Proper Adjectives: Definition, Forms, Types, Usage, and Examples

Have you ever heard someone say “Italian pizza” or “Shakespearean drama” and wondered why these words sound special? Those words, “Italian” and “Shakespearean,” are proper adjectives, and they add a unique flavor to our language. They come from proper nouns and are always capitalized. Let’s dive into what proper adjectives are, how to use them, and explore some examples to make it all clear!

Table of Contents

1. What Is a Proper Adjective?

2. Definition of a Proper Adjective

3. List of Proper Adjectives

4. How to Use Proper Adjectives in Sentences

5. Examples of Proper Adjectives

6. Rules and Best Practices

7. Check Your Knowledge of Proper Adjectives

8. Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a Proper Adjective?

A proper adjective is an adjective that comes from a proper noun. Proper nouns refer to specific people, places, or things, and when these nouns are used to describe something, they become proper adjectives.

For example:

• • America (proper noun) → American (proper adjective)
  • Japan (proper noun) → Japanese (proper adjective)

Proper adjectives are always capitalized because they are derived from proper nouns.

Definition of a Proper Adjective

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a proper adjective is “an adjective that is formed from a proper noun, often used to describe something specific to that noun.”

For instance:

• • The proper noun France gives us the proper adjective French, as in “French cuisine.”

List of Proper Adjectives

Here’s a list of common proper adjectives derived from people, places, and cultures:

From People

• • • Victorian (Queen Victoria)
    • Shakespearean (William Shakespeare)
    • Einsteinian (Albert Einstein)

From Places

• • • Mexican (Mexico)
    • Australian (Australia)
    • Chinese (China)
    • Indian (India)

From Religions or Beliefs

• • • Christian (Christianity)
    • Buddhist (Buddhism)
    • Islamic (Islam)

From Historical Periods

• • • Georgian (King George)
    • Elizabethan (Queen Elizabeth)
    • Napoleonic (Napoleon Bonaparte)

How to Use Proper Adjectives in Sentences

Like all adjectives, proper adjectives describe or modify nouns. They can be used in two main ways:

1. Before the Noun They Describe

• • • I love Italian food.
      (Italian describes the noun food.)

2. After a Linking Verb

• • • The architecture is Roman.
      (Roman describes the subject architecture.)

Examples of Proper Adjectives

Example 1:

• • We enjoyed a French dinner last night.
    (French describes the type of dinner.)

Example 2:

• • My favorite writer is known for his Shakespearean themes.
    (Shakespearean shows the connection to William Shakespeare.)

Example 3:

• • She wore a Victorian dress to the party.
    (Victorian indicates the style from the Victorian era.)

Example 4:

• • They are studying Chinese culture in school.
    (Chinese tells us the culture is related to China.)

Rules and Best Practices 

1. Always Capitalize Proper Adjectives

Proper adjectives, like proper nouns, are always capitalized.

• • ✅ We learned about Greek mythology.
  • ❌ We learned about greek mythology.

2. Proper Adjectives Are Not Nouns

Proper adjectives describe a noun but do not act as a noun themselves.

• • ✅ She admires Italian art.
  • ❌ She admires Italian.

3. Be Careful with Prefixes

When a prefix is added to a proper adjective, the prefix is not capitalized.

• • She has an anti-American stance.

4. Use a Dictionary for Accuracy

Proper adjectives can be tricky. For example:

• • America → American
  • Canada → Canadian

When in doubt, check the proper form of the word!

Check Your Knowledge of Proper Adjectives

Fill in the blanks with the correct proper adjective:

1. I watched a fascinating __________ movie. (India)

2. Her favorite book is about __________ mythology. (Greece)

3. This museum has a collection of __________ paintings. (France)

4. He enjoys __________ music. (Italy)

5. My teacher is an expert in __________ history. (China)

Answers:

1. Indian

2. Greek

3. French

4. Italian

5. Chinese

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is a proper adjective?
A proper adjective is an adjective formed from a proper noun, used to describe something specific to that noun. Example: English literature.

Q2: Why are proper adjectives capitalized?
Proper adjectives are capitalized because they come from proper nouns, which are always capitalized.

Q3: Can proper adjectives be used with prefixes?
Yes, but only the proper adjective itself is capitalized. Example: anti-British policies.

Q4: How are proper adjectives different from common adjectives?
Proper adjectives are specific and derived from proper nouns, while common adjectives are general descriptors.

• • Proper Adjective: Japanese cuisine
  • Common adjective: delicious food