English as a Second Language: How to survive...
This blog has been created to help all the teachers who are preparing to teach English. Also to provide advice and useful content on this language to anyone wishing to improve their level.
Saturday 18 June 2011
Graduation Day
Yesterday, Graduation Day. With an exceptional godfather. Really inspiring.
M ยช Angeles, I missed you. Laura, you're great. For all, has been a tough year, but brilliant. Thank you.
http://www.bernardohernandez.com/
Sunday 15 May 2011
Phonetics: Who said fear???
Links suggested by our teacher to start with lots of patience... So come on, Dream Team!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/sounds/vowel_short_7.shtml
http://club.telepolis.com/phonetics/theory.html
http://www.arts.gla.ac.uk/IPA/ipa.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/sounds/vowel_short_7.shtml
http://club.telepolis.com/phonetics/theory.html
http://www.arts.gla.ac.uk/IPA/ipa.html
Sunday 10 April 2011
What is an adverb?
What is an adverb?
Basically, most adverbs tell you how, where, or when something is done. In other words, they describe the manner, place, or time of an action. Here are some examples:How to recognize an adverb
Many adverbs end with the suffix -LY. Most of these are created by adding -LY to the end of an adjective, like this:Monday 14 March 2011
Auxiliary Verbs
Auxiliary Verbs are the verbs be, do, have, will when they are followed by another verb (the full verb) in order to form a question, a negative sentence, a compound tense or the passive.
Progressive Forms
The verb be can also be a full verb. In this case, it's not followed by another verb. If be is used as a full verb, we do not need an auxiliary in negative sentences or questions.
Compound Tenses - Active Voice
As a full verb have indicates possession. In British English, however, we usually use have got (have being the auxiliary, got the full verb).
When we use have as a full verb, we must use the auxiliary do in negative sentences and questions. If we use have got, however, we do not need another auxiliary.
The auxiliary verb "will"
The auxiliary "do" in negative sentences
As a full verb we use do in certain expressions. If we want to form negative sentences or questions using do as a full verb, we need another do as an auxiliary.
the full verb is "be"
The verb "to be"
The verb be can be used as an auxiliary and a full verb. As an auxiliary we use this verb for compound tenses and the passive voice. Note that be is an irregular verb:- Simple Present:
- I am, he/she/it is, we/you/they are
- Simple Past:
- I/he/she/it was, we/you/they were
- Past Participle:
- been
Progressive Forms
- Present Progressive:
- He is playing football.
- Past Progressive:
- He was playing football.
- Present Perfect Progressive:
- He has been playing football.
- Past Perfect Progressive:
- He had been playing football.
- Simple Present/Past:
- The house is/was built.
- Present/Past Perfect:
- The house has/had been built.
- Future I:
- The house will be built.
The verb be can also be a full verb. In this case, it's not followed by another verb. If be is used as a full verb, we do not need an auxiliary in negative sentences or questions.
- positive sentence:
- They are fifteen years old.
- negative sentence:
- They are not fifteen years old.
- question:
- Are they fifteen years old?
The verb "have"
The verb have, too, can be used both as an auxiliary and as a full verb. As an auxiliary we use this verb to form compound tenses in active and passive voice. (Use the past participle of the full verb.)Compound Tenses - Active Voice
- Present Perfect Simple:
- He has played football.
- Past Perfect Simple:
- He had played football.
- Present Perfect Progressive:
- He has been playing football.
- Past Perfect Progressive:
- He had been playing football.
- Present/Past Perfect:
- The house has/had been built.
- Simple Present:
- I/we/you/they have, he/she/it has
- Simple Past:
- I/he/she/it/we/you/they had
- Past Participle:
- had
As a full verb have indicates possession. In British English, however, we usually use have got (have being the auxiliary, got the full verb).
- full verb:
- I have a car.
- auxiliary verb:
- I have got a car.
When we use have as a full verb, we must use the auxiliary do in negative sentences and questions. If we use have got, however, we do not need another auxiliary.
- have as a full verb:
- I do not have a car.
- Do I have a car?
- have as an auxiliary verb:
- I have not got a car.
- Have I got a car?
The verb "will"
The verb will can only be used as an auxiliary. We use it to form the future tenses.The auxiliary verb "will"
- Future I:
- He will not play football.
- Future II:
- He will have played football.
