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Adjectives: The Complete Guide With Tons of Examples

Adjectives are words that describe, identify, or quantify nouns and pronouns.

Main Adjectives Takeaways:

  • An adjective is a word that describes or modifies nouns or pronouns.
  • They can describe quantity, color, size, condition, origin, appearance, personality, and time.
  • They can provide degrees of comparison.
  • Attributive adjectives precede the noun they’re describing.
  • Predicate adjectives follow verbs such as become, look, or seem.
  • In certain situations, adjectives can become nouns, and vice versa.
  • Don’t rely on adjectives just to make prose prettier or shore up weak nouns.

Adjectives are words that describe, identify, or quantify nouns and pronouns. They provide details and answer questions such aswhose, how many, what type, and which one.

Understanding when and how to use this part of speech gives you an effective way to add color and clarity to your writing. And, to avoid using them incorrectly.

What Are Adjectives?

Adjectives describe, or modify, nouns and pronouns. Essentially, they provide the details that make nouns and pronouns more specific. An adjective describes the quality or state of being of a noun. This part of speech also describe the quantity or number.

A boy looking curiously at the word ADJECTIVES.
Adjectives are words that describe, identify, or quantify nouns and pronouns.

Each of these descriptive words typically fall into one of the following categories:

  • General appearance (pretty, bold, unattractive)
  • Shape and size (circular, narrow, deep)
  • Color (auburn, inky, clear)
  • Condition (damaged, pristine, frozen)
  • Quantity (plentiful, countless, few)
  • Personality (quirky, funny, heroic)
  • Time (yearly, prehistoric, concurrent)
  • Sense (ear-splitting, tasty, prickly)

What Are 10 Adjectives Examples ?

As words that provide details about a noun or program, there are almost limitless examples of adjectives. They often answer questions such as whose, how many, what type, and which one.

witty, golden, fair, icy, four-legged, smarter, largest, ancient, ugly, bland

What Are the 8 Types Of Adjectives?

There are eight types of adjectives. And, each adjective falls into one of these categories.

Which category depends on its placement and relation with other parts of speech in a sentence.

For instance, these types include descriptive, distributive, interrogative, possessive, proper, quantitative, sequence, or indefinite.

1. Descriptive

Descriptive adjectives are usually the first kind that come to mind when think about this part of speech.

However, these words assign a quality or attribute to a noun or pronoun. This helps you define your subject clearly and exactly.

the rocky coastline

his torn jeans
the mean cashier

2. Distributive

Distributive adjectives point out or draw attention to a particular noun in a crowd. Place these before the noun they’re modifying. The noun they modify is usually singular.

Distributive adjectives: Any, Each, Every, Either, Neither
She petted every puppy in the room.
I didn’t like either option.
You can pick any appetizer you want.

3. Interrogative

These are descriptive words that ask a question when paired with a noun or pronoun.

Interrogative adjectives: Whose, Which, What
What recipe do you make most often?
Whose coat is that?
Which team are you rooting for?
A cute girl, a tall man, a thin boy, and an elderly woman.
Common examples of adjectives. How will you describe the person next to you?

4. Possessive

This kind of descriptive word shows ownership.

Possessive Adjectives: his, her, its, their, our, my, your, whose
His dog dug up all of our tulips.
I think my parents are older than your parents.
I like to spend time with people whose mindset matches mine.

5. Proper

We derive proper adjectives from proper nouns. This means that they stand for proper nouns. As a result, you need to capitalize the first letter of these descriptive words.

They identify a specific place, person, or thing. They may be hyphenated.

On our first date, we went to the German festival at the fairgrounds.
She loved to read Shakespeareansonnets out loud.
He practiced his language skills when he visited a French-speaking region.

6. Quantitative

On the other hand, Quantitative adjectives describe how much or how many noun or pronoun they’re modifying.

Before they got married, he told her he wanted eight children.
Hand me a few cookies.

7. Sequence

Although sequence adjectives are similar to quantitative in that they assign numbers to a noun or pronoun, there’s one significant difference. The former use ordinal numbers to imply order.

I promised to adopt a kitten from the first litter.
Loretta was the second batter to hit a home run.

8. Indefinite

Adjectives generally add specificity to nouns or pronouns. But, they can also point out nonspecific items.

Indefinite adjectives: few, any, no, several, many
Please don’t give me any backtalk.
There was no ice cream in the freezer.
I think he has several jobs available.

What Are Positive Adjectives?

Positive adjectives are words that you use to describe emotions about people, events, places, ideas, or objects that made you feel good. By using positive adjectives, you’ll be able to express your happy thoughts effectively, helping people better understand your feelings or disposition. Here are some examples:

Jay’s parents were beaming with pride when he graduated from medical school.
The bride felt nothing but bliss as she walked down the aisle of the church to meet her groom.
The toddler enjoys listening to nursery rhymes.

As you may have noticed, the adjectives we used let you have a mental image of the positive emotions we’ve described.

What Are Negative Adjectives?

Besides positive adjectives, there are also negative adjectives. In contrast, negative adjectives describe bad emotions. And although these two function the same way, it’s important that you choose your negative adjectives carefully. Otherwise, you might end up offending someone or evoking unintended feelings from others. The following are examples of negative adjectives.

He was hostile toward his boss and colleagues.
The delivery guy has a nasty habit of throwing parcels at people’s doors.
The old man is cynical about life and don’t believe in love or trust.

Unlike positive adjectives, negative adjectives are often used by people in arguments to insult or berate others. Again, try to use these words sparingly to avoid conflict or upsetting others.

Two boys wearing placards labeled as adjective and noun. The boy wearing the adjective placard is pointing to the boy wearing the noun placard while saying "you're one stylish noun!"
One of the most common functions of adjectives is to describe nouns and pronouns.

What Are the Degrees Of Comparison Of Adjectives?

You can also use adjectives to define something to a certain degree. They come in three-degree levels: positive, comparative, and superlative.

1. Positive

Also known as absolute, you may use the positive degree when you’re referring to a single noun.

Betty is tall.
Matthew has a beautiful parakeet.
Lola knows she’s smart.

2. Comparative

This is your go-to adjective type when you’re comparing two of something.

