##  [Adjective](/hypergrammar-2/what-is-an-adjective)

##  Avertissement

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An <a id="adjective">adjective</a> modifies a [noun](what-is-a-noun#noun) or a [pronoun](what-is-a-pronoun#whatispronoun) by describing, identifying or quantifying it. An adjective usually precedes the noun or pronoun that it modifies.

In the following examples, the words in italics are adjectives:

- The *truck-shaped* *hot-air* balloon floated over the treetops.
- Joe covered his *bedroom* walls with *hideous* posters.
- The *small* boat foundered on the *wine-dark* sea.
- The *coal* mines are *dark* and *dank*.
- *Many* stores have already begun to play *irritating Christmas* music.
- A *battered* music box sat on the *mahogany* sideboard.
- The mud room was filled with *large*, *yellow* rain boots.

An adjective can be modified by an [adverb](what-is-an-adverb#whatisadv) or by a [phrase](building-phrases#bldphr) or [clause](building-clauses) functioning as an adverb. In the following [sentence](subject-and-predicate#sentence), the adverb *intricately* modifies the adjective *patterned*:

- My husband knits intricately *patterned* mittens.

Some nouns, many pronouns and many [participle phrases](the-function-of-phrases#phradj) can also act as adjectives. In the following sentence, both highlighted adjectives are [past participles](verbals#pastparticiples):

- Eleanor listened to the *muffled* sounds of the radio *hidden* under her pillow.

Note that grammarians also consider articles (*the*, *a*, *an*) to be adjectives.

## Possessive adjectives

A <a id="possessiveadjective">possessive adjective</a> (*my*, *your*, *his*, *her*, *its*, *our*, *their*) is similar or identical to a [possessive pronoun](what-is-a-pronoun#possessivepronoun); however, it is used as an adjective and modifies a noun or [noun phrase](the-function-of-phrases#phrsubj), as in the following:

| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| I can’t complete *my* assignment because I don’t have the textbook. | The possessive adjective *my* modifies *assignment*, and the noun phrase *my assignment* functions as an [object](objects-and-complements#objects). Note that the possessive pronoun form *mine* never modifies a noun or noun phrase. |
| What is *your* phone number? | The possessive adjective *your* modifies the noun phrase *phone number*. The entire noun phrase *your phone number* functions as a [subject complement](objects-and-complements#scmplmnt). Note that the possessive pronoun form *yours* never modifies a noun or noun phrase. |
| The bakery sold *his* favourite type of bread. | The possessive adjective *his* modifies the noun phrase *favourite type of bread*. The entire noun phrase *his favourite type of bread* is the [direct object](objects-and-complements#directobject) of the [verb](what-is-a-verb#whatisverb) *sold*. |
| After many years, Magda returned to *her* homeland. | The possessive adjective *her* modifies the noun *homeland*. The noun phrase *her homeland* is the object of the [preposition](what-is-a-preposition#whatispreposit) *to*. Note also that the possessive pronoun form *hers* never modifies a noun or noun phrase. |
| We have lost *our* way in this wood. | The possessive adjective *our* modifies the noun *way*. The noun phrase *our way* is the direct object of the [compound verb](compound-verbs#verbcmp) *have lost*. Note that the possessive pronoun form *ours* never modifies a noun or noun phrase. |
| In many fairy tales, children are neglected by *their* parents. | The possessive adjective *their* modifies *parents*. The noun phrase *their parents* is the object of the preposition *by*. Note that the possessive pronoun form *theirs* never modifies a noun or noun phrase. |
| The cat chased *its* tail down the stairs. | The possessive adjective *its* modifies *tail*. The noun phrase *its tail* is the object of the verb *chased*. Note that *its* is the possessive adjective and *it’s* is a [contraction](the-apostrophe#contraction) for *it is*. |

## Demonstrative adjectives

A demonstrative adjective (*this*, *these*, *that*, *those* and *what*) is identical to a [demonstrative pronoun](what-is-a-pronoun#demonstrativepronoun) but is used as an adjective to modify a noun or noun phrase, as in the following:

| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| When the librarian tripped over *that* cord, she dropped a pile of books. | The demonstrative adjective *that* modifies the noun *cord*. The noun phrase *that cord* is the object of the preposition *over*. |
| *This* apartment needs to be fumigated. | The demonstrative adjective *this* modifies the noun *apartment*. The noun phrase *this apartment* is the [subject](subject-and-predicate#subject) of the sentence. |
| Even though my friend preferred *those* CDs, I bought these. | The demonstrative adjective *those* in the [subordinate clause](using-clauses-as-nouns-adjectives-and-adverbs) modifies *CDs*. The noun phrase *those CDs* is the object of the verb *preferred*.   (In the [independent clause](using-clauses-as-nouns-adjectives-and-adverbs), *these* stands alone as the direct object of the verb *bought* and is therefore a demonstrative pronoun, not a demonstrative adjective.) |

Note that the relationship between a demonstrative adjective and a demonstrative pronoun is similar to the relationship between a possessive adjective and a possessive pronoun, or to that between an interrogative adjective and an [interrogative pronoun](what-is-a-pronoun#interpron).

## Interrogative adjectives

An <a id="interrogativeadjective">interrogative adjective</a> (*which* or *what*) is like an interrogative pronoun, except that it modifies a noun or noun phrase rather than standing on its own, as in the following:

| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| *Which* plants should be watered twice a week? | The interrogative adjective *which* modifies the noun *plants*. The noun phrase *which plants* is the subject of the compound verb *should be watered*. |
| *What* book are you reading? | The interrogative adjective *what* modifies the noun *book*. The noun phrase *what book* is the direct object of the compound verb *are reading*. |

## Indefinite adjectives

An <a id="indefiniteadjective">indefinite adjective</a> is similar to an [indefinite pronoun](what-is-a-pronoun#indpron), except that it modifies a noun, pronoun or noun phrase, as in the following:

| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| *Many* people believe that corporations are insufficiently taxed. | The indefinite adjective *many* modifies the noun *people*. The noun phrase *many people* is the subject of the sentence. |
| I will send you *any* mail that arrives after you have moved to Sudbury. | The indefinite adjective *any* modifies the noun *mail*. The noun phrase *any mail* is the direct object of the compound verb *will send*. |
| The caretakers found a *few* goldfish floating belly-up in the pond. | The indefinite adjective *few* modifies the noun *goldfish*. The noun phrase *a few goldfish* is the direct object of the verb *found*. |
| The title of the next short story on our list is “*All* Summer in a Day.” | The indefinite pronoun *all* modifies *summer*. The title “All Summer in a Day” is a subject complement of the verb *is*. |

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