- Examples:
- I will, he will
- I will not = I won't
The verb "do"
The verb do can be both an auxiliary and a full verb. As an auxiliary we use do in negative sentences and questions for most verbs (except not for be, will, have got and modal verbs) in Simple Present and Simple Past. (Use the infinitive of the full verb.)The auxiliary "do" in negative sentences
- Simple Present:
- He does not play football.
- Simple Past:
- He did not play football.
- Simple Present:
- Does he play football?
- Simple Past:
- Did he play football?
- Simple Present:
- I/we/you/they do, he/she/it does
- Simple Past:
- I/he/she/it/we/you/they did
As a full verb we use do in certain expressions. If we want to form negative sentences or questions using do as a full verb, we need another do as an auxiliary.
- positive sentence:
- She does her homework every day.
- negative sentence:
- She doesn't do her homework every day.
- question:
- Does she do her homework every day?
Sentences without the auxiliary "do"
In the following cases, the auxiliary do is not used in negative sentences/questions:the full verb is "be"
- Example:
- I am not angry. / Are you okay?
- Example:
- They are not sleeping. / Have you heard that?
- Example:
- We need not wait. / Can you repeat that, please?
- Example:
- Who sings that song?
Irregular verbs
Infinitive | Simple Past | Past Participle |
---|---|---|
alight | alighted, alit | alighted, alit |
arise | arose | arisen |
awake | awoke, awaked | awoken, awaked |
be | was, were | been |
bear | bore | borne, born |
beat | beat | beaten, beat |
become | became | become |
beget | begot | begotten |
begin | began | begun |
bend | bent | bent |
bereave | bereaved, bereft | bereaved, bereft |
beseech | besought, beseeched | besought, beseeched |
bet | bet, betted | bet, betted |
bid | bade, bid | bidden, bid, bade |
bide | bade, bided | bided |
bind | bound | bound |
bite | bit | bitten |
bleed | bled | bled |
bless | blessed, blest | blessed, blest |
blow | blew | blown |
break | broke | broken |
breed | bred | bred |
bring | brought | brought |
broadcast | broadcast, broadcasted | broadcast, broadcasted |
build | built | built |
burn | burnt, burned | burnt, burned |
burst | burst | burst |
bust | bust, busted | bust, busted |
buy | bought | bought |
can | could | (kein Participle) |
cast | cast | cast |
catch | caught | caught |
choose | chose | chosen |
cleave | cleft, cleaved, clove | cleft, cleaved, cloven |
cling | clung | clung |
clothe | clothed, clad | clothed, clad |
come | came | come |
cost | cost | cost |
creep | crept | crept |
crow | crowed | crew, crowed |
cut | cut | cut |
deal | dealt | dealt |
dig | dug | dug |
do | did | done |
draw | drew | drawn |
dream | dreamt, dreamed | dreamt, dreamed |
drink | drank | drunk |
drive | drove | driven |
dwell | dwelt, dwelled | dwelt, dwelled |
eat | ate | eaten |
fall | fell | fallen |
feed | fed | fed |
feel | felt | felt |
fight | fought | fought |
find | found | found |
flee | fled | fled |
fling | flung | flung |
fly | flew | flown |
forbid | forbad, forbade | forbid, forbidden |
forecast | forecast, forecasted | forecast, forecasted |
forget | forgot | forgotten |
forsake | forsook | forsaken |
freeze | froze | frozen |
geld | gelded, gelt | gelded, gelt |
get | got | got, gotten |
gild | gilded, gilt | gilded, gilt |
give | gave | given |
gnaw | gnawed | gnawed, gnawn |
go | went | gone |
grind | ground | ground |
grip | gripped, gript | gripped, gript |
grow | grew | grown |
hang | hung | hung |
have | had | had |
hear | heard | heard |
heave | heaved, hove | heaved, hove |
hew | hewed | hewed, hewn |
hide | hid | hidden, hid |
hit | hit | hit |
hold | held | held |
hurt | hurt | hurt |
keep | kept | kept |
kneel | knelt, kneeled | knelt, kneeled |
knit | knitted, knit | knitted, knit |
know | knew | known |
lay | laid | laid |
lead | led | led |
lean | leant, leaned | leant, leaned |
leap | leapt, leaped | leapt, leaped |
learn | learnt, learned | learnt, learned |
leave | left | left |
lend | lent | lent |
let | let | let |
lie | lay | lain |
light | lit, lighted | lit, lighted |
lose | lost | lost |
make | made | made |
may | might | (kein Participle) |
mean | meant | meant |
meet | met | met |
melt | melted | molten, melted |
mow | mowed | mown, mowed |
pay | paid | paid |
pen | pent, penned | pent, penned |
plead | pled, pleaded | pled, pleaded |
