Big: size and comparisons
A large window, a bigger room: describe the size of things and compare two objects in English.
Read and practiseAdventure journal
English: Adjectives for precise descriptions
English: Describe qualities, feelings and differences with suitable adjectives, sentence patterns and translated examples.
Adventure journal
English: Adjectives for precise descriptions
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Old: age and familiarity
An old tree or an old friend: describe age and familiar people and things in English.
Read and practiseYoung: people and animals
A young cat and young children: describe people and animals at an early stage of life in English.
Read and practiseready: prepared for an event or action
Use ready to describe being prepared, then choose ready for a noun and ready to before a verb.
Read and practisefree: available or without charge
Use free for an available seat, a person with time or something that costs no money.
Read and practiseLong: distance and time
A long road or a long lunch: describe length and duration with a common English adjective.
Read and practiseCold: temperature and feeling
Describe cold weather, drinks and how you feel, and distinguish being cold from having a cold.
Read and practiseShort: length and height
A short rope or a short person: describe length and height with a common English adjective.
Read and practiseHappy: feelings and satisfaction
Describe feeling happy, being satisfied with something and being glad to see someone.
Read and practisePleasant people and things
A friendly neighbour or an enjoyable meal: describe pleasant people and experiences in English.
Read and practiseBad: quality and comparison
Spoiled bread and a worse road illustrate poor quality and the irregular forms used to compare it.
Read and practiseBeautiful people and places
A lovely garden or an attractive person: describe beauty in people, places and things with an English adjective.
Read and practiseAngry: feelings and reasons
A delayed journey or a broken window can cause anger. Describe the feeling and say who or what caused it.
Read and practisehot: temperature and spicy food
Describe hot weather, hot objects and spicy peppers, then compare temperatures using hotter.
Read and practiseSad feelings and situations
A lost bag or a moving film can bring sadness. Describe unhappy feelings and things that cause them.
Read and practisegood: describing quality and comparing
Use good to describe people and things, compare with better, and distinguish adjective good from adverb well.
Read and practiseIllness and feeling unwell
A child stays home and a visitor needs help: describe illness and feeling unwell in everyday English.
Read and practisesmall: size, quantity and comparison
Describe a small object or amount, compare two sizes with smaller and ask for a smaller size.
Read and practisetired: feeling tired and tiring activities
Describe tired people, tiring activities and being tired of waiting without confusing the two adjectives.
Read and practiseComfortable warmth
Fresh bread, sunshine and a winter coat offer ways to describe comfortable warmth in English.
Read and practiseBusy: people, activities and places
Describe an occupied person or a lively place, and use busy with a noun or an -ing verb.
Read and practiseDifferent: comparing things
Describe things that are not the same, and compare one person or thing with another using different from.
Read and practiseA little cold
Evening air, water and a shady place can feel pleasantly low in temperature without being very cold.
Read and practiseNew: recent things and comparisons
Describe new objects, places and people, and compare two things using newer than.
Read and practiseGentle sound and texture
A cushion, a voice and wool can all be described through their gentle texture or low volume.
Read and practiseOpen: doors, windows and businesses
Describe something that is not closed and ask whether a business or library is open.
Read and practiseSafe: people, places and actions
Describe people or places as safe, ask if an action is safe and request that an item be kept safe.
Read and practiseFirm surfaces and difficult tasks
A stone, a crust and a challenging question show two common meanings of the same adjective.
Read and practiseUseful: help for a purpose
Use useful to describe helpful information or tools and explain what they are useful for.
Read and practiseSugary tastes and kind gestures
A ripe pear, a fragrant flower and a kind message show how one adjective describes pleasant things.
Read and practiseQuiet: little noise
Describe a quiet place, person or sound and compare noise levels with quieter and quietest.
Read and practiseExpensive: talking about price
Describe high prices with expensive and compare costs with more expensive and less expensive.
Read and practiseFresh food and clean air
Bread from the morning and air from an open window show how to describe freshness in everyday English.
