A1 · Grammar
Adjectives before nouns
After this page you can put adjectives before a noun and after be, choose a or an, and use very.
Rules
1.
Adjective + noun
- Priya has a small flat in Leeds.
- Marek drives a black car.
- We have a new boss at work.
An adjective says more about a noun: big, new, red, cheap. Put the adjective before the noun.
adjective + noun
- a big city · a cheap hotel · hot coffee
- not: a city big · a hotel cheap · coffee hot
First the adjective, then the noun: a red bag.
2.
be + adjective
- The flat is small.
- My new boss is nice.
- Are you tired?
After be (am, is, are), the adjective can stand alone. There is no noun after it.
be + adjective
- The coffee is hot. · I'm hungry. · Is it expensive?
- two ways, one meaning: It is a cheap hotel. = The hotel is cheap.
be + adjective: The room is clean.
No a/an before an adjective alone: The hotel is cheap, not The hotel is a cheap.
3.
Adjectives have one form
- a new phone → two new phones
- The rooms are small.
- My children are happy today.
An adjective has only one form. It is the same for singular and plural nouns. Never add -s to an adjective.
One form
- a long day → long days (not: longs days)
- The bag is heavy. → The bags are heavy.
The noun takes the -s, the adjective does not: old houses.
4.
very + adjective
- It's a very old house.
- The film is very good.
- Edinburgh is very beautiful in autumn.
very makes an adjective stronger. Put very right before the adjective.
Where is very?
- a + very + adjective + noun: a very big city
- be + very + adjective: It is very cold today.
very needs an adjective after it: a very nice person, not a very person.
very + adjective: very nice, very late, very cheap
5.
a or an? Look at the adjective
- a car → an old car
- an apple → a big apple
- Lucy has an easy job.
- Cardiff is an interesting city.
a/an comes before the adjective. Now the first sound of the adjective decides: a or an.
a/an + adjective + noun
- a + consonant sound: a new office · a small apple
- an + vowel sound: an old car · an expensive bag
- very starts with v: a very old car
Two adjectives before one noun? They have an order too. You learn this later, in another lesson.
Look at the next word after a/an: an old flat, but a very old flat.
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