prove | proved | proven, proved |
put | put | put |
quit | quit, quitted | quit, quitted |
read | read | read |
rid | rid, ridded | rid, ridded |
ride | rode | ridden |
ring | rang | rung |
rise | rose | risen |
run | ran | run |
saw | sawed | sawn, sawed |
say | said | said |
see | saw | seen |
seek | sought | sought |
sell | sold | sold |
send | sent | sent |
set | set | set |
sew | sewed | sewn, sewed |
shake | shook | shaken |
shall | should | (kein Participle) |
shear | sheared | shorn, sheared |
shed | shed | shed |
shine | shone | shone |
shit | shit, shitted, shat | shit, shitted, shat |
shoe | shod, shoed | shod, shoed |
shoot | shot | shot |
show | showed | shown, showed |
shred | shred, shredded | shred, shredded |
shrink | shrank, shrunk | shrunk |
shut | shut | shut |
sing | sang | sung |
sink | sank | sunk |
sit | sat | sat |
slay | slew | slain |
sleep | slept | slept |
slide | slid | slid |
sling | slung | slung |
slink | slunk | slunk |
slit | slit | slit |
smell | smelt, smelled | smelt, smelled |
smite | smote | smitten |
sow | sowed | sown, sowed |
speak | spoke | spoken |
speed | sped, speeded | sped, speeded |
spell | spelt, spelled | spelt, spelled |
spend | spent | spent |
spill | spilt, spilled | spilt, spilled |
spin | spun | spun |
spit | spat | spat |
split | split | split |
spoil | spoilt, spoiled | spoilt, spoiled |
spread | spread | spread |
spring | sprang, sprung | sprung |
stand | stood | stood |
steal | stole | stolen |
stick | stuck | stuck |
sting | stung | stung |
stink | stank, stunk | stunk |
stride | strode | stridden |
strike | struck | struck |
string | strung | strung |
strive | strove | striven |
swear | swore | sworn |
sweat | sweat, sweated | sweat, sweated |
sweep | swept | swept |
swell | swelled | swollen, swelled |
swim | swam | swum |
swing | swung | swung |
take | took | taken |
teach | taught | taught |
tear | tore | torn |
telecast | telecast, telecasted | telecast, telecasted |
tell | told | told |
think | thought | thought |
throw | threw | thrown |
thrust | thrust | thrust |
tread | trod | trodden |
understand | understood | understood |
wake | woke, waked | woken, waked |
wear | wore | worn |
weave | wove | woven |
wed | wed, wedded | wed, wedded |
weep | wept | wept |
wet | wet, wetted | wet, wetted |
win | won | won |
wind | wound | wound |
wring | wrung | wrung |
write | wrote | written |
Regular verbs list
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What is a verb?
A verb
is often defined as a word which shows action or state of being. The verb
is the heart of a sentence - every sentence must have a verb. Recognizing
the verb is often the most important step in understanding the meaning
of a sentence. In the sentence The
dog bit the man, bit is
the verb and the word which shows the action of the sentence. In
the sentence The man is sitting on a chair, even though the action doesn't show
much activity, sitting
is the verb of the sentence. In the sentence She
is a smart girl, there is no action but a state of
being expressed by the verb is.
The word be is different
from other verbs in many ways but can still be thought of as a verb.
Unlike most of the other parts of speech, verbs
change their form. Sometimes endings are added (learn
- learned) and sometimes the word itself becomes different (teach-taught).
The different forms of verbs show different
meanings related to such things as tense (past,
present, future), person (first person, second
person, third person), number (singular, plural)
and voice (active, passive). Verbs
are also often accompanied by verb-like words called modals
(may, could, should, etc.)
and auxiliaries(do,
have, will, etc.) to give them different meanings.
One
of the most important things about verbs is
their relationship to time. Verbs tell
if something has already happened, if it will happen later, or if it is happening
now. For things happening now, we use the present
tense of a verb; for something that has already happened, we use the
past tense; and for something that
will happen later, we use the future tense.
Some examples of verbs in each tense
are in the chart below:
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Verbs
like those in the chart above that form the past tense
by adding -d or -ed
are called regular verbs. Some
of the most common verbs are not regular and
the different forms of the verb must be learned.
