Adjectives Notes, Quizzes & Revision

What is an adjective?

An adjective is a word that describes or gives more information about a noun or a pronoun. It tells us about colour, size, number, quality, or other features.

Example: In "a bright morning in Nairobi", the word "bright" is an adjective describing "morning". ☀️

Main functions of adjectives

• Describe qualities: a tall tree, a slow cheetah.
• Show quantity or number: three mangoes, many students.
• Point out which one: this matatu, those books.
• Show possession: my pen, their jerseys.

Common types of adjectives (with Kenyan examples)

• Descriptive — describe a quality: a warm tea, a colourful kitenge.
• Quantitative — tell how much: some maize, several passengers.
• Numeral — give exact number or order: two goats, first prize.
• Demonstrative — point out: this bus, those houses.
• Possessive — show ownership: our school, her bag.
• Interrogative — used in questions: which route? what colour?
• Proper adjectives — from proper nouns: Kenyan coffee, Luo song.

Position and order of adjectives

Adjectives usually come before the noun they describe: "a fast train", "a red jersey". When several adjectives appear, they often follow this order:

Opinion → Size → Age → Shape → Colour → Origin → Material → Purpose → Noun

Example: "a beautiful small old round red Kenyan clay pot" — this shows how many different adjective types can be stacked.

Degrees of comparison

Adjectives can show comparison between things:

• Positive — the basic form: tall, bright.
• Comparative — compares two things: taller, brighter (add -er or use "more").
• Superlative — compares more than two: tallest, brightest (add -est or use "most").

Regular forms: small → smaller → smallest, happy → happier → happiest.

Irregular forms: good → better → best, bad → worse → worst.

Important points to remember

• In English, adjectives do not change form for singular or plural: "a big dog", "big dogs".
• Use commas to separate coordinate adjectives: "a bright, sunny morning". (If you can put "and" between them, use a comma.)
• Don't confuse adjectives with adverbs: "quick" is adjective (a quick runner); "quickly" is adverb (runs quickly).
• Adjectives often answer: Which? What kind? How many? Whose?

Common mistakes (and how to fix them)

• Saying "more better" — use "better" not "more better".
• Using two possessive words together: say "my brother's book" not "my brother's his book".
• Placing adjectives after the noun without a linking verb: "the man tall" is wrong — use "the man is tall" or "the tall man".

Practice — try these (answers below)

1. Underline the adjective: "The warm ugali smelled delicious."
2. Fill in: "This is _____ (my / mine) book." (choose adjective/possessive)
3. Change to comparative: "tall" → ________
4. Choose the correct order: "a (Kenyan / small) (old / wooden) drum" — write a natural order.
5. Write the superlative: "good" → ________

Tips for learners in Kenya (age_replace)

• Use local examples (mahindi, chapati, matatu, Nairobi, Mombasa) to make sentences — this makes learning easier.
• Read short Kenyan stories and underline adjectives to spot how they are used.
• Practice forming comparatives/superlatives with classmates: "My house is bigger than yours."
• Keep a small notebook of new adjectives with meanings in Kiswahili/your home language for quick revision.

Quick revision

Adjective = describes a noun. Think: Which? What kind? How many? Whose? Use local examples and practise forming comparative and superlative forms. ✍️