  • Typically, adding -er to an adjective creates the comparative form (e.g., smarter, taller, narrower).
  • Other descriptive words become comparatives by adding the word more in front of them (e.g., more beautiful).
  • All comparatives should be paired with the word than.
  • If the adjective ends in “y,” the “y” should be changed to an “i” before adding -er (e.g., pretty becomes prettier).
Betty is tallerthan Jacob.
Matthew’s last parakeet was more beautiful than the one he has now.
Lola thinks she’s smarter than Mary.

3. Superlative

When comparing three or more things, the superlative degree is the one to use.

  • It’s typically created by adding -est to the adjective (smartest, tallest, narrowest) or pairing the adjective with the word most (most beautiful).
  • If the adjective ends in “y,” the “y” should be changed to an “i” before adding -est (e.g., pretty becomes prettiest).
Betty is the tallest girl on the team.
Matthew has the most beautiful parakeet you’ve ever seen.
Lola thinks she’s the smartest girl in the whole school.

The Three Cs of Multipart Adjectives: Coordinate, Cumulative, and Compound

Sometimes you just need a second adjective to complete the job.

This is where coordinate and cumulative adjectives come into play. They are words that you can combine to provide additional meaning to a single noun or pronoun.

1. Coordinate Adjectives

Both words in a coordinate adjective are equally important. But, a comma should separate them.

He couldn’t help falling in love with quirky, beautiful Isabelle.

2. Cumulative Adjectives

Next, Cumulative adjectives are multiple words that build on one another to create meaning. However, they must maintain a particular order to make sense. They’re easy to recognize because they can’t be reversed and won’t make sense if you use and between them.

The prize-winning hunting dog was often seen flushing out birds in the woods near the lake.

3. Compound Adjectives

Finally, Compound adjectives contain more than one word. They are typically linked together by a hyphen.

Daisy was only a part-time employee, but they expected her to handle a full-time workload.
The dog vaulted over the six-foot fence as if it was nothing more than a tree stump.
A boy looking at sunflower. He's thinking of what adjective to use to describe it. Is it beautiful, spectacular, or radiant?
Positive degree is the normal form of an adjective. Meaning, these adjectives don’t make comparisons.

The Placement of Adjectives

Adjectives may be broken down into types based on their placement in a sentence and their relationship to other parts of speech.

1. Attributive

These are words that are placed immediately before the noun that they’re describing.

a sunny sky
an overstuffed bag

2. Predicate

These descriptive words typically appear after a linking verb.

Predicate adjectives: is, are, am, was, were, seemed, looked
We were exhausted after swimming.
I was furious after talking to the teacher.
Toward evening, the sky looked stormy.

3. Postpositive

Postpositive adjectives are descriptors that immediately follow a noun or pronoun.

the best tickets available
something wicked

What Are Gradable and Non Gradable Adjectives?

Almost all adjectives are gradable, letting their meaning be altered by strategic placement of adverbs such as:

  • fairly
  • rather
  • very
  • extremely
  • dreadfully
  • slightly
  • reasonably

By pairing gradable adjectives with these adverbs, their meaning can increase or decrease in intensity.

The pool was slightly cold.
The water in the pool was very cold.
The pool water was extremely cold.
The pool was dreadfully cold.

What Is the Difference Between Adjectives And Adverbs With Examples?

Due to their similar sound and appearance, these two parts of speech often get mixed up. Thankfully, there are easy ways to distinguish between the two.

It’s all in the Name

To distinguish between adjectives and adverbs, all you have to do is look at the name: adverbs. As its name implies, adverbs are used to modify verbs, whereas adjectives are used to modify nouns or pronouns.

Look for the -LY

Many adverbs end in -ly, making them easy to identify.

quickly, arrogantly, dangerously, stupidly

I Feel Bad vs. I Feel Badly: A Brief Comparison

It’s helpful to examine individual sentences when trying to understand the difference between adjectives and adverbs.

For example, in the sentence, “Bob feels bad,” bad is an adjective. Essentially, in this sentence, Bob feels under the weather.

On the other hand, in the sentence, “Bob feels badly,” badly is an adverb (note the -ly!). In this case, feeling badly refers to a poor sense of touch and Bob’s inability to experience tactile sensations.

Abracadabra! When Nouns Become Adjectives and Vice Versa

Here’s where things get tricky: sometimes the parts of speech can masquerade as other parts of speech.

In certain circumstances, nouns modify or clarify other nouns. This effectively turns them into adjectives.

These converted nouns are known as noun modifiers or adjectival nouns.

peach tea, sports car, cucumber salad

On the flip side, adjectives can also function as nouns.

In certain circumstances, adjectives can become nouns, and vice versa
In certain circumstances, adjectives can become nouns, and vice versa

This happens when they describe groups of people. In these circumstances, the noun being modified drops away. As a result, the adjective takes the place of the noun.

The unemployed people would simply become the unemployed.
the rich, the jobless, the accused, the young, the strong,
Note: These adjectives-turned-nouns must always be placed immediately after the definite the.

From Clunky to Clear: Choosing Good Adjectives

Adjectives can add specificity. But unfortunately, they can also be clunky and contribute to flowery, overwritten prose, and an unsavory concoction known commonly as adjective soup.

Descriptive words are also one of the most overused parts of speech, particularly in creative writing. That’s why it’s so important to choose the right ones for your sentences—if you need any at all.

Ultimately, a good adjective is one that adds meaning to your sentence. It should quantify, clarify, and enhance. What it shouldn’t do is shore up a weak noun or exist solely to add prettiness to your prose.

After all, that big house may really be an estate—and that loud, booming shout? Well, it’s really just a shout after all, plain and simple.