Some examples of such irregular
verbs are in the chart below:
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The
charts above show the simple tenses of the
verbs. There are also progressive
or continuous forms which show that the action
takes place over a period of time, and perfect
forms which show completion of the action. These forms will be discussed
more in other lessons, but a few examples are given in the chart below:
| |
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Simple
present tense verbs have a special form for the third
person singular. Singular
means "one" and
plural means
"more than one." Person is used
here to show who or what does the action and can have the following forms:
1st person or the self (I, we)
2nd person or the person spoken to (you)
3rd person or a person not present (he, she, it, they)
The third person singular forms are represented by the pronouns he, she, it. The chart below shows how the third person singular verb form changes:
1st person or the self (I, we)
2nd person or the person spoken to (you)
3rd person or a person not present (he, she, it, they)
The third person singular forms are represented by the pronouns he, she, it. The chart below shows how the third person singular verb form changes:
| Plural | ||
1st Person (I) | see
hear come | 1st Person (we) | see
hear come |
2nd Person (you) | see
hear come | 2nd Person (you) | see
hear come |
3rd Person (he, she, it) | sees
hears comes | 3rd Person (they) | see
hear come |
A verb must "agree" with its
subject. Subject-verb
agreement generally means that the third
person singular verb form must be used with a third person subject
in the simple present tense. The word
be - the most irregular and also most common verb
in English - has different forms for each person and even for the simple past
tense. The forms of the word be
are given in the chart below:
| |
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| 1st (I) | |
| |
2nd (you) |
| |
| |
3rd (he, she, it) | |
| | |
| 1st (we) | |
| |
2nd (you) |
| |
| |
3rd (they) | |
| |
Usually a subject
comes before a verb and an object
may come after it. The subject
is what does the action of the verb
and the object is what receives the action.
In the sentence Bob ate a humburger, Bob
is the subject or the one who did the eating
and the hamburger is the object
or what got eaten. A verb which has
an object is
called a transitive verb and some examples
are throw, buy, hit, love.
A verb which has no object
is called an intransitive verb and some examples
are go, come, walk, listen.
As you can see in the charts above, verbs
are often made up of more than one word. The future forms, for example, use the
word will
and the perfect forms use the word have.
These words are called helping or auxiliary verbs.
The word be can serve
as an auxiliary and
will and shall
are also auxiliary forms. The chart below
shows two other verbs which can also be used as auxiliaries:
Number | Person | Present | Past |
| 1st (I) |
do |
did |
2nd (you) | do | did | |
3rd (he, she, it) | does |
did | |
| 1st (we) |
do |
did |
2nd (you) | do | did | |
3rd (they) | do |
did |
Sequence of Multiple Adjectives
Adjectives can be classified into many categories. In English, adjectives are generally used in the order: quantity-->opinion-->size-->age-->shape-->color-->origin-->material-->purpose. Some of these categories are (roughly in the order in which adjectives are used in English):
- quantity - few, no, one, two, three, four, several, many, all, some, every, each, ...
- opinion - good, better, best, bad, worse, worst, mediocre, awful, fantastic, pretty, ugly, clean, dirty, wasteful, difficult, comfortable, valuable, worthless, useful, useless, important, evil, angelic, rare, scarce, poor, rich, lovely, disgusting, amazing, surprising, loathesome, unusual, usual, pointless, ...
- personality/emotion - happy, sad, excited, scared, frightened, outgoing, funny, sad, zany, grumpy, cheerful, jolly, carefree, quick-witted, blissful, lonely, elated, ...
- sound - loud, soft, silent, vociferous, screaming, shouting, thunderous, blaring, quiet, noisy, talkative, rowdy, deafening, faint, muffled, mute, speechless, whispered, hushed, ...
- taste - sweet, sour, acidic, bitter, salty, tasty, delicious, savory, delectable, yummy, bland, tasteless, palatable, yummy, luscious, appetizing, tasteless, spicy, watery, ...
- touch - hard, soft, silky, velvety, bumpy, smooth, grainy, coarse, pitted, irregular, scaly, polished, glossy, lumpy, wiry, scratchy, rough, glassy, ...
- size, weight - heavy, light, big, small, tiny, tall, short, fat, thin, slender, willowy, lean, svelte, scrawny, skeletal, underweight, lanky, wide, enormous, huge, vast, great, gigantic, monstrous, mountainous, jumbo, wee, dense, weighty, slim, trim, hulking, hefty, giant, plump, tubby, obese, portly, ...
- smell - perfumed, acrid, putrid, burnt, smelly, reeking, noxious, pungent, aromatic, fragrant, scented, musty, sweet-smelling,...
