of the adjectives does not change:
a new friend new friends
Adjective-forming suffixes:
-ful: beautiful, fruitful, graceful, careful
-less: fearless, hopeless, useless, shameless
-ous/-ious/-eous: mysterious, glorious, dangerous
-able/-ible: comfortable, visible, changeable, convertible
-y: happy, sunny, foggy, frosty, windy, dirty
-ic/-ical/al: athletic, historical, mathematical, natural
-ive: creative, destructive, active, effective, restrictive
-ant/ent: brillant, important, efficient, dependent
-ish: childish, yellowish, reddish, Danish, Polish
Instructions:
Please, do the exercises without seeing the answers.
If you are unable to find an answer, you can check the answers provided below after attempting all the blanks.
Exercise: Forming Adjectives
Instructions:
Choose an appropriate prefix or suffix from the options provided.
Fill in the blanks with the chosen prefix or suffix to form adjectives.
1. The room was ________ after the party.
Options: dis-, -y, -less
Words: order, tidy, mess
2. The movie was ________ to watch.
Options: -ing, un-, -able
Words: entertain, interest, bore
3. The child was ________ with excitement.
Options: over-, -ed, -ous
Words: whelm, exhaust, calm
4. The teacher gave us a ________ assignment.
Options: re-, -able, -ive
Words: do, complete, fail
5. The weather turned ________ during the hike.
Options: -y, en-, -ish
Words: storm, calm, cloudy
Correct Answers:
- The room was messy after the party.
- The movie was entertaining to watch.
- The child was overwhelmed with excitement.
- The teacher gave us a doable
- The weather turned stormy during the hike.
Exercise: Creating Adjectives with Suffixes
Instructions:
Read each word (verbs, nouns) provided.
Add the appropriate suffix to form an adjective.
Choose the correct suffix from the options provided.
Nouns:
- Danger
- Success
- Wonder
- Comfort
- Courage
Suffixes to Form Adjectives:
- -ous/-ious
- -ful/-less
- -ful/-less
- -able/-ible
- -ous/-ious
Verbs:
- Adapt
- Create
- Defend
- Excite
- Discover
Suffixes to Form Adjectives:
- -able/-ible
- -ive
- -able/-ible
- -ing
- -able/-ible
Correct Answers:
For Verbs:
- Adaptable
- Creative
- Defendable
- Exciting
- Discoverable
For Nouns:
- Dangerous
- Successful
- Wonderful
- Comfortable
- Courageous
Exercise: Adjective Forming
Instructions: Form adjectives from nouns by adding suffixes:
1. A child ran happily in the park.
Childish laughter echoed through the park as a child ran happily.
2. Success in business requires dedication and hard work.
Dedication and hard work are necessary for a successful business.
3. A play is being performed at the local theatre tonight.
Children engaged in playful activities outside in the sunshine.
4. Her face lit up with excitement when she saw the surprise.
Her face lit up with exciting anticipation when she saw the surprise.
5. They returned to the warmth and comfort of their home.
They returned to the homeless shelter, seeking warmth and comfort.
6. The sound of rain tapping on the window was soothing. A
The rainy weather made the atmosphere gloomy.
7. The morning dew had turned into sparkling frost on the grass.
The morning dew had turned into frosty crystals on the grass.
8. The natural beauty of the landscape took my breath away.
The landscape’s features were all beautiful.
DENOMINAL ADJECTIVES: HOW TO USE THEM:
Denominal adjectives are formed by adding a suffix to a noun to create an adjective that describes a characteristic or quality associated with the noun.
- Hopeless – from the noun hope
He felt hopeless after receiving the bad news.
- Cowardly from the noun coward
Her cowardly behaviour disappointed her friends.
- Earthen from the noun earth
They used earthen pots for planting flowers in the garden.
- Childish from the noun child
His childish antics annoyed his classmates.
- Joyful from the noun joy
The children’s joyful laughter filled the playground.
- Harmless from the noun harm
The spider looked harmless, but she was still afraid of it.
- Bricky from the noun brick
The bricky house had a fireplace in the living room.
- Mountainous from the noun mountain
They enjoyed hiking in the mountainous region during the summer.
Exercise: Identifying Denominal Adjectives
Instructions:
Read each sentence carefully.