Adjective infographic
INK Adjectives Infographic

List of Common Adjectives

Color

bleak bright cool dark earthy fluorescent glowing glossy hazy intense iridescent light lustrous matte monochromatic natural neutral opaque pale pastel solid translucent vibrant warm

Quantity

all countless each enormous even every few finite first huge immense indefinite infinite last many most odd one several some three two unlimited varying

Taste

acidic awful bad bitter bittersweet bland citrusy cold earthy fresh fruity good hot pleasant refreshing rich salty smoky sour spicy sweet tangy warm zesty

Weather

beautiful bright calm clear cold dry fair favorable harsh hot lovely mild nice pleasant rainy seasonable serene stormy sunny superb terrible unseasonable wet windy wintry

Size

colossal considerable enormous exact extra small gigantic huge ideal immense large massive maximum medium moderate monstrous ordinary small standard thick thin unequal unusual varying vast

Time

ancient appropriate better brief certain considerable desired future given happiest hard later lost modern nice past precious prehistoric present quiet real short spare usual valuable

Shape

angular broad circular crooked cylindrical flat narrow oval perfect rectangular round skinny slender slim square tapered three-dimensional triangular two-dimensional wide

Sound

earsplitting faint gentle harsh husky loud low low-pitched melodic muffled noisy quiet raspy screaming screech shrill silent soft squeaky squeal thunderous velvety

Behavior

acceptable amusing callous cautious dignified emotional gentle haughty irresponsible lax mysterious obnoxious odd polite proper scandalous selfish sly strange unassuming unconventional weird

Situations

awkward critical deplorable desperate embarrassing financial happy horrible imaginary interesting make-believe miserable peculiar perilous present pretend real romantic strange temporary terrible uncomfortable undesirable unhappy unpleasant

Feelings

angry annoyed apprehensive bitter deep emotional happy heartfelt helpless infectious overpowering pent-up profound quiet raw sad sentimental uneasy

Texture

airy bumpy chalky chewy creamy crispy crumbly crunchy crusty delicate dry flaky fluffy fuzzy gooey greasy hard mushy powdery prickly rough rubbery silky slimy smooth

Just a Quick Adjectives Quiz to Help You Master Your new Skills

Adjective Question #1

Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. Adjectives can only describe or modify nouns and pronouns.

Adjective Question #2

Which of these words is an adjective?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is DELICIOUS. Delicious is a descriptive adjective — it describes food's taste.

Adjective Question #3

Select the adjective(s) in the sentence: Wanda walked behind her little brother.

Please select 2 correct answers

Correct! Wrong!

The answers are HER and LITTLE. Her is a possessive adjective, while little is a quantitative adjective that describes the brother's size.

Adjective Question #4

Select all the examples of quantitative adjectives.

Please select 3 correct answers

Correct! Wrong!

The answers are FIVE, MANY, and FEW. Quantitative adjectives describe the exact or approximate amount of a noun (think quantity).

Adjective Question #5

Which sentence is correct
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. Separate the two words in a coordinate adjective with a comma.

Adjective Question #6

Comparative adjectives usually end in -est.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. The comparative form of an adjective usually ends in -er. For example, She is taller than her brother.

Adjectives Quiz Result
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Almost got it! Review the article and try again.

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Read More: Adjectives Starting With A

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Quick and Easy Apostrophe Rules Guide

Apostrophe is a punctuation mark that serves 3 different purposes in English

Main Apostrophe Takeaways:

  • Apostrophes have three main uses: to show ownership, omissions, and plural letters, numbers, and symbols
  • An apostrophe stands in for the missing letter(s) in a contraction like don’t or can’t.
  • If something is plural and showing possession, put an apostrophe after the “s.” You can also add another ‘s’ after the apostrophe, but it isn’t usually required.
  • If something is plural but not possessive, you don’t need an apostrophe.
  • Only use an apostrophe with last names ending in ‘s’ when they show possession.
  • To shorten decades, replace the century with an apostrophe and add an ‘s’ at the end of the number. Never put the apostrophe before or after the ‘s’.

Confused? Let’s look at these apostrophe rules with examples of each one in action. By the time you finish reviewing this quick guide, you’ll know when to use this versatile punctuation mark for contractions, dates, possession, last names, and words that end in ‘s’.

What Is an Apostrophe?

An apostrophe is a type of punctuation primarily used to indicate that a noun or pronoun owns something. We also use apostrophes to mark where letters are omitted from words. See below examples:

Indicating ownership:

  • Doctor’s car
  • Student’s tuition fee
  • Jessie’s parking space

Indicating omission:

  • Won’t
  • Can’t
  • Shouldn’t
  • ’tis

Now, don’t confuse the punctuationapostrophe with the figure of speech apostrophe. The latter refers to a speaker directly addressing a person or object that is absent or cannot respond in reality. In this post, we’ll be focusing on the proper usage of the punctuation apostrophe.

What are the 3 Uses of Apostrophes?

Apostrophes have three main functions in the English Language: 1) indicate possession; 2) show omissions of letters in contractions; and 3) show when letters, numbers, and symbols are plural. You can find apostrophes in contractions, dates, and holiday names. Although they look similar, apostrophes and commas are not the same. A comma sits at the bottom of a word while an apostrophe hovers at the top.

Apostrophe is a punctuation mark that serves 3 different purposes in English
Do you know that apostrophe is also a diacritical mark? Meaning, it can also be used to give a character or letter a specific phonetic value.

1. Apostrophes and Possession

Ownership, also known as possession in the grammar world, often requires apostrophes. This is true for nouns and pronouns. Depending on whether your noun is singular or plural, you’ll use some form of an apostrophe and s.

Possessive words and phrases confuse many people, even self-proclaimed grammar nerds. You must know when to use ‘s or s’, plus when to use anapostrophe after an ‘s’ name.

Singular nouns, such as cat or car, typically get an apostrophe plus an ‘s’ when they become plural.

Your cat’s food bowl is empty.
Your car’s windshield is cracked.

This rule also applies when making proper nouns possessive.

Karen’s hair is cut in a perfectly styled bob.
Miguel’s marketing proposals are always submitted before the deadline.

Plural nouns, such astwins and teachers, usually don’t need an extra ‘s’. Add an apostrophe after the ‘s’ to show ownership, and avoid using ‘es’.

Apostrophe is a punctuation that you can use to express ownership.
Apostrophe is a punctuation that you can use to express ownership.
Change your twins’ dirty diapers, not your twin’s or twinses diapers.
Stay out of the teachers’ lounge if you’re a student or parent.

Plural nouns that don’t end in ‘s’ often get an apostrophe and an ‘s’.

Shop for high heels in the women’s section.
Find toys near the children’s books and clothes.