- speed - quick, fast, slow, speeding, rushing, bustling, rapid, snappy, whirlwind, swift, hasty, prompt, brief, ...
- temperature - hot, cold, freezing, icy, frigid, sweltering, wintry, frosty, frozen, nippy, chilly, sizzling, scalding, burning, feverish, fiery, steaming, ...
- age - young, old, baby, babyish, teenage, ancient, antique, old-fashioned, youthful, elderly, mature, adolescent, infantile, bygone, recent, modern, ...
- distance - short, long, far, distant, nearby, close, faraway, outlying, remote, far-flung, neighboring, handy, ...
- shape - round, circular, square, triangular, oval, sleek, blobby, flat, rotund, globular, spherical, wavy, straight, cylindrical, oblong, elliptical, zigzag, squiggly, crooked, winding, serpentine, warped, distorted, ...
- miscellaneous qualities- full, empty, wet, dry, open, closed , ornate, ...
- brightness - light, dark, bright, shadowy, drab, radiant, shining, pale, dull, glowing, shimmering, luminous, gleaming, ...
- color - pink, red, orange, yellowish, dark-green, blue, purple, black, white, gray, brown, tanned, pastel, ...
- time - early, late, morning, night, evening, everlasting, initial, first, last, overdue, belated, long-term, delayed, punctual, ...
- origin/location - lunar, northern, oceanic, polar, equatorial, Floridian, American, Spanish, Canadian, Mexican, French, Irish, English, Australian, ...
- material - glass, wooden, cloth, concrete, fabric, cotton, plastic, leather, ceramic, china, metal, steel, ...
- purpose - folding, swinging, work, racing, cooking, sleeping, dance, rolling, walking, ...
QUANTITY | OPINION | SIZE | AGE | SHAPE | COLOR | ORIGIN | MATERIAL | PURPOSE | NOUN |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
five | huge | young | black | Canadian | bears | ||||
battered | old | shapeless | gray | cotton | work | pants | |||
many | magnificent | antique | British | reference | books | ||||
one | studious | teenaged | American | boy | |||||
few | shiny | round | blue | Indian | gems | ||||
many | well-made | tiny | elongated | brown | wooden | fishing | boats | ||
several | cheap | large | purple | polyester | sleeping | bags |
Saturday 12 March 2011
Dickens
Our next project... Dickens.
Mยช รngeles, so so.
http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/index.html
Mยช รngeles, so so.
http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/index.html
Thursday 10 March 2011
Adjectives or adverbs? confusing cases
Adjectives ending in -ly
Most adverbs end in -ly. There are also some adjectives ending in -ly. Examples are: costly, cowardly, deadly, friendly, likely, lively, lonely, lovely, silly, ugly etc.
Some words can be used both as adjectives and as adverbs. Examples are: daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, early, leisurely etc.
Some adjectives and adverbs have the same form. Examples are: fast and hard.
Examples are: dead and deadly, fine and finely, free and freely, hard and hardly etc.
The adverb dead is used in some expressions to mean ‘exactly’ or ‘very’.
The adverb fine means ‘well’. It is used in some informal expressions.
The adverb free means ‘without payment’. The adverb freely means ‘without restriction’.
The adverb hard has a similar meaning to the adjective hard.
High is used to talk about height. Highly often means ‘very much’.
The adverb late has a similar meaning to the adjective late. Lately means ‘recently’.
Most is the superlative form of much.
In informal American English, real is often used instead of really.
Most adverbs end in -ly. There are also some adjectives ending in -ly. Examples are: costly, cowardly, deadly, friendly, likely, lively, lonely, lovely, silly, ugly etc.
- She is a lovely girl. (Here lovely is an adjective. It modifies the noun girl.)
- I love his friendly nature. (Here the adjective friendly modifies the noun nature.)
Some words can be used both as adjectives and as adverbs. Examples are: daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, early, leisurely etc.
- We should catch an early train. (Here early is an adjective. It modifies the noun train.)
- I got up early. (Here early is an adverb. It modifies the verb got up.)
Some adjectives and adverbs have the same form. Examples are: fast and hard.
- A fast car goes fast.
- If you do hard work, you work hard.
Examples are: dead and deadly, fine and finely, free and freely, hard and hardly etc.
The adverb dead is used in some expressions to mean ‘exactly’ or ‘very’.
- He was dead drunk.
- She was fatally injured in the accident. (NOT She was deadly injured in the accident.)
