
Imagine you ate this cake, and you want to tell your friend all about it. Sure, you could say it was "good," but "good" doesn't help your friend imagine how it looked, smelled, or tasted.
Adding one-syllable adjectives is a simple way to make your sentences more interesting when writing or speaking.
Think About Your Senses!
If you want to use more adjectives in your sentences, try thinking about your five senses. How does the noun look, sound, taste, hear, or smell?
Avoid "good" and "bad" because those aren't specific enough to create a picture in someone's head.
How Does It Look?
Short vs. Long
Use these adjectives to describe the length of a noun.

She is taking a short walk in the park.

The monkey has a long tail.
Flat vs. Round
Use these adjectives to describe the shape of a noun.

I took a drive on the flat road.

My cookie came out round and delicious.
Bright vs. Dark
Use these adjectives to describe the color or lighting of a noun.

While I was walking in the dark forest, I decided to turn on my bright lantern.
How Does It Smell?
Fresh vs. Stale
Use these adjectives to describe if a noun smells new or old.

I bought fresh blueberries at the market.
The basement was moldy and stale.
Faint vs. Strong
Use these adjectives to describe how much you can smell a noun.

The flowers in the garden let out a faint scent.

I could smell the strong garbage odor all the way down the street.
Clean vs. Foul
Use these adjectives to describe how dirty or clean the noun smells.

I poured the clean soap into the machine filled with foul-smelling laundry.
How Does It Taste?
Sweet vs. Sour
Use these adjectives to describe the type of taste a noun has.

The candy shop was filled with sweet treats.

I grabbed a sour pickle to eat with my sandwich.
Bland vs. Rich
Use these adjectives to describe how much taste a noun has.

The bland bread had no butter or jam on top.

I could see the chocolate oozing from the rich piece of cake.
Sharp vs. Mild
Use these adjectives to describe the strength of the taste.

Would you like a piece of sharp cheddar cheese, or a mild Swiss cheese?
How Does it Sound?
Loud vs. Soft
Use these adjectives to describe the volume of a noun.

The drums were so loud I could hear them upstairs.

Your voice needs to be soft when you are in the library.
High vs. Low
Use these adjectives to describe the pitch of a sound that a noun makes.

The tiny bird made a high chirping noise in the morning.

The large dogs let out a low growl when someone got near their owner.
Clear vs. Faint
Use these adjectives to describe the clarity or strength of the sound.

Is the music clear through your headphones, or can you only hear a faint sound?
How Does It Feel?
Rough vs. Smooth
Use these adjectives to describe the texture of a noun.
He rubbed the rough sandpaper against the wood.

The smooth, white mug was filled with warm coffee.
Soft vs. Firm
Use these adjectives to describe the hardness of a noun.

After a long day, I want to lay my head on a soft pillow.

The wall was built with firm bricks to make it strong.
Warm vs. Cool
Use these adjectives to describe the temperature of a noun.

After sitting in the warm sun, the cool ice cream will begin to melt.
Test Your Knowledge!

Imagine that you just had the best pizza, and you want to tell your friend all about it.
Quiz
Which adjectives best describe the pizza?
Take Action
If you want to improve your English writing and speaking skills, take a look at these resources:
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