Read and practiseComfortable: feeling at ease
Use comfortable for clothing, furniture or places that feel pleasant and compare their comfort.
Read and practisePolite: respectful behaviour
Use polite to describe considerate behaviour, requests and replies, and talk about the person addressed.
Read and practiseBright light and vivid colours
A shining lamp and a vivid yellow scarf show two everyday uses of this adjective.
Read and practiseAvailable: ready to use or meet
Use available to ask about resources that can be obtained or people who have time to help.
Read and practiseDark places and deep colours
A hallway without a lamp and a deep blue notebook illustrate two common uses of this adjective.
Read and practiseWet: covered with liquid
Describe wet clothes or surfaces, rainy weather and the comparative spelling wetter.
Read and practiseDry: without moisture
Describe dry objects and places, and compare how much moisture they have with drier.
Read and practiseSlow movement and gradual processes
A train stopping in every village and a long download illustrate low speed and processes that take time.
Read and practiseEmpty: nothing relevant inside
Use empty for containers and places, and identify what is absent from the context.
Read and practiseFull: containing a lot
Use full for containers or spaces and full of to name what they contain.
Read and practiseSpeed of people and things
A swift cyclist, a train and a boat show how to describe people and things moving at high speed.
Read and practiseNoisy: making a lot of sound
Describe noisy places or groups, contrast them with quiet ones and compare with noisier.
Read and practiseCheap: low in price
Use cheap for a low price, compare prices with cheaper and distinguish price from quality.
Read and practiseWealth and full flavours
Money and a deeply flavoured sauce reveal two common meanings of this English adjective.
Read and practiseClosed: not open now
Use closed for a shut door or a place not open for business, without assuming how long it lasts.
Read and practiseCareful: giving attention to avoid problems
Use careful for attentive behaviour and identify the object or action needing attention.
Read and practisePoverty and low quality
A family with little money and a bad connection show two common meanings of this English adjective.
Read and practiseDangerous: able to cause harm
Use dangerous for things or actions that could cause harm, and distinguish risk from an event already occurring.
Read and practiseDirty: not clean
Use dirty for objects or surfaces with dirt and compare dirtier without confusing the state with cleaning.
Read and practiseKindness toward other people
A helpful neighbour and a welcoming teacher show how to describe considerate behaviour in English.
Read and practiseHungry: wanting or needing food
Use hungry to describe wanting food, ask how someone feels and distinguish it from thirsty.
Read and practiseThirsty: needing a drink
Use thirsty to describe needing a drink, ask how someone feels, and offer something to drink.
Read and practiseWelcoming people and behaviour
A warm smile or a welcoming neighbour: describe people and their behaviour with an English adjective.
Read and practiseHumour and odd situations
A joke may make you laugh, while an odd smell raises questions: explore two meanings of this English adjective.
Read and practiseUnusual or unfamiliar things
An unfamiliar place or an unexpected sound can seem odd: learn to describe such experiences in English.
Read and practiseSignificance and priorities
A decision, a date or a question may deserve attention: express significance and priorities in English.
Read and practiseUnusual and treasured qualities
A family celebration or a treasured gift can stand apart from the ordinary: describe what makes something special.
Read and practiseSimple things and easy tasks
A recipe or a plan can be uncomplicated: describe things that are easy to understand, make or follow.
Read and practiseIncorrect answers and mistaken choices
A misplaced letter or an incorrect date shows a mistake: describe answers and choices that are not correct.
Read and practiseCorrect answers and suitable choices
A correct answer or a suitable time can both be described with the same adjective: see how context guides its meaning.
Read and practiseReliable: people, services and information
Use reliable for dependable people or services and evaluate whether information deserves trust.
Read and practiseNervous: worry before an event
Before an interview or performance, a person may feel worried and tense. Express that feeling and say what causes it.
Read and practiseProud: satisfaction in achievement
A finished project or a new skill can bring a sense of achievement. Express that satisfaction in English.