The adverb fine means ‘well’. It is used in some informal expressions.
- She is doing fine.
- finely ground particles
- a finely tuned machine
The adverb free means ‘without payment’. The adverb freely means ‘without restriction’.
- Buy two shirts and get one free.
- Speak freely. (= Speak without fear or inhibition.)
The adverb hard has a similar meaning to the adjective hard.
- He works hard.
- Hit it hard.
- We have got hardly any rice left.
High is used to talk about height. Highly often means ‘very much’.
- He threw it as high as he could.
- It is highly amusing.
The adverb late has a similar meaning to the adjective late. Lately means ‘recently’.
- He arrived late.
- Have you read anything interesting lately?
Most is the superlative form of much.
- This is the most interesting film I have ever seen.
- It is a most interesting novel. (= It is a very interesting novel.)
- My friends are mostly vegetarians.
In informal American English, real is often used instead of really.
- She sings real well. (= She sings really well.)
Monday 7 March 2011
Adjectives
This week, after meeting our great qualifications in Linguistics, we must study "the adjectives". I hope this material will help my colleagues. Good job, guys!
List of Adjectives
The list of adjectives is something of wonder. Behold the modest adjective. It can leap tall buildings in a single bound. It makes the average citizen smarter and kinder. It keeps you in the cleanest car on the block. Such potent words should be used wisely. Read on and learn how to use your adjective powers for good.An adjective's job is to modify a noun or pronoun. They are always near the noun or pronoun they are describing. Be careful how you use adjectives such as interesting, beautiful, great, wonderful, or exciting. Many adjectives like these are overused and add little definition to a sentence. Instead, show your reader or listener what you are talking about by using verbs and nouns creatively. Sprinkle fewer well-chosen adjectives for interest.
Adjectives are often used to describe the degree of modification.
The adjective forms are positive, comparative, and superlative.
This tree is tall. (positive)
That tree is taller. (comparative)
The last tree in the row is the tallest. (superlative)
That tree is taller. (comparative)
The last tree in the row is the tallest. (superlative)
A handful of adjectives have irregular forms of positive, comparative, and superlative usage.These include good/better/best, bad/worse/worst, little/less/least, much-many-some/more/most, far/further/furthest.
My lunch was good, hers was better, and yours was the best.
Proper adjectives are derived from proper nouns. They commonly describe something in terms of nationality, religious affiliation, or culture. Like proper nouns, proper adjectives have their first letter capitalized. Some examples of proper adjectives include:
American
French
Japanese
Latino
Asian
Australian
Catholic
Lutheran
Jewish
French
Japanese
Latino
Asian
Australian
Catholic
Lutheran
Jewish
The following lists are just a sampling of adjectives in the English language. They are categorized by the type of attribute they describe. Use your dictionary or thesaurus to add to each list or use the complete list below this one.
Appearance Adjectives
adorable beautiful clean drab elegant fancy glamorous handsome long magnificent old-fashioned plain quaint sparkling ugliest unsightly wide-eyed |
Color Adjectives
red orange yellow green blue purple gray black white |
Condition Adjectives
alive better careful clever dead easy famous gifted helpful important inexpensive mushy odd powerful rich shy tender uninterested vast wrong. |
Feelings (Bad) Adjectives angry bewildered clumsy defeated embarrassed fierce grumpy helpless itchy jealous lazy mysterious nervous obnoxious panicky repulsive scary thoughtless uptight worried |
Feelings (Good) Adjectives agreeable brave calm delightful eager faithful gentle happy jolly kind lively nice obedient proud relieved silly thankful victorious witty zealous |
Shape Adjectives
broad chubby crooked curved deep flat high hollow low narrow round shallow skinny square steep straight wide. |
Size Adjectives
big colossal fat gigantic great huge immense large little mammoth massive miniature petite puny scrawny short small tall teeny teeny-tiny tiny |
Sound Adjectives
cooing deafening faint hissing loud melodic noisy purring quiet raspy screeching thundering voiceless whispering |
Time Adjectives
ancient brief early fast late long modern old old-fashioned quick rapid short slow swift young |
Taste/Touch Adjectives
bitter delicious fresh greasy juicy hot icy loose melted nutritious prickly rainy rotten salty sticky strong sweet tart tasteless uneven weak wet wooden yummy |
Touch Adjectives
boiling breeze broken bumpy chilly cold cool creepy crooked cuddly curly damaged damp dirty dry dusty filthy flaky fluffy freezing hot warm wet |
Quantity Adjectives abundant empty few full heavy light many numerous sparse substantial |
Why do you need a list of adjectives? Adjectives
can turn the ordinary in to the extraordinary. When used properly, they
can add vivid interest to your conversation or written communication.
