English Grammar

Formation of Adjectives

From nouns

Adjectives can be formed from nouns. For example, the adjective foolish is formed from the noun fool. Similarly the adjective courageous is formed from the noun courage.

More examples are given below.

Boy (noun): boyish (adjective)
Care: careful
Hope: hopeful
Shame: shameless
Sense: senseless
Silk: silken
Dirt: dirty
Gold: golden
Glory: glorious
Man: manly
King: kingly

Some adjectives are formed from verbs.

Talk (verb): talkative (adjective)
Move (verb): movable (adjective)

Adjectives can also be formed from other adjectives.

Black (adjective): blackish (adjective)
White (adjective): whitish (adjective)
Sick (adjective): sickly (adjective)

Sections in this Article

Adjectives
Adjectives of Quality
Adjectives of Quantity and Number
Distributive and Demonstrative adjectives
Interrogative and Possessive adjectives
Formation of Adjectives