Personal pronouns don’t require apostrophes when they become possessive. The electronic device you’re reading this grammar guide on is yours, not your’s or yours’. Gifts a loved one receives are his, hers, or theirs.

When to use an Apostrophe With Last Names

Many people can’t resist adding unnecessary apostrophes when they see last names. Watch out for apostrophe abuse when spreading holiday cheer, talking about friends, or shopping for home decor. They should only be used to show possession.

Festive Greetings from the Smith’s

You may have sent or received cards with a message like this. However, it’s incorrect because there’s nothing possessive about this phrase.

Festive Greetings from the Smiths

If you can’t resist the urge to add an apostrophe to your surname, make sure it shows possession.

Happy Holidays from the Smith’s Cute Kitties

Happy Halloween from the Rodriguez Family’s Lovable Pups
Please join us at the Johnson’s home for a pool party.

Watch out for welcome-mat woes that stem from incorrect punctuation, too. Your doormat shouldn’t say “The Lennon’s,” and neither should the side of your mailbox.

Two pink square characters labeled with s's illustrate that you don't need to add an extra s after an apostrophe for nouns ending in 's' like twins. The Text on the image reads: Apostrophe After S
Plural nouns, such as “twins” and “teachers,” usually don’t need an extra ‘s’

When Names Ending With ‘s’ Need an Apostrophe

The Lennons are hosting a party, and they want to invite their friends.

The Lennon’s welcome you to a fun-filled event.

The Lennons are hosting the party, not the Lennon’s or the Lennon family. Your invite should just have an ‘s’ after your surname, not an apostrophe. You don’t need an apostrophe because the last name is not expressing ownership.

The Lennons welcome you to a fun-filled event.

When the last name already has an ‘s’, such as Morales or Jones, possession punctuation gets confusing. Some people argue that you should add an extra ‘s’ when the surname becomes possessive.

Adding an extra ‘s’ is often considered redundant in this situation. Instead of declaring you loved the Jones’s chocolate chip cookies, you could say:

  1. The Jones’ treats were tasty.
  2. I liked the cookies the Jones family made.

Is “Its” Possessive? What About “Whose”?

An apostrophe usually makes a word possessive, but its and it’s are exceptions to this rule.

For showing possession: It’s, who’s
For Showing Possession: Its, whose

Apostrophe Exception #1: Its

When you want to make the word it possessive, write its, not it’s. It’s is a contraction for it is.

Apostrophe Exception #2: Whose

Another exception that causes confusion for similar reasons is whose and who’s.

  • Whose is a possessive that doesn’t use a contraction.
  • Who’s is the contraction for who is.

2. Apostrophes and Contractions

A contraction is a combination of multiple words or word groups. Instead of saying or spelling each word separately, a contraction is a way to merge several words together. This tool helps make language more efficient and concise.

Contractions and apostrophes are best friends. An apostrophe substitutes the missing letters and spaces in a contraction.

To illustrate how apostrophes help from contractions, a pink character shaped like an apostrophe is throwing out the 'o' in DO NOT and taking its place.
We use an apostrophe to merge multiple words to create a contraction.

When you connect two words, an apostrophe is a grammatical glue that holds them together. This missing letter, or letters, is called an omission.

Examples of Common Contractions:

  • “Do not” becomes “don’t“
  • “Cannot” becomes “can’t“
  • “I will” becomes “I’ll”
  • “Will not” becomes “won’t“
  • “You are” becomes “you’re” (but “your” never gets an apostrophe)

However, contractions are usually more informal writing and speech. For example, you typically see them during casual conversations or informal writing assignments.

Apostrophes also make an appearance in informal contractions such as ain’t. This popular slang word means are not, am not, or is not.

For more formal writing, avoid contractions.

When Decades Become Contractions

Just like we use apostrophes to shorten some words, we can also use them to shorten years (but not turn back the clock, unfortunately).

When formally writing a given year, we typically use four numbers. Take 1989 for example.

  • The first two numbers stand for the century.
  • The third number stands for the decade.
  • Finally, the last number expresses a specific year within the decade.

In the same way that can’t is a more informal way to say cannot, we can use apostrophes to informally express decades.

For example, the 1960s becomes the ’60s.

You’re a millennial if you were born sometime between the early ’80s and mid-’90s. You can also describe this range as the early 1980s to the mid-1990s. [graybox]

To shorten decades, just replace the century with a contraction.

However, during the ’60s and ’70s, many students learned to add apostrophes at the end of plural dates. For instance, the 1950’s or 1980’s. While some writers still take this approach, it’s not grammatically correct today.

Three decades are pictured on a a dark background. On the far left, '70s appears in pink with flower-power stickers, in the middle appears '80s with characteristic Memphis Design details, and '90s appears in yellow on the right.
Adding apostrophe s at the end of plural dates is grammatically incorrect.

Therefore, you should also avoid adding an apostrophe before the ‘s’ in shortened decades.

[example]Millennials grew up in the ’90s, not the 90’s.[/example][example]Big hair was popular in the ’80s, not the 80’s.[/example]

What About Apostrophes and Holidays?

Things get tricky when referencing specific holidays rather than date ranges.

[graybox]Holidays and Apostrophes:

  • Mother’s Day has an apostrophe before the ‘s’ even though it’s a holiday for every mother, not just one.
  • Similarly, Valentine’sDayhas an apostrophe before the ‘s’ even though it’s for multiple valentines around the world.
  • International Women’s Daytakes the same approach.
  • April Fools’ Day takes a different approach and has an apostrophe after the ‘s’.
  • Veterans Day doesn’t have an apostrophe anywhere.

3. Apostrophes and Plural Letters, Numbers, and Symbols

Apostrophes are usually reserved for singular form possessives, but some plurals benefit from punctuation. This occurs when you need to make letters, numbers, or symbols plural.

This is because omitting an apostrophe in these cases might confuse readers.

For example, “Ryder is still learning to capitalize p’s and c’s” is less confusing when apostrophes are inserted.

How many s’s does Mississippi have?
When you arrive at the gate, make sure you enter three #’s followed by 482 to open it.

If its Just Plural, You Usually Don’t Need An Apostrophe

Many grammar experts cringe when they see grocery store ads littered with excess apostrophes. Dubbed the grocer’s apostrophe, this grammatical issue occurs when unnecessary apostrophes are added before the letter ‘s’.