However, there can be too much of a good thing. Please keep your
adjectives effective by choosing them wisely.
Comprehensive List of Adjectives
Aaback abaft abandoned abashed aberrant abhorrent abiding abject ablaze able abnormal aboard aboriginal abortive abounding abrasive abrupt absent absorbed absorbing abstracted absurd abundant abusive acceptable accessible accidental accurate acid acidic acoustic acrid actually ad hoc adamant adaptable addicted adhesive adjoining adorable adventurous afraid aggressive agonizing agreeable ahead ajar alcoholic alert alike alive alleged alluring aloof amazing ambiguous ambitious amuck amused amusing ancient angry animated annoyed annoying anxious apathetic aquatic aromatic arrogant ashamed aspiring assorted astonishing attractive auspicious automatic available average awake aware awesome awful axiomatic |
Bbad barbarous bashful bawdy beautiful befitting belligerent beneficial bent berserk best better bewildered big billowy bite-sized bitter bizarre black black-and-white bloody blue blue-eyed blushing boiling boorish bored boring bouncy boundless brainy brash brave brawny breakable breezy brief bright bright broad broken brown bumpy burly bustling busy |
C cagey calculating callous calm capable capricious careful careless caring cautious ceaseless certain changeable charming cheap cheerful chemical chief childlike chilly chivalrous chubby chunky clammy classy clean clear clever cloistered cloudy closed clumsy cluttered coherent cold colorful colossal combative comfortable common complete complex concerned condemned confused conscious cooing cool cooperative coordinated courageous cowardly crabby craven crazy creepy crooked crowded cruel cuddly cultured cumbersome curious curly curved curvy cut cute cute cynical |
D daffy daily damaged damaging damp dangerous dapper dark dashing dazzling dead deadpan deafening dear debonair decisive decorous deep deeply defeated defective defiant delicate delicious delightful demonic delirious dependent depressed deranged descriptive deserted detailed determined devilish didactic different difficult diligent direful dirty disagreeable disastrous discreet disgusted disgusting disillusioned dispensable distinct disturbed divergent dizzy domineering doubtful drab draconian dramatic dreary drunk dry dull dusty dusty dynamic dysfunctional |
E eager early earsplitting earthy easy eatable economic educated efficacious efficient eight elastic elated elderly electric elegant elfin elite embarrassed eminent empty enchanted enchanting encouraging endurable energetic enormous entertaining enthusiastic envious equable equal erect erratic ethereal evanescent evasive even excellent excited exciting exclusive exotic expensive extra-large extra-small exuberant exultant |
F fabulous faded faint fair faithful fallacious false familiar famous fanatical fancy fantastic far far-flung fascinated fast fat faulty fearful fearless feeble feigned female fertile festive few fierce filthy fine finicky first five fixed flagrant flaky flashy flat flawless flimsy flippant flowery fluffy fluttering foamy foolish foregoing forgetful fortunate four frail fragile frantic free freezing frequent fresh fretful friendly frightened frightening full fumbling functional funny furry furtive future futuristic fuzzy |
G gabby gainful gamy gaping garrulous gaudy general gentle giant giddy gifted gigantic glamorous gleaming glib glistening glorious glossy godly good goofy gorgeous graceful grandiose grateful gratis gray greasy great greedy green grey grieving groovy grotesque grouchy grubby gruesome grumpy guarded guiltless gullible gusty guttural |
H habitual half hallowed halting handsome handsomely handy hanging hapless happy hard hard-to-find harmonious harsh hateful heady healthy heartbreaking heavenly heavy hellish helpful helpless hesitant hideous high highfalutin high-pitched hilarious hissing historical holistic hollow homeless homely honorable horrible hospitable hot huge hulking humdrum humorous hungry hurried hurt hushed husky hypnotic hysterical |
I icky icy idiotic ignorant ill illegal ill-fated ill-informed illustrious imaginary immense imminent impartial imperfect impolite important imported impossible incandescent incompetent inconclusive industrious incredible inexpensive infamous innate innocent inquisitive insidious instinctive intelligent interesting internal invincible irate irritating itchy |
J jaded jagged jazzy jealous jittery jobless jolly joyous judicious juicy jumbled jumpy juvenile |
K kaput keen kind kindhearted kindly knotty knowing knowledgeable known |
