21 Best Exercises on Adjective Phrases for ESL Students

Getting students to master adjective phrases through exercises can be a game-changer for their writing and speaking skills. These little groups of words help learners give clearer, richer, and more detailed descriptions.

But for many ESL students, using adjective phrases correctly takes time. They may rely too much on single-word adjectives like nice, big, or happy, without learning how to expand their ideas.

That’s where this post comes in. You’ll find 21 carefully designed adjective phrase exercises, moving from simple identification and fill-ins to sentence transformations and creative writing.

Each task builds confidence step by step, helping students understand how adjective phrases work, how to use them naturally, and how to make their language more vivid and effective.

Whether you’re teaching beginners who are just getting familiar with phrases like full of sugar or advanced students ready to write full paragraphs, there’s something here for everyone.

All exercises are classroom-ready, easy to follow, and require no extra prep. Use them for pair work, group work, homework, tutoring, or independent learning—whatever works best for your students.

What Is an Adjective Phrase?

An adjective phrase is a group of words that together describe a noun.

Just like a single adjective (like happy or blue), an adjective phrase gives more information about a person, place, or thing—but it uses more than one word.

Example:

• She wore a dress. (basic sentence)
• She wore a dress made of silk. (now we know more about the dress)

In the second sentence, made of silk is the adjective phrase. It tells us more about the dress.

How to Spot an Adjective Phrase

Look for a group of words that answers questions like:

• What kind?
• Which one?
• What’s it like?

These phrases often come right after the noun they describe.

More Examples:

• The man with the red hat
• A student interested in music
• An idea full of hope

Each phrase adds detail to the noun and makes the sentence clearer or more interesting.

Why It Matters

Adjective phrases help students make their writing and speaking more natural, detailed, and expressive.

Instead of just saying a big house, they can say a big house by the lake—and that’s a big step forward in using real-life English.

Adjective Phrases Chart

Noun	Adjective Phrase	Full Sentence Example	What It Tells Us
the girl	with curly hair	I saw the girl with curly hair at the store.	What kind of girl
a book	about dinosaurs	He’s reading a book about dinosaurs.	What kind of book
a cup	full of coffee	She held a cup full of coffee.	What the cup contains
the man	in a blue jacket	The man in a blue jacket is my teacher.	Which man
an idea	full of hope	It was an idea full of hope.	What the idea is like
the boy	tired from school	The boy tired from school took a nap.	What the boy is like
a song	that makes me cry	She sang a song that makes me cry.	Which song
the house	by the sea	We rented the house by the sea.	Which house
a gift	wrapped in gold paper	I received a gift wrapped in gold paper.	What the gift looks like
a student	good at math	He’s a student good at math.	What kind of student

Also see Exercises on:
1. Adjective clauses
2. Gradable and non-gradable adjectives
3. adjectives and adverbs

Exercise 1: Color It Right!

Level: Beginner

Instructions: Match each noun with the correct adjective phrase from the box. Write the full phrase (e.g., a dress with red flowers).

Nouns:

1. a dress
2. a book
3. a dog
4. a chair
5. a boy
6. a wall
7. a cup
8. a table
9. a phone
10. a teacher
11. a house
12. a window
13. a car
14. a girl
15. a shirt

Adjective Phrases:

• with red flowers
• full of energy
• made of wood
• with big eyes
• wearing glasses
• with blue paint
• made of plastic
• with a cracked screen
• with strong legs
• with a loud voice
• covered in snow
• with green curtains
• painted black
• wearing a yellow dress
• with funny pictures

Exercise 2: What’s Missing?

Level: Beginner

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with an adjective phrase from the box to complete each sentence.

