Vocabulary: Adjectives to Describe People and Things — Master Descriptive English Easily

Adjectives are an essential part of English vocabulary. They describe or modify nouns — helping us express qualities, quantities, sizes, colors, and emotions with precision. Whether you’re describing a person’s personality or the look of an object, adjectives bring your language to life.

Table of Contents

What Are Adjectives?

An adjective is a word that describes a noun or pronoun. It tells us more about its attributes — such as how someone or something looks, feels, behaves, or is characterized.

Examples:

The blue sky looked beautiful. (Here, blue describes the sky.)
She is a kind person. (Here, kind describes the person.)
This is a heavy suitcase. (Here, heavy modifies suitcase.)

Types of Adjectives

Adjectives can be grouped based on the kind of information they give. Let’s explore the key types with clear breakdowns.

1. Descriptive Adjectives

These are the most common adjectives. They describe the qualities or states of being of nouns.

Examples: brave, tall, beautiful, cold, noisy, intelligent.

Person	Adjective	Sentence Example
Personality	Generous	Priya is generous towards everyone.
Appearance	Stylish	He looked stylish in his new jacket.

2. Quantitative Adjectives

They indicate the amount or number of a noun.

Examples: few, many, some, several, much, little

Example sentence: He bought many books from the fair.

3. Demonstrative Adjectives

They point out specific nouns.

This apple is sweet.
Those cars are expensive.

4. Possessive Adjectives

They show ownership or belonging.

Examples: my, your, his, her, our, their

Example: That is my bag.

5. Interrogative Adjectives

They are used with nouns to ask questions.

Which subject do you like?
Whose pen is this?

6. Comparative and Superlative Forms

Adjectives can compare two or more things. The basic forms are:

Degree	Form	Example
Positive	Fast	He is a fast runner.
Comparative	Faster	He is faster than me.
Superlative	Fastest	He is the fastest in the team.

Adjectives to Describe People

When describing people, adjectives reveal appearance, personality, or emotional state.

Example Sentences:

Rita is a creative artist. (Personality)
He looked tired after his journey. (Emotion)
The man was tall with curly hair. (Appearance)

Adjectives to Describe Things

When talking about objects or experiences, adjectives help create vivid imagery. They can describe size, color, shape, material, or quality.

The round table was made of oak. (Shape & Material)
She wore a bright red dress. (Color)
This phone is lightweight and sleek. (Quality)

Interactive Exercise: Choose the Right Adjective

Try filling in the blanks below to check your understanding:

The food smells _______ (delicious / boring).
He gave me a _______ gift. (sweet / slow).
This mountain is _______ than the previous one. (higher / smartest).

Tip: Think about the context — adjectives should match the noun naturally.

Tips to Use Adjectives Effectively

Use comparative or superlative forms only when comparing two or more things.
Place adjectives before the noun or after linking verbs like is, seems, looks.
Use multiple adjectives in order: Opinion → Size → Age → Shape → Color → Origin → Material → Purpose.

Example: She bought a beautiful small round silver pendant.

Conclusion

Adjectives bring depth to your sentences, allowing you to describe the world vividly. Understanding their types and correct usage will not only make your English more expressive but also more engaging for your reader or listener.

Practice daily! Pick three people and three things around you — try describing them using fresh adjectives each time. The more you practice, the stronger your descriptive vocabulary will become.