Read and practiseLikely: probability without certainty
Use likely and unlikely to discuss probability, compare possibilities and avoid presenting a prediction as certain.
Read and practiseJealous: wanting another person’s advantage
Someone else’s success or possessions can provoke envy. Describe that feeling and name what causes it in English.
Read and practisePossible: ability and uncertainty
Use possible to ask whether something can be done and distinguish a possible event from a certain one.
Read and practiseLonely: sadness without enough company
A crowded room can still feel isolating. Express the sadness of lacking companionship and distinguish it from being alone.
Read and practiseLocal: connected with an area
Use local for people, services or information connected with a particular area.
Read and practiseCalm: a peaceful state and manner
A still lake and a steady voice show how to describe a peaceful state, a place or a person in English.
Read and practisePatient: waiting without irritation
A long queue or a slow computer can test your patience. Describe someone who waits without becoming annoyed.
Read and practiseRare: not common
Use rare for things, events or opportunities that occur infrequently in a particular context.
Read and practiseRude words and actions
An insulting remark or an interruption may seem impolite. Describe words and actions that show a lack of respect.
Read and practiseNecessary: needed for a purpose
Use necessary to describe a requirement for a particular task or result and ask whether it is needed.
Read and practiseGenerous: ready to give and share
A shared tool or a gift of time can show generosity. Describe people and actions that give freely to others.
Read and practiseHeavy: weight or intensity
Use heavy for weight and for strong rain or busy traffic; compare things with heavier.
Read and practiseConfidence in your ability
A presentation or a performance can call for self-belief. Describe feeling sure of your own ability in English.
Read and practiseCurious: wanting to know more
A mysterious box can make someone want to investigate. Describe the desire to learn, ask questions or discover something.
Read and practiseLight: weight, brightness or colour
Use light for low weight, a bright room or a pale colour, and compare weight with lighter.
Read and practiseActing independently
Living alone or funding a project without outside help can show independence. Describe people who can act without relying on others.
Read and practiseLocked: secured by a lock
Use locked for something secured by a lock and distinguish it from simply being closed.
Read and practiseDuties and accountability
A garden needs care and a team makes decisions. Describe who has a duty and who must answer for an action in English.
Read and practiseSleepy: wanting to sleep
Use sleepy to describe wanting sleep and distinguish it from already being asleep.
Read and practiseStubborn minds and choices
A person who refuses to reconsider a decision can be described with this adjective, even when others offer good reasons.
Read and practiseAdapting to change
Plans can change without warning. Describe people and arrangements that can adjust to new circumstances in English.
Read and practiseAfraid: feeling fear
Use afraid after a verb, with of for a thing or to plus a verb for an action.
Read and practiseSimilar: alike in some ways
Use similar to compare things that share features without assuming they are identical.
Read and practiseSaving time and effort
A nearby station or a suitable appointment can make life easier. Describe useful arrangements and times in English.
Read and practiseStrong: strength or intensity
Use strong for physical strength, resistance or intensity, and interpret it from context.
Read and practiseCrowded places and people
A busy market or a packed train has many people in a small space. Describe such places and ask when they are less busy.
Read and practiseWeak: not strong
Describe weak physical strength, a fragile object or a low-intensity signal, and compare with weaker.
Read and practisePersonal or restricted
A personal message or a members-only room can be described with this adjective. Explore privacy and restricted access in English.
Read and practiseHonest: truthful and open
Use honest for a person or answer, choose with and about, and recognize that honest is not infallible.
Read and practiseOpen to everyone
A shared garden or an open meeting offers a way to describe access and public spaces in English.
Read and practiseHigh: height or amount
Use high for a position or measured height and for a greater-than-usual price or temperature.
Read and practiseEvents from a short time ago
A storm, a visit or a discovery can be recent when it happened only a short time before now.
Read and practiseWide: distance from side to side
Use wide for side-to-side distance, ask about width and compare objects with wider.