Adjective Phrases:
with curly hair, in the red shirt, made of glass, full of noise, with long ears, wearing a tie, made of chocolate, from Japan, with a green door, full of dust, with a broken leg, with many books, full of water, made of gold, with short sleeves

1. The girl __________ is my cousin.
2. I saw a man __________ in the park.
3. We bought a table __________.
4. He has a dog __________.
5. I live in a house __________.
6. This cake is __________.
7. They have a library __________.
8. She wore a dress __________.
9. The old box was __________.
10. The vase __________ broke.
11. My watch __________ is expensive.
12. We cleaned the room __________.
13. He drank a glass __________.
14. That painting __________ is beautiful.
15. I met a tourist __________.

Exercise 3: Which One Fits?

Level: Beginner

Instructions: Choose the best adjective phrase to complete each sentence. Write the full sentence.

Example:
She carried a bag ( ) → with red stripes

1. He saw a tiger (______________)
   a) wearing shoes
   b) with sharp teeth
   c) full of jokes
2. We bought a chair (______________)
   a) with blue cushions
   b) eating cake
   c) on the roof
3. The boy (______________) is my brother.
   a) in the blue jacket
   b) with the clock
   c) from the phone
4. I want to eat the cake (______________)
   a) in the kitchen
   b) made of chocolate
   c) beside the chair
5. They have a car (______________)
   a) with four doors
   b) wearing glasses
   c) holding books
6. She loves books (______________)
   a) full of adventure
   b) with long hair
   c) painted walls
7. I saw a man (______________)
   a) on the chair
   b) with a guitar
   c) with soup
8. The room (______________) is mine.
   a) full of stars
   b) with a fan
   c) made of stone
9. They sat on a bench (______________)
   a) covered in leaves
   b) with shiny hair
   c) walking fast
10. I need a phone (______________)
    a) with a good camera
    b) in the window
    c) beside the apple
11. Look at the dog (______________)
    a) in a hat
    b) with brown fur
    c) made of ice
12. The teacher (______________) is very kind.
    a) with a soft voice
    b) eating pizza
    c) from the chair
13. She gave me a gift (______________)
    a) with a red ribbon
    b) near the park
    c) making noise
14. We found a box (______________)
    a) full of toys
    b) writing notes
    c) beside the door
15. I watched a movie (______________)
    a) with many songs
    b) on the table
    c) standing still

Exercise 4: Describe the Picture

Level: Beginner

Instructions: Look at each picture (use your own or draw simple stick figures if needed). Write one sentence for each using an adjective phrase to describe what you see.

(Note: Teachers can show printed or projected images with characters, animals, or items doing something or wearing something.)

Examples:

• The girl in a yellow dress is dancing.
• I see a man with a red hat.

Image Prompts:

1. A dog with a bone
2. A woman wearing glasses
3. A man holding balloons
4. A baby in a stroller
5. A cat on the table
6. A teacher with books
7. A house with a garden
8. A boy wearing a blue cap
9. A girl with curly hair
10. A chair made of bamboo
11. A child playing guitar
12. A man with a long beard
13. A bag with flowers
14. A cup full of tea
15. A woman in a red sari

Exercise 5: Correct the Phrase

Level: Beginner

Instructions: Each sentence below has an incorrect or awkward adjective phrase. Rewrite the sentence correctly.

Examples:
Wrong: The man with long hairs is my uncle.
Correct: The man with long hair is my uncle.

1. She has a dress with many red flower.
2. I want a book full with mystery.
3. The boy in blue shirt is running.
4. That is a chair made by plastic.
5. A car with the four door is mine.
6. They bought a house has a big garden.
7. He wears a glasses with thick frames.
8. The phone with cracked screen is broken.
9. Look at the woman in white dresses.
10. I saw a cat with two black eye.
11. The cake made of a chocolate was sweet.
12. He is a man has big muscles.
13. She held a bag full in toys.
14. The table made from glass looks nice.
15. The dog with fluffy tails barked.

Exercise 6: Under or After?

Level: Beginner

Instructions: Read each sentence. Decide if the adjective phrase comes before the noun or after it. Write “before” or “after” on the line.

