What are adjective phrases? A collection of common adjective phrases

Functionality

Meaning

Example

Change or add information to nouns

Adjective phrases that go with nouns change or add information to their meaning.

• My brother is a tall, slim man.
• My father have sold an old, wooden table.

Add meaning to verbs of association (be, seem, become, feel, smell, taste

When adjective phrases modify verbs, this is called their prediction function.

• She thought this soup smelled really wonderful.
• She feels that coffee tastes too strong.

Add more detailed information to the complement

Adjective phrases are often used to add information to the subject (bolded and underlined) acting as complements in the sentence.

• Sitting in traffic drives me crazy. 
• Money doesn’t always make us happy.

Adjective phrase + Preposition

Meaning

Example

• She is afraid of spiders. He is afraid of heights. 

• I am interested in learning languages.
• They are interested in photography.

• She is excited about her upcoming trip.
• They are excited about the new movie release.

• He is happy with his new job.
• They are happy with their decision. 

• She is proud of her academic achievements.
• He is proud of his daughter’s accomplishments.

• He is angry at his friend for breaking his phone.
• She was angry at herself for making the mistake. 

• They were surprised by the unexpected news.
• He was surprised by the gift from his colleagues.

• Her dress is similar to mine.
• The two paintings are similar to each other.

• His opinion is different from mine.
• The new model is different from the old one.

• The success of the project is dependent on proper planning.
• Our travel plans are dependent on the weather.

Adjective phrases with adverbs

Meaning

Example

Very (adv)

to a great degree or extremely

They were very happy to see each other after a long time.

Quite (adv)

completely

The exam was quite challenging, but I managed to do well

Extremely (adv)

very

The dancers were extremely talented and captivating.

Remarkably (adv)

in a way that is unusual or surprising and causes people to take notice

The child displayed a remarkably intelligent behavior at a young age.

Incredibly (adv)

extremely

She looked incredibly beautiful in her wedding gown. 

Exceptionally (adv)

used before an adjective or adverb to emphasize how strong or unusual the quality is

The food at that restaurant is exceptionally delicious. 

No

Adjective phrase

Meaning

No

Adjective phrase

Meaning

1

Ashamed of

feeling guilty or embarrassed about something you have done or about a quality in your character

51

Favorable to

showing that you like or approve of someone or something

2

Afraid of

feeling fear or worry about something, or about something bad that might happen

52

Famous for

known and recognized by many people

3

Ahead of

in front of someone or something

53

Fit for

suitable for a particular purpose or activity

4

Aware of

knowing that something exists, or having knowledge or experience of a particular thing

54

Familiar (to/with) st

easy to recognize because of being seen, met, heard, etc. before

5

Able to

to have the necessary physical strength, mental power, skill, time, money, or opportunity to do something

55

Grateful to sb

showing or expressing thanks, especially to another person

6

Acceptable to

satisfactory and able to be agreed to or approved of

56

Greedy for

wanting more money, power, food, etc. than you really need

7

Accustomed to

familiar with something

57

Good for

healthy or well

8

Agreeable to

pleasant or pleasing

58

Hopeful of

having hope

9

Addicted to

unable to stop taking drugs, or doing something as a habit

59

Harmful to sb

causing damage or injury to somebody/something, especially to a person’s health or to the environment

10

Available to sb

that you can get, buy or find

60

Harmless to sb

unable or unlikely to cause damage or harm

11

Available for sth

that you can get, buy or find

61

Helpful for

able to improve a particular situation

12

Anxious for, about

feeling worried or nervous

62

vital to

necessary or essential in order for something to succeed or exist

13

Angry with sb

having strong feelings about something that you dislike very much or about an unfair situation

63

Independent of

having its own government

14

Bad for

unpleasant; full of problems

64

Identical to sb

similar in every detail

15

Dissatisfied with

not happy or satisfied with somebody/something

65

Important to

having a great effect on people or things; of great value

16

Disgruntled with 

annoyed or disappointed because something has happened to upset you

66

Essential to

completely necessary; extremely important in a particular situation or for a particular activity

17

Busy with st

having a lot to do; perhaps not free to do something else because you are working on something