  • apple’s
  • banana’s
  • cookie’s
  • deli meat’s
  • juice’s

Your grocer has apples on sale, not apple’s.

Likewise, you put on your shoes for work, not your shoe’s.

Your boss needs your expense sheets, not your expense sheet’s or sheets’.

You hate red lights, not red light’s, because they make you late for work.

An original infographic outlining apostrophe rules.
Your quick apostrophe rules cheat sheet.

Put Your Skills to the Test

Apostrophe Rules Question #1

complete the sentence
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is C. An apostrophe can replace the omission in a contraction. In this sentence, the apostrophe is replacing the missing letter "a" in "are."

Apostrophe Rules Question #2

Adding apostrophe +s at the end of plural dates — for example, the 1980’s — is grammatically correct.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. It's grammatically incorrect to add apostrophe +s at the end of plural dates.

Apostrophe Rules Question #3

complete the sentence
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is A. Since there’s no contraction or possession, you don’t need to add an apostrophe before or after the letter "s" in "apples."

Apostrophe Rules Question #4

which sentence is correct
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. "It’s" here serves as a contraction for "It is," with the apostrophe replacing the omission.

Apostrophe Rules Question #5

which sentence is correct

Please select 2 correct answers

Correct! Wrong!

The answers are A and D. Both are acceptable forms for making the proper noun, James, possessive.

Apostrophe Rules Question #6

You can use Whose and Who’s interchangeably in a sentence.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. "Whose" is a possessive that doesn’t need a contraction. On the other hand, "who’s" is the contraction for "who is."

Read More: Who Or Whom?

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What Is an Appositive? Definition and Usage Guide

We use an appositive noun or noun phrase to define or identify further a noun or a noun phrase that precedes it. In the image above, the appositive phrase "my dog" defines who "Dexter" is.

Main Appositive Takeaways:

  • Appositives are nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases that help add more information about other nouns. They sit next to the noun that they identify or describe.
  • Appositives can be a single word or a phrase.
  • The two types of appositives are restrictive and nonrestrictive.
  • Restrictive (essential) appositives are essential to the meaning of the sentence. You don’t need a comma or parenthesis to offset these kinds of appositives.
  • Nonrestrictive (nonessential) appositives are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. You need a comma to offset these kinds of appositives.
My cousin, a gymnast, won silver at the Rio Olympics.
Our friendEric is known for his bad jokes.

The word appositive sounds like a happy term, and for a good reason. When you want to spice up your writing or add extra information, appositives do the trick. But are you using them correctly? Should they have commas or not? This easy article will cover everything you need to know about apposition with simple examples and clear explanations.

Two young men talking to each other. The guy on the right is telling his friend that his dog, Dexter, is coming with them.
We use an appositive noun or noun phrase to define or identify further a noun or a noun phrase that precedes it. In the image above, the appositive phrase “my dog” defines who “Dexter” is.

What Is an Appositive?

In English, an appositive can be a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun next to the main noun or pronoun that helps identify or explain the main noun. Appositives in English often appear with modifiers. They may be a single word or several words, but the intent is the same. In other words, an appositive is a way to add supplementary detail about the main noun in a sentence. In fact, the word appositivecomes from the Latin word appositivus, which means subsidiary or supplementary.

What Is Apposition In English Grammar?

Apposition is the process in which two coordinate elements — mostly noun phrases — are placed side-by-side in a sentence. We call these elements appositives. These two elements denote the same subject and have the same relationship with the other sentence elements. However, the second appositive often describes the first.

The purpose of apposition is to identify, explain, or add more details about the main noun or pronoun in a sentence. In this way, apposition makes writing richer by adding more information.

Apposition describes the relationship of the appositivenoun or noun phrase to the noun it’s describing.

Types Of Apposition In English

Apposition is classified into two types: restrictive apposition and non-restrictive apposition. In restrictive apposition, the second appositive is considered a part of the first appositive. Meanwhile, in a non-restrictive apposition, the second appositive is not a part of the first appositive. Here are some examples to illustrate these two types of apposition:

Restrictive Apposition

Jonas the conductor was late to work.
Our youngest sister the teacher is a hardworking person.
The old man a well-respected lawyer joined the company’s legal department.

Non-Restrictive Apposition

The physicist, Stephen Hawking, authored the book The Theory of Everything.
Jacob, the town’s oldest mailman, has finally retired after 40 years of working in the post office.
His wife, a famous singer and record producer, released a new album yesterday.

In a non-restrictive apposition, the second appositive is preceded by and set off with a comma. Its purpose is to provide additional information about the first appositive.

What Is an Appositive And Appositive Phrase?

An appositive defines or identifies the main noun or pronoun that it sits beside. An appositive phrase is made up of an appositive and its modifiers. There are two types of appositives. First, nonrestrictive or nonessential appositives provide nonessential information about the main noun or pronoun. This type is nonessential because if you remove it from the sentence, the sentence still makes sense. Second, restrictive or essential appositives provide essential information about the main noun. If you remove it, the sentence no longer makes sense.

Remember, appositives can be either a single word or a multi-word phrase. For instance, you could describe your boss by her name, Jenny, or describe her as an award-winning journalist. The first is a single-word appositive, while the second would be considered an appositive phrase.

Why Are Appositives Important?

Appositives are an important writing tool because they help add color and detail to writing. For example, appositives add variation and improve rhythm by offering an alternative to lots of short, consecutive sentences. Furthermore, appositives can help make your writing more concise and interesting. They do this by helping combine multiple simple sentences into one complex sentence with a more captivating flow.

[Example]Carleen is a Canadian national. Carleen is an accomplished writter.[/example]

A Canadian national, Carleen is an accomplished writer.
Carleen, a Canadian national, is an accomplished writer.
Carleen, an accomplished writer, is a Canadian national.

What Is an Example Of Appositives?

Appositives are noun or noun phrases that sit beside the main noun. It describes, helps identify, explains, or gives more information about that main noun. For example: My cat, Bengal, is bigger than you might expect. In the example, “my cat” is in apposition to “Bengal.” This is because “my cat” is describing or defining what “Bengal” is.

