article + adjective + nounIn a basic noun phrase, the adjective comes before the noun.
Adjectives Basics
A1Adjectives describe people and things. Put them before a noun or after be, and keep the same form for singular and plural.
What you'll learn
- Place adjectives before nouns in simple noun phrases.
- Use adjectives after am, is, and are.
- Keep adjectives unchanged with singular and plural nouns.
- Choose basic adjectives to describe size, color, age, and opinion.
- Recognize common describing words in simple sentences.
Structure
subject + be + adjectiveAfter am, is, or are, use the adjective after be.
Build a sentence
Subject / Noun phrase base
Adjective
aredcar
a red car
Put the adjective before the noun.
When to use
Describe people
Talk about appearance or character with simple words: a tall man, a kind teacher, Anna is friendly.
Describe things
Describe objects by size, color, price, or age: a small table, a blue phone, an old car.
Describe with be
Use am, is, are plus an adjective to give information: The coffee is hot. The children are noisy.
Markers
bigsmallnicecoldhappyexpensive
In contrast
vs adverbs-basics
Adjectives describe nouns or follow be: a fast car, The car is fast. Adverbs describe actions: The car moves fast.
Common mistakes
Wrong
Maria has a car red.
Correct
Maria has a red car.
In a basic noun phrase, the adjective goes before the noun.
Wrong
The soup is salt.
Correct
The soup is salty.
After be, use an adjective to describe the noun, not a noun form.
Wrong
The room small is.
Correct
The room is small.
With be, the adjective comes after am, is, or are.
Wrong
They bought two bigs bags.
Correct
They bought two big bags.
Adjectives do not take plural -s before plural nouns.
Common misconceptions
❝ If the noun is plural, the adjective also needs a plural form. ❞
English adjectives stay the same: one small bag, two small bags.
❝ An adjective can only go before a noun. ❞
Adjectives also come after be: The bag is heavy. Tom is tired.
Skills in this rule (5)
PUT_ADJECTIVE_BEFORE_NOUNw5Put the adjective before the noun
Use the describing word directly before the noun: a big house, a blue bag. Do not place it after the noun in basic noun phrases.
PUT_ADJECTIVE_AFTER_BEw5Use the adjective after be
After am, is, are, put the adjective after be: The room is small. Do not add a noun after the adjective unless you need one.
KEEP_ADJECTIVE_FORMw4Keep the adjective form the same
Adjectives do not change for singular or plural nouns: a small box, two small boxes. They also stay the same with different subjects.
USE_COMMON_DESCRIPTION_WORDSw3Choose common adjectives for size, color, age, and opinion
Use basic adjectives like big, small, red, old, new, good, and bad to describe people and things in simple sentences.
PICK_ADJECTIVE_MARKERSw2Recognize words that often work as adjectives
Common describing words like big, nice, cold, expensive, and happy often appear before nouns or after be.