Choose the correct denominal adjective from the nouns provided.
1.Her ______(fear) expression indicated her unease.
2.The______ (fog) weather made driving difficult.
3.The______(joy) laughter of children echoed through the park.
4.The______(rain) day forced them to cancel their outdoor plans.
5.The______ (mathematics) problem required careful consideration.
6.Her_______ (care) mistake cost her the game.
7.He remained______ (hope) despite the setbacks.
Correct Answers:
- fearful
- foggy
- joyful
- rainy
- mathematical
- careless
- hopeful
Comparison of Adjectives:
Points of degree for adjectives refer to the different forms an adjective can take to indicate the level of comparison or intensity of a characteristic.
There are three main points of degree:
Positive Degree: This is the basic form of an adjective, used to describe a noun without making any comparison. It simply states a quality or attribute of the noun.
Example: The cat is big.
Comparative Degree: This form of adjective is used when comparing two nouns or groups of nouns.
It indicates that one noun has a higher or lower degree of the quality described by the adjective compared to another noun.
When forming the comparative degree of adjectives, we often use the word “than” to introduce the second entity being compared.
Example: The elephant is bigger than the cat.
Simple Adjectives (One Syllable):
Comparative: Add -er big → bigger
Adjectives with Two or More Syllables:
Comparative: Use more beautiful → more beautiful
Superlative Degree: This form of adjective is used when comparing three or more nouns or groups of nouns.
It indicates that one noun has the highest or lowest degree of the quality described by the adjective compared to all others.
Example: The elephant is the biggest animal in the zoo.
Simple Adjectives (One Syllable):
Superlative: Add -est big → biggest
Adjectives with Two or More Syllables:
Superlative: Use the most beautiful → the most beautiful
Exceptions (irregular forms):
Some common adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms
Adjectives and their irregular forms:
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative (with “the”) |
| Good | Better | The best |
| Bad | Worse | The worst |
| Little | Less | The least |
| Much/Many | More | The most |
| Far | Farther/Further | The farthest/furthest |
| Late | Later | The latest |
| Old | Older/Elder | The oldest/eldest |
| Near | Nearer | The nearest |
| Fore | Former | The foremost |
| Inner | More Inner | The innermost |
| Outer | More Outer | The outermost |
| Upper | Higher | The uppermost |
| Nether | More Nether | The nethermost |
Exercise: Comparative and Superlative Forms of Adjectives
Instructions:
Read each sentence carefully.
Fill in the gaps with the correct form (comparative or superlative) of the adjectives provided.
- John is ________ than Mary. (old)
- This is the ________ book in the library. (large)
- She is ________ singer I’ve ever heard. (good)
- The elephant is ________ than the mouse. (big)
- This is the ________ city in the country. (small)
- This puzzle is ________ than the last one. (difficult)
- Mount Everest is ________ than any other mountain. (tall)
- Her hair is ________ than mine. (long)
- This is the ________ dress in the shop. (beautiful)
- She is ________ girl in her class. (young)
Answers:
- older
- largest
- the best
- bigger
- smallest
- more difficult
- taller
- longer
- most beautiful
- the youngest
Exercise: Completing Sentences with the Comparative Form of Adjectives
Instructions:
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the adjective in its comparative degree.
1. The elephant is ________ than the mouse. (Big
2. This puzzle is ________ than the last one. (Difficult)
3. Mount Everest is ________ than any other mountain. (Tall)
4. Her hair is ________ than mine. (Long
5. This city is ________ than the country. (Small)
6. The new computer is ________ than the old one. (Fast)
7. Today’s weather is ________ than yesterday’s. (Warm)
8. This book is ________ than the one I read last week. (Interesting)
9. The traffic in the city is ________ than in the suburbs. (Bad)
10. The new recipe is ________ than the old one. (Good)
- The elephant is bigger than the mouse.
- 2. This puzzle is more difficult than the last one.
- 3. Mount Everest is taller than any other mountain.
- Her hair is longer than mine.
- This city is smaller than the country.
- The new computer is faster than the old one.
- 7. Today’s weather is warmer than yesterday’s.
- This book is more interesting than the one I read last week.
- The traffic in the city is worse than in the suburbs.
- The new recipe is better than the old one.