1. The man in the red shirt is my uncle.
2. She has a tired-looking dog.
3. The building with many windows is our school.
4. We visited a well-known author.
5. I like the pizza with extra cheese.
6. The baby wrapped in a blanket is sleeping.
7. He showed us a hand-painted picture.
8. The boy with glasses won the prize.
9. A fast-moving train passed by.
10. That girl wearing a yellow scarf is my sister.
11. She gave me a beautifully decorated card.
12. The man standing near the door is my teacher.
13. I found a long-forgotten note.
14. The shoes with red laces are his.
15. We saw a freshly baked cake.

Exercise 7: Phrase Builder Fun

Level: Intermediate

Instructions: Use the words from the boxes to build an adjective phrase. Then use each phrase in a sentence.

Word Bank 1 – Begin with these:
with, made of, wearing, full of, painted in

Word Bank 2 – Add these details:
bright colors, a funny hat, plastic, stars, books

Example:
Phrase: full of books
Sentence: The shelf full of books is in the corner.

1. ________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________

Word Bank 3 – Begin with these:
having, carrying, showing, walking with, covered in

Word Bank 4 – Add these details:
a loud voice, gold chains, flowers, a child, water

6. ________________________________________________________________
7. ________________________________________________________________
8. ________________________________________________________________
9. ________________________________________________________________
10. ________________________________________________________________

Now use any 5 phrases to create full sentences:

11. ________________________________________________________________
12. ________________________________________________________________
13. ________________________________________________________________
14. ________________________________________________________________
15. ________________________________________________________________

Exercise 8: This or That?

Level: Intermediate

Instructions: Choose the better adjective phrase for each sentence. Write the full sentence with your choice.

1. I saw a woman (with three dogs / made of plastic).
2. He bought a table (painted black / from the library).
3. She wore a dress (with a long tail / barking loudly).
4. We visited a village (on the shelf / full of kind people).
5. That is a song (in the red box / full of emotion).
6. I want the cup (full of tea / running fast).
7. He saw a house (wearing a jacket / with broken windows).
8. I met a girl (covered in dust / with shining eyes).
9. The teacher (from Canada / under the table) is very friendly.
10. I saw a painting (showing a storm / with shoes).
11. She hugged a teddy bear (on the floor / with soft fur).
12. He saw a cat (with sharp claws / from chocolate).
13. They opened a letter (painted green / full of bad news).
14. I saw a clown (with funny hair / made of soup).
15. We passed a shop (with bright lights / eating pizza).

Exercise 9: Sentence Stretchers

Level: Intermediate

Instructions: Add an adjective phrase to each basic sentence to make it more detailed. Use your own ideas or choose from the box.

Adjective Phrases to Use (or make your own):
with golden buttons, wearing a red jacket, full of books, made of glass, walking slowly, with blue lights, carrying a basket, covered in dust, playing the guitar, with short hair, full of joy, in a white coat, with tired eyes, made of wood, on the right side

1. I saw a man _______________________.
2. The shelf _______________________ fell down.
3. She gave me a box _______________________.
4. We sat on a bench _______________________.
5. They built a house _______________________.
6. I met a girl _______________________.
7. He picked a flower _______________________.
8. The baby _______________________ is crying.
9. I watched a movie _______________________.
10. We saw a bird _______________________.
11. She wore a shirt _______________________.
12. The doctor _______________________ helped us.
13. I opened a book _______________________.
14. They found a treasure chest _______________________.
15. He drew a picture _______________________.

Exercise 10: Spot the Phrase

Level: Intermediate

Instructions: Read the paragraph. Underline all the adjective phrases you find. There are 15 in total.

Paragraph:
Yesterday, I met a man with a long white beard. He was wearing a coat full of patches and boots covered in mud. He walked into a small shop with colorful lights and spoke to a woman wearing a yellow scarf. On the counter, I saw a box made of wood, a pen with blue ink, and a mug full of coffee. The walls were painted green, and a dog with floppy ears slept near the door. A shelf full of old books stood in the corner. I also noticed a plant with long, thin leaves and a clock covered in dust. Behind the counter stood a man with kind eyes, smiling at everyone.