Here are more examples of appositives and apposition in action:

Georgia’s birds, Tweet and Chirp, love it when she puts on the Nature Channel.
My journal, a small green book, holds all my secrets.
I was so excited to see his movie, an independent film about skateboarding.
The car,a bright red convertible, zoomed through the intersection.
The dermatologist,Dr. Miller, looked me over from head to toe.
Sometimes, appositives may come before the nouns they used to identify rather than after them.
The only teacher with tenure, Professor Robinson was as much a fixture on campus as the fountain in the quad.
Made of Pernambuco wood, the violin bow was practically priceless.

In each of these cases, the appositives offer additional information about the noun or pronoun that they describe. For instance, without appositives, we wouldn’t know that Professor Robinson is the only teacher with tenure.

How Do You Write an Appositive?

Appositives can come at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, but they must contain a noun. What’s more, the appositive should come directly after the noun or pronoun that it describes. That said, here’s how to correctly write an appositive: First, find a main noun in a sentence. Then, directly next to the main noun, insert a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that further identifies or explains that main noun. If the appositive is essential or restrictive, you don’t need to offset it with commas or parenthesis. However, if it is essential, you do.

Carleen is an accomplished writer.
Carleen, a Canadian national, is an accomplished writer.
Two types of appositives. Type 1 restrictive. Sentence structure: Noun, appositive, rest of the sentence. Type 2 nonrestrictive. Sentence structure: Noun, comma before and after appositive, rest of the sentence.
There are two types of appositives: restrictive and nonrestrictive. Restrictive (essential) appositives are essential to the meaning of the sentence. Nonrestrictive (nonessential) appositives are not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

What Are the Two Types Of Appositives?

The two types of appositives are essential and nonessential. Each type is punctuated differently, so it’s important to know the difference. For example, essential (restrictive) appositives are not offset with commas or parenthesis. They contain information that is essential to the sentence, and the sentence would be unclear with out it. Conversely, nonessential (nonrestrictive) appositives are offset by commas or parenthesis. They contain information that interesting but not essential to the sentence. If you remove it, the author’s original meaning will still be clear.

Gordon Ramsay, a Michelin-star chef, is known for turning around failing restaurants.

The fact that Gordon Ramsay is known for turning around failing restaurants is true, whether or not we also know he’s a Michelin-star chef. Therefore, the Michelin-star clause is a bonus rather than being essential. The correct structure here is to offset the appositive (a Michelin-star chef) with commas.

Nonrestrictive appositives can also come at the end of a sentence. In that case, you would use a single comma just before the appositives or appositivephrases, and a period in the end.

They have a reservation at Barbuto,a legendary restaurant in NYC.

In some cases, an appositive is necessary to the sentence. So, it becomes restrictive. Because it can’t be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence, the appositive is not offset by commas.

The basketball playerLebron Jamesis making a special appearance this weekend.

“Lebron James” is restrictive, because without it, we wouldn’t know which basketball player is making that special appearance.

It’s important to punctuate appositives correctly. Without commas in the right place, your sentence could lose its meaning. Or convey an entirely different message than the one you intended.

1. What Is an Essential Appositive?

Some appositives are essential (also called restrictive). They are called this because the information they contain is essential to the sentence. For instance, if you remove the appositive, the meaning of the sentence changes. As such, we’re restricted from removing it. Essential appositives aren’t offset but commas, dashes, or parentheses.

The writer Carleen is a Canadian national.
The writer, Carleen, is a Canadian national.

2. What Is a Nonrestrictive Appositive?

When you remove a nonrestrictive or nonessential appositive from the sentence, the subject of the sentence is still clear. Therefore, a nonrestrictive appositive contains additional information about the subject that is nice to have and helps add detail to the sentence, but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. As a result, you are not restricted from removing it from the sentence. Always use commas or parentheses to offset nonrestrictiveappositives.

Pro Tip: If you’re not sure whether the word or phrase is nonrestrictive, ask yourself if it’s essential to the sentence. Essential appositives eat the commas, so there are none left. Nonessential appositives need commas—N and N go together.
Your teacher,Ms. Lu, wants to see you after class.
Your teacherMs. Luwants to see you after class.

Without the appositivephrase“Ms. Lu” in the sentence, you would have no idea which teacher wants to see you after class. Since the phrase is essential, or restrictive, no commas are necessary.

Rachelwho works for Bloomingdale’sis madly in love with Ross.
Rachel,who works for Bloomingdale’s, is madly in love with Ross.

It’s a nice little tidbit to learn that Rachel is an employee of Bloomingdale’s. But that doesn’t change who she’s in love with. It’s fun information, but not essential. That makes it a nonrestrictive phrase. For this reason, we know to offset it with commas.

You can also offset nonrestrictiveappositives in other ways if the alternatives suit your style and purpose.

(Commas) My sister-in-law,a dedicated middle-school principal, often works long hours.
(Dashes) My sister-in-law—a dedicated middle-school principal—often work long hours.
(Parenthesis) My sister-in-law (a dedicated middle-school principal) often work long hours.

Can You Have Two Appositives In a Sentence?

If you are careful not to overwhelm the reader with too much information, multiple appositives can be an effective writing tool. On one hand, double or triple appositives can help add detail and additional information to your sentence. Additionally, they can also help create a distinct style and flow. On the other hand, you may run the risk of sounding repetitive or burying your reader in too much detail or information at one time. All in all, don’t overuse apposition in your work.

Appositives are a simple way to infuse your writing with color and interest. However, that’s the case if you handle them properly. Pay attention to sentence structure, double-check your punctuation, and ensure your meaning stays intact no matter what.

What Is an Emphatic Appositive?

Emphatic appositives are appositives that appear at the end of a sentence. A colon or an em dash often precedes them. Most writers use emphatic appositives to highlight or call attention to important ideas. If you encounter these appositives, it’s like the writer is waving at you while pointing to the end of the sentence. Here are some examples of emphatic appositives:

Movie nights are not complete without two things: popcorn and soda.
You only need one thing to survive the climb—determination.
You only have three options: coffee, tea, juice.

Before you start using emphatic appositives in your content, make sure that you know what punctuation to use. A colon functions like a period. Meaning, you need to make sure that you’re going to use it after a complete thought. It lets your readers know that what’s next is essential.