L labored lackadaisical lacking lame lamentable languid large last late laughable lavish lazy lean learned left legal lethal level lewd light like likeable limping literate little lively lively living lonely long longing long-term loose lopsided loud loutish lovely loving low lowly lucky ludicrous lumpy lush luxuriant lying lyrical |
M macabre macho maddening madly magenta magical magnificent majestic makeshift male malicious mammoth maniacal many marked massive married marvelous material materialistic mature mean measly meaty medical meek mellow melodic melted merciful mere messy mighty military milky mindless miniature minor miscreant misty mixed moaning modern moldy momentous motionless mountainous muddled mundane murky mushy mute mysterious |
N naive nappy narrow nasty natural naughty nauseating near neat nebulous necessary needless needy neighborly nervous new next nice nifty nimble nine nippy noiseless noisy nonchalant nondescript nonstop normal nostalgic nosy noxious null numberless numerous nutritious nutty |
O oafish obedient obeisant obese obnoxious obscene obsequious observant obsolete obtainable oceanic odd offbeat old old-fashioned omniscient one onerous open opposite optimal orange ordinary organic ossified outgoing outrageous outstanding oval overconfident overjoyed overrated overt overwrought |
P painful painstaking pale paltry panicky panoramic parallel parched parsimonious past pastoral pathetic peaceful penitent perfect periodic permissible perpetual petite petite phobic physical picayune pink piquant placid plain plant plastic plausible pleasant plucky pointless poised polite political poor possessive possible powerful precious premium present pretty previous pricey prickly private probable productive profuse protective proud psychedelic psychotic public puffy pumped puny purple purring pushy puzzled puzzling |
Q quack quaint quarrelsome questionable quick quickest quiet quirky quixotic quizzical |
R rabid racial ragged rainy rambunctious rampant rapid rare raspy ratty ready real rebel receptive recondite red redundant reflective regular relieved remarkable reminiscent repulsive resolute resonant responsible rhetorical rich right righteous rightful rigid ripe ritzy roasted robust romantic roomy rotten rough round royal ruddy rude rural rustic ruthless |
S sable sad safe salty same sassy satisfying savory scandalous scarce scared scary scattered scientific scintillating scrawny screeching second second-hand secret secretive sedate seemly selective selfish separate serious shaggy shaky shallow sharp shiny shivering shocking short shrill shut shy sick silent silent silky silly simple simplistic sincere six skillful skinny sleepy slim slimy slippery sloppy slow small smart smelly smiling smoggy smooth sneaky snobbish snotty soft soggy solid somber sophisticated sordid sore sore sour sparkling special spectacular spicy spiffy spiky spiritual spiteful splendid spooky spotless spotted spotty spurious squalid square squealing squeamish staking stale standing statuesque steadfast steady steep stereotyped sticky stiff stimulating stingy stormy straight strange striped strong stupendous stupid sturdy subdued subsequent substantial successful succinct sudden sulky super superb superficial supreme swanky sweet sweltering swift symptomatic synonymous |
T taboo tacit tacky talented tall tame tan tangible tangy tart tasteful tasteless tasty tawdry tearful tedious teeny teeny-tiny telling temporary ten tender tense tense tenuous terrible terrific tested testy thankful therapeutic thick thin thinkable third thirsty thirsty thoughtful thoughtless threatening three thundering tidy tight tightfisted tiny tired tiresome toothsome torpid tough towering tranquil trashy tremendous tricky trite troubled truculent true truthful two typical |
U ubiquitous ugliest ugly ultra unable unaccountable unadvised unarmed unbecoming unbiased uncovered understood undesirable unequal unequaled uneven unhealthy uninterested unique unkempt unknown unnatural unruly unsightly unsuitable untidy unused unusual unwieldy unwritten upbeat uppity upset uptight used useful useless utopian utter uttermost |
V vacuous vagabond vague valuable various vast vengeful venomous verdant versed victorious vigorous violent violet vivacious voiceless volatile voracious vulgar |
W wacky waggish waiting wakeful wandering wanting warlike warm wary wasteful watery weak wealthy weary well-groomed well-made well-off well-to-do wet whimsical whispering white whole wholesale wicked wide wide-eyed wiggly wild willing windy wiry wise wistful witty woebegone womanly wonderful wooden woozy workable worried worthless wrathful wretched wrong wry |
Y yellow yielding young youthful yummy |
Z zany zealous zesty zippy zonked |
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