Read and practisePatterns and usual things
Repeated breaks, a familiar seat or an even pattern can be described with this adjective in English.
Read and practiseEveryday things without anything unusual
A familiar meal or a plain pen can be described as ordinary when nothing about it stands out.
Read and practiseSerious: severity and sincerity
A damaged roof or an honest intention can both be serious; context tells you whether the word means severe or sincere.
Read and practiseObvious: easy to notice
A visible crack or a clear mistake can be obvious when people can readily see or understand it.
Read and practiseFamous people and places
A singer or a village can be famous when many people know them; say what they are known for.
Read and practiseValuable things and useful ideas
A rare painting and helpful advice can both have value; describe money, usefulness and importance with this adjective.
Read and practiseSuitability for people and purposes
Hiking shoes and a meeting room must fit their purpose; describe what is right for a person or activity.
Read and practiseAwareness of a situation
A closed road or a new rule may already be known to someone; express awareness and how it develops.
Read and practiseFeeling upset and explaining why
A cancellation or an unexpected message can cause distress; describe the feeling and identify what caused it.
Read and practiseAccurate: correct information and measurements
A reliable measurement or account matches the facts; see how accurate describes that closeness and where it fits in a sentence.
Read and practiseAppropriate: suitability in context
Use appropriate to discuss whether language, timing or a format suits a particular audience or situation.
Read and practisePrecise: exact details and expressions
Precise describes exact measurements, clear instructions and carefully chosen words, as well as a particular moment.
Read and practiseRelevant: connected to the subject
A relevant detail connects to the matter at hand; context determines which information belongs in a discussion.
Read and practiseSpecific: clearly identified details
A specific date, question or reason points to an identifiable detail instead of a broad idea.
Read and practiseEffective: achieving a result
Use effective to describe a method or action that produces the intended result in a given context.
Read and practiseSignificant: importance and noticeable size
A major discovery or a noticeable increase can both be significant; explore the difference through examples and practice.
Read and practiseConsiderable amounts and degrees
A lengthy repair or a large saving can be described in terms of considerable size, quantity or degree.
Read and practiseFamiliar: known or recognizable
Use familiar with for what a person knows and familiar to for the person who recognizes something.
Read and practisePotential future possibilities
A possible delay or future sponsor may be described before it becomes certain; explore this adjective in context.
Read and practiseCrucial decisions and essentials
A decisive vote or an essential detail can determine an outcome; practise describing such importance in context.
Read and practiseReasonable: fair judgment and acceptable limits
A fair price, a sensible decision or an acceptable amount can all be described as reasonable in the right context.
Read and practiseWilling: ready to do something
A person who is willing is ready to act or agree; explore the patterns used to express that readiness.
Read and practiseReluctant: hesitation before acting
A difficult decision can leave someone hesitant or unwilling; see how reluctant describes that feeling and the action involved.
Read and practiseCapable: ability to act
A skilled guide or a machine with enough power can be described in terms of ability and competence.
Read and practiseExposure to harm and disadvantage
Frost, flooding and debt can expose people or things to harm; explore how this adjective names that risk.
Read and practiseSustainable: able to continue over time
A sustainable plan can last without exhausting the resources or support it depends on, from ecosystems to working routines.
Read and practisePersistent: continuing despite difficulty
A determined person keeps trying; a persistent problem or sound continues over time and can be difficult to stop.
Read and practiseConsistent: agreement and steady behaviour
Accounts can agree with evidence, and habits can stay steady over time: both can be described with consistent.
Read and practiseMutual: shared by both sides
Respect between neighbours and support between teams can go both ways; explore how to describe shared feelings and arrangements.
Read and practiseComplex: connected parts
A network of interlocking elements can be complex even when its purpose is easy to understand.
Read and practiseControversial topics and public disagreement
A disputed policy or decision can divide public opinion; explore how this adjective describes such disagreement.
Read and practiseAdequate: enough for a purpose
Sufficient space, training or light meets a particular need; learn to express that standard with this adjective.
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