67

Crucial to

extremely important, because it will affect other things

19

Capable of

having the ability or qualities necessary for doing something

69

Involved in st

taking part in something; being part of something or connected with something

20

Confident of

feeling sure about your own ability to do things and be successful

70

Kind to

caring about others; gentle, friendly and generous

21

Clear to

easy to understand and not confusing

71

Likely to

having a good chance of happening or being something; probable or expected

22

Contrary to

different from something; against something

72

Lucky to

having good luck

23

Convenient for

useful, easy or quick to do; not causing problems

73

Liable to

legally responsible for paying the cost of something

24

Curious about st

having a strong desire to know about something

74

Late fo

arriving, happening or done after the expected, arranged or usual time

25

Consistent with st

always behaving in the same way, or having the same opinions, standards, etc.

75

Nervous of

anxious about something or afraid of something

26

Content with st

happy and satisfied with what you have

76

Necessary to sth/sb

that is needed for a purpose or a reason

27

Crowded with

having a lot of people or too many people

77

Next to

coming straight after somebody/something in time, order or space

28

Doubtful of

not sure; uncertain and feeling doubt

78

Necessary for

that is needed for a purpose or a reason

29

Delightful to sb

very pleasant

79

Open to

allowing things or people to go through; not closed or blocked

30

Difficult for

not easy; needing effort or skill to do or to understand

80

Pleasant to

fun, attractive, or giving pleasure

31

Dangerous for

likely to injure or harm somebody, or to damage or destroy something

81

Preferable to

more attractive or more suitable; to be preferred to something

32

Reluctant about

hesitating before doing something because you do not want to do it or because you are not sure that it is the right thing to do

82

Profitable to

that makes or is likely to make money

33

Keen on

wanting to do something or wanting something to happen very much

83

Responsible to sb

having the job or duty of doing something or taking care of somebody/something, so that you may be blamed if something goes wrong

34

Fond of

having warm or loving feelings for somebody, especially somebody you have known for a long time

84

Rude to

having or showing a lack of respect for other people and their feelings

35

Good at

of high quality or an acceptable standard

85

Ready for sth

fully prepared for what you are going to do and able to start it immediately

36

Delighted in st

very pleased

86

Quick off

done with speed; taking or lasting a short time

37

popular with

liked or enjoyed by a large number of people

87

Sick of

bored with or annoyed about something that has been happening for a long time, and wanting it to stop

38

impressed with/by

admiring somebody/something because you think they are particularly good, interesting, etc.

88

Scared of

frightened of something or afraid that something bad might happen

39

Dependent on sth/sb

needing somebody/something in order to survive or be successful

89

Suspicious of

feeling that somebody has done something wrong, illegal or dishonest, without having any proof

40

Equal to

the same in size, quantity, value, etc. as something else

90

Responsible for sth

having the job or duty of doing something or taking care of somebody/something, so that you may be blamed if something goes wrong

41

Exposed to

not protected from the weather by trees, buildings or high ground

91

Suitable for

right or appropriate for a particular purpose or occasion

42

Emerge from st

to become known

92

Sorry for

feeling sad and ashamed about something that has been done

43

fortunate in

having or bringing an advantage, an opportunity, a piece of good luck, etc.

93

Safe from st

protected from any danger, harm or loss

44

Jealous of

feeling angry or unhappy because somebody you like or love is showing interest in somebody else

94

Proud of

feeling pleased and satisfied about something that you own or have done, or are connected with

45

Famous for

known about by many people

95

Guilty of

feeling ashamed because you have done something that you know is wrong or have not done something that you should have done

46

Experienced in st

having knowledge or skill in a particular job or activity

96

Tired of

feeling that you would like to sleep or rest; needing rest

47

Enthusiastic about sth

feeling or showing a lot of excitement and interest about somebody/something

97

Terrified of

very frightened

48

attractive to

pleasant to look at, especially in a sexual way

98

Useful to sb

that can help you to do or achieve what you want

49

Fond of

having warm or loving feelings for somebody, especially somebody you have known for a long time

99

Weak in st

not physically strong

50

Full of

containing or holding as much or as many as possible; having no empty space

100

Willing to

not objecting to doing something; having no reason for not doing something