Her room: books, clothes, Star Wars action figures.
You’ll find all her stuff in her room: books, clothes, Star Wars action figures.

A colon generally precedes longer appositives. Meanwhile, an em dash is more appropriate for one-word or shorter appositives.

How Well do you Know Appositives? Take This Quick Quiz

Appositive Question #1

Which statement is NOT true about appositives?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. Appositives are usually nouns or noun phrases.

Appositive Question #2

Identify the appositive in this sentence. Nina, my sister, is beautiful.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. "My sister" is defining or describing who Nina is.

Appositive Question #3

Identify the appositive in this sentence. I haven't been to the water park, but I'll go soon.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is D. This sentence does not have an appositive phrase.

Appositive Question #4

Non-restrictive appositives are essential for giving a sentence meaning.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. Non-restrictive appositives don't contribute to the sentence's meaning.

Appositive Question #4

Identify the appositive type in this sentence. I would love a red Corvette, a sports car.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. The additional information, "a sports car," is not essential.

Appositive Question #6

Always use commas or parentheses to offset restrictive appositives.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. Only use commas or parentheses with non-restrictive appositives.

Read More: Run-on Sentence: What is it and how to fix it

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Transition Words: How to Use Them Effectively

Transition words are used to ensure that ideas flow seamlessly within a piece of content.

Main Transition Words Takeaways:

  • Transitional words are important because they help improve the flow between words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs.
  • They are important for SEO because they help make text easier to read and understand. Search engines and readers love content that is readable.
  • Transition words help link ideas and statements.
  • Using transitional words at the beginning or end of a paragraph can help the reader understand when you introduce a new topic.
  • The four types of transition words are additive, adversative, causal, and sequential.
  • Transition words and phrases don’t affect the grammatical structure of sentences and paragraphs.

What Are Transition Words?

As a writer, your primary goal is to present information and ideas to your target audience in a clear and understandable manner. The best way to do that is to use transition words. Transition words or transitional words are terms and phrases that help connect words, phrases, and even sentences together. They build connections between ideas in your content.

Transition words and phrases ensure that your written work will not look choppy and disjointed. They help your audience progress from one idea to the next. Think of them as a way to tell your readers how they should process and understand the information you are giving them. Transition words function like GPS, guiding your readers where they are going and how to get there.

Transition words are used to ensure that ideas flow seamlessly within a piece of content.
The primary purpose of transition words is to ensure that your ideas flow seamlessly within your content.

What Are Some Examples Of Transition Words and Phrases?

Here are some of the most common examples of transition words and phrases:

Not to mention Equally important As a matter of fact Not only/But Also In addition In fact For example What is more

In particular On the other hand When in fact But even so Whatever happens In any case Because of Due to

In the event that With this in mind To conclude By the way To return to the subject As has been mentioned Given these points

Transition words are categorized based on their purpose. For instance, transition phrases like as a result of, due to, and as long as are used to emphasize cause and effect. Below are more examples of transition expressions that have been categorized based on their functions:

Cause and Effect

granted that as long as for the purpose of in order to in view of as a result of due to because therefore consequently so accordingly thus hence Since for owing to as a consequence of leads to contributes of stems from comes from results from

Evidence

as well as and too also in addition to or not only… but also further furthermore besides in addition moreover then again finally by the same token identically uniquely certainly truly including to be sure namely chiefly

Contrast

however on the other hand otherwise but unlike conversely in spite of at the same time nevertheless alternatively on the contrary yet whereas apart from even so although while

Comparison

as as if similarly equally like in the same way comparable as with of contrast despite this in comparison in contrast even though likewise in like manner

Opinion

I feel I believe in my opinion as fast as I know in my experience as for me, I think if I’m not mistaken I think in my view it seems likely it seems to me what I mean is i’d say that

Similarity

moreover as well as together of course likewise comparatively correspondingly similarly furthermore additionally

Clarification

that is to say in other words to clarify that is to explain to put it another way to rephrase it in this case I mean up to a point under certain circumstance

Sequence/ Order

first second next finally at this time following previously before prior to before

Time

later after before soon meanwhile during subsequently after that at the present time sooner or later in due time as long as in the meantime in a moment at this instant from time to time

Condition / Purpose

provided that given that in case even if only if so as to in as much as when whenever if… then unless because of as while lest since

Emphasis

also especially furthermore indeed in addition in particular certainly of course significantly notably in fact actually in reality as it happens

Conclusion

in conclusion to conclude finally summarizing overall on the whole to sum up evidently briefly in short altogether in summary to summarize

Place

here there over there under beyond to the left opposite in the distance

Illustration

such as in this case for one thing for example in the case of illustrated by as an example for instance in other words as revealed by an instance to show that

Reservation

admittedly even so as a matter of fact indeed nevertheless even though despite this notwithstanding regardless

Transition words ensure the seamless flow of ideas in your content.
Transition words ensure the seamless flow of ideas in your content.

What Are Some Examples of Transition Sentences?

The best way to understand how transitional words work is to see them in action. Remember, as important as these grammatical tools are, it’s not a good idea to overuse them. Too many transitional phrases can make your text seem complicated and wordy. It could also make you seem like a chronic overexplainer, and nobody wins when that happens.

You can use transitions to go from sentence to sentence:

I fell off my bike.As a result, I have a terrible bruise.
I hate chocolate ice cream.Furthermore, I don’t think strawberry is very good either.
Mary didn’t want to go to prom.Instead, she threw a house party and invited all her friends.

You can also use transition words and phrases to go from paragraph to paragraph:

A career in e-commerce can be exciting and lucrative. With the right foundation and planning, you can make lots of money selling online.At the same time, investing in e-commerce can be risky. The key to success is plenty of preparation and research.

What Are the Four Types of Transition Words?

There are a lot of different ways to categorize transition words. In this post, we will discuss the four main types of transition words: Additive, Adversative, Causal, and Sequential.