Exercise: Completing Sentences with the Superlative Form of Adjectives
Instructions:
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the adjective in its superlative degree.
1. Mount Everest is ________ mountain in the world. (Tall)
2. This is ________ dress I have ever seen. (Beautiful)
3.The Nile River is ________ river in Africa. (long)
4.She is ________ student in the class. (Smart)
5. This is ________ cake I have ever tasted. (Delicious)
6. Antarctica is ________continent on Earth. (Cold)
7. The Grand Canyon is ________ canyon in the world. (Deep)
8. She is ________ person I know. (Kind)
9. That was ________ movie I’ve ever watched. (Boring)
10. This is ________ museum in the city. (Large)
Correct Answers:
- Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world.
- 2. This is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen.
- 3. The Nile River is the longest river in Africa.
- 4. She is the smartest student in the class.
- 5. This is the most delicious cake I have ever tasted.
- Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth.
- The Grand Canyon is the deepest canyon in the world.
- She is the kindest person I know.
- That was the most boring movie I’ve ever watched.
- This is the largest museum in the city.
As…as /Not as…as
The constructions “as…as” and “not as…as” are used to compare two things, actions, or qualities.
Adjectives are used in a positive degree.
As…As:
This construction is used to indicate that two things or people are equal in some way.
The structure is “as + adjective/adverb + as”.
Example :
John is as tall as Mary. (John and Mary are of equal height.)
This book is as interesting as the one I read last week. (Both books are equally interesting.)
Not As…As:
This construction is used to indicate that one thing or person is less than another in some way.
The structure is “not as + adjective/adverb + as.”
Example :
This restaurant is not as expensive as the one downtown. (The restaurant is less expensive than the one downtown.)
Her new car is not as fast as her old one. The new car is slower than the old one.
Exercise: Completing Sentences with “As…As or Not As…As
Instructions:
Choose whether to use “as…as” or “not as…as” to complete the sentence correctly.
- This pizza is ________ the one we had last time.
not as tasty as
- Sarah’s car is ________ her brother’s.
not as fast as
- John is ________ his brother when it comes to sports.
as athletic as
- The weather today is ________ it was yesterday.
not as warm as
- This book is ________ the one I read last week.
as interesting as
- This new phone is ________ the one I had before.
not as expensive as
- The hotel room was ________ we expected.
not as spacious as
- This cake is ________ the one my mom makes.
not as delicious as
- She is ________ her sister in terms of creativity.
as creative as
- That movie was ________ I thought it would be.
not as entertaining as
Correct Answers:
- This pizza is not as tasty as the one we had last time.
- Sarah’s car is not as fast as her brother’s.
- John is as athletic as his brother when it comes to sports.
- The weather today is not as warm as it was yesterday.
- This book is as interesting as the one I read last week.
- This new phone is not as expensive as the one I had before.
- The hotel room was not as spacious as we expected.
- This cake is not as delicious as the one my mom makes.
- She is as creative as her sister in terms of creativity.
- That movie was not as entertaining as I thought it would be.
Exercise: The Opposites of the Comparative Forms
Instructions:
Choose the antonym from the options provided:
easier ________ harder, difficult, toughest
older _________ younger, newer, youngest
cheaper _______ expensive, pricier, costliest
more boring ______ worse, inferior, poorest
more beautiful _______ uglier, plainer, homelier
larger _______ smaller, tinier, minuscule
taller _______ shorter, smaller, diminutive
more active ______ less active, more inactive, sluggish
deeper _______ shallower, surface-level, more superficial
busier _______ quieter, calmer, less crowded
politer ______ ruder, impolite, uncouther
commoner ______ rarer, more uncommon, more unique
narrower ______ wider, broader, more spacious
dirtier ______ cleaner, tidier, spotless
Correct Answers:
- easier: harder
- older: younger
- cheaper: expensive
- more boring: more interesting
- better: worse
- more beautiful: uglier
- larger: smaller
- taller: shorter
- more active: less active
- deeper: shallower
- busier: quieter
- politer: ruder
- commoner: rare
- narrower: wider
- dirtier: cleaner
Noun-Modifying (Adjective) Clauses
Degrees of Comparison of the Adjectives
What is the Attribute of a Sentence?
About Nouns. Common and Proper Nouns
The Types of the English Pronouns