1. What are Additive Transitions?

These transition words add or introduce another idea. They may also reference a previously mentioned concept, identify a similarity, or clarify an idea. Additive transitional words include:

Also, And, Furthermore, Regarding, Similarly, Namely, Thus

2. What are Adversative Transitions?

Adversative transitions may be used to signal opposing ideas or dismiss a previously discussed idea altogether. Some adversative transition words include:

But, However, Conversely, Still, Besides, Although, Albeit, Admittedly, Instead, Rather

3. What are Causal Transitions?

As for causal transitions, they’re most commonly used to denote cause and effect. They may also indicate the reason an idea or action is happening or has happened. Causal transition words include:

For, Since, If, Unless, Hence, So, Then
Transition words give your work direction
Transition words give your work direction

4. What are Sequential Transitions?

As the name suggests, sequential transitions are used to put a sequence of ideas in order (usually chronological). This helps the reader understand where ideas fall in a list or when you’re wrapping up your text. Sequential transitions include:

Initially, Secondly, Thirdly, Subsequently, Previously, Eventually, Finally, Incidentally, Briefly, Overall, Hence, Altogether

Are Conjunctions Considered Transition Words?

While conjunctions and transitions share the same purpose — to connect ideas between or within sentences — they are not used the same way. You must not confuse conjunctions with transitional words or expressions. Conjunctions connect phrases and clauses, whereas transitions indicate the relationship between sentences and paragraphs. Check the following examples:

Subordinating conjunctions connecting dependent clauses with independent clauses:

The school is far, and Joe needs to walk for hours.
She couldn’t stay, for the area was dangerous.
I like green tea, but I am not too fond of black tea.

Read More: The Easiest Way To Get Subordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions connecting two independent clauses:

John is working here, for he loves the people and the environment.
Katie wakes up early, and she will never be late.
I was not feeling well, so I didn’t report to work.

Transition words connecting sentences and paragraphs:

Linda’s car got stuck in heavy traffic. As a result, her son has to take the bus to get home.
It was a long and tiring journey; but, once we got there, we were able to get some much-needed rest.
“When you see the word “was,” we’re most likely talking about something that previously occurred.

Specifically, “was” indicates that the first and third singular person points of view acted in the past. For this reason, we use “was” with the indicative mood.”

Another significant difference between transitions and conjunctions is their grammatical functions. Since conjunctions join clauses, they become part of the sentence and affect it grammatically. On the other hand, transition words have no impact on the grammatical structure of a sentence or paragraph. In short, you can remove a transition word, and it won’t have any impact on the sentence at all. Check the examples below:

Jake used to play basketball, but was injured last year.
Jake used to play basketball was injured last year.
My mom was supposed to go to my aunt’s house last night. However, she decided to postpone her travel plans because of the bad weather.
My mom was supposed to go to my aunt’s house last night. She decided to postpone her travel plans because of the bad weather.
Transition words help you switch smoothly between ideas. Seamlessly like the changing of seasons
Transition words help you switch smoothly between ideas. Seamlessly like the changing of seasons.

Do Commas Go Before Or After Transition Words?

The placement of commas when using transition words will depend on where the latter appears in your text.

If your transition phrase appears at the beginning of the sentence, it is always set off with a comma.
However, the doctor came just in time for the operation.
To clarify, transition words and conjunctions are the same.
If the transition word or phrase appears within an independent clause, it should be preceded by and set off with a comma.
Many of the attendees, on the other hand, have paid months in advance to watch the show today.
His initial findings, for example, are not conclusive.
If the transitional word appears between two independent clauses in a compound sentence, it should be preceded by a semicolon and set off with a comma.
The performers were excellent and entertaining; still, the entire concert was disappointing.
I wanted to go to work yesterday; but, I was not feeling well.

How Are Transition Words Used in SEO?

SEO, or search engine optimization, is a process that involves optimizing your content for search engines to help improve ranking. The higher you are in search results, the more visibility your content will have. The more visible your content, the more people will see and learn about your brand.

Unlike keywords or meta tags, transitions between sentences or paragraphs don’t directly help boost your search ranking. Instead, it’s all about readability and structure.

See, Google runs on algorithms and those algorithms are big fans of order and ease of use. In other words, clarity is everything.

In the olden days (you know, like the 2010s), Google was like a heat-seeking missile for keywords. Basically, the more keywords you could stuff in your copy, the better you’d rank. That led to a lot of web pages that said something like, “buckets buckets buy some buckets buckets for sale the best buckets.”

What are they selling? You guessed it: buckets!

Google (and the rest of the world) soon realized the keyword stuffing wasn’t really good for anyone. Instead, search engines began focusing on how web pages could best serve the reader. Now, algorithms analyze web content for readability, and transition words play a huge role in that determination.

Still confused about transition words? Here's an INK visual guide to help you remember.
Still confused about transition words? Here’s an INK visual guide to help you remember.

Transition Words Give Direction

Transition words also help you structure your content. Remember our road map? Transitional words can act as street signs, pointing readers left or right, directing them to take a U-turn, or propelling them onward.

Bottom line: Transition words make your content easier to read and understand. For this reason, it’s vital to rely not only on helpful tools but also on your own mind. If it reads well to you, it’ll likely read well to your audience.

Transition To a Closing

Finally, you can use transitions to introduce a new section or conclude your previous one—or wrap up the entire text. You may even use a transition to reinforce the general idea of your content before ending your piece:

Lastly, put the cake in the oven to cook.
Overall, the majority of people agree that the sky is blue, grass is green, and pineapple on pizza is delicious.
In conclusion, transitional phrases are an important part of mastering proper grammar and making your text easy to read.

Quick Transition Words Grammar Quiz

Transition Words Question #1

Which type of transition signals opposing ideas?
Correct! Wrong!

The correct answer is letter C. Adversative transition words may be used to signal opposing ideas or dismiss a previously discussed idea altogether. (E.g., but, however, conversely, still, and besides)

Causal Transition Question #2

What's an example of a causal transition word?
Correct! Wrong!

The correct answer is letter B. Consequently along with words like for, since, unless, as a result, and hence are all causal transition words. (E.g., "Flexible workers often find themselves in great demand, and consequently, earn high wages.")

Transition Words in SEO Question #3

Why are transition words important to SEO?
Correct! Wrong!

The correct answer is letter B. Transition words help improve the flow of ideas within a piece of content, making it more readable and easy to understand. Content with a high readability score can boost your SEO.

Transition Words Quiz Result
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Read More: How to use a question mark (?)