Exercise 11: Fix the Phrase

Level: Intermediate

Instructions: Each sentence below has a wrong or awkward adjective phrase. Rewrite the sentence using a correct and natural adjective phrase.

1. The man full with anger shouted loudly.
2. I saw a dog with barking noise.
3. She wore a hat made by plastic.
4. We visited a house with ghosts stories.
5. He gave me a pen with blue.
6. The book full with interesting is on the table.
7. That is a song with many sad.
8. I like the boy with laughing voice.
9. She showed me a photo made from paper.
10. He walked into the room with smiles.
11. We sat on the bench with wood.
12. I saw a picture covered with paints.
13. The girl with hair short is my cousin.
14. I found a bag made by leather.
15. We met a teacher full of kindnesses.

Exercise 12: Combine with Style

Level: Intermediate

Instructions: Combine each pair of sentences into one sentence using an adjective phrase.

1. The man is my uncle. He is wearing a red cap.
2. I saw a house. It was made of bamboo.
3. She has a bag. It is full of money.
4. I met a girl. She had bright green eyes.
5. He gave me a chair. It was made of metal.
6. The car was expensive. It had golden wheels.
7. They walked into the room. It had painted walls.
8. We read a book. It was about a lion.
9. The teacher spoke to a boy. He had messy hair.
10. I picked a flower. It smelled sweet.
11. She hugged a teddy bear. It had one eye.
12. I opened a box. It was filled with coins.
13. He wore a jacket. It was too big for him.
14. We saw a bridge. It was covered in snow.
15. She found a ring. It was made of silver.

Exercise 13: Match and Write

Level: Intermediate

Instructions: Match each noun with a suitable adjective phrase. Then, write a complete sentence using both.

Nouns:

1. A boy
2. The shelf
3. That car
4. The artist
5. A flower
6. The basket
7. An old man
8. A bottle
9. The letter
10. A woman
11. The room
12. The dog
13. A child
14. The wall
15. The photo

Adjective Phrases:
a. full of toys
b. with a broken leg
c. wearing a blue sari
d. with smiling eyes
e. covered in dust
f. painted with stars
g. filled with honey
h. carrying a heavy bag
i. with sharp teeth
j. full of books
k. with red petals
l. with wild hair
m. holding a paintbrush
n. made of gold
o. written in Spanish

Example Match: 1 — l → The boy with wild hair is my cousin.

Exercise 14: Transform the Focus

Level: Advanced

Instructions: Rewrite each sentence to shift focus to the adjective phrase. Use it at the beginning or end of the sentence naturally.

1. I saw a girl wearing a red hoodie.
2. The house made of bricks looked strong.
3. He showed me a picture full of memories.
4. A table with a broken leg was in the corner.
5. The sky painted with pink clouds looked beautiful.
6. We met a child covered in paint.
7. She hugged a dog with long ears.
8. I walked past a car with flashing lights.
9. They saw a man carrying two suitcases.
10. A bridge made of wood crossed the river.
11. The statue covered in vines was hard to see.
12. He opened a bag full of snacks.
13. I gave her a book about sea animals.
14. The dress with tiny pearls looked expensive.
15. We found a journal written in French.

Exercise 15: Describe and Expand

Level: Advanced

Instructions: Look at each noun and expand it by adding an original adjective phrase. Then write a full sentence.

Nouns to describe:

1. The tree
2. A suitcase
3. The teacher
4. My notebook
5. The wall
6. His voice
7. That girl
8. The painting
9. My phone
10. The street
11. A cat
12. This mug
13. The book
14. My uncle
15. A bike

Example:
Noun: The tree
Adjective Phrase: with yellow leaves
Sentence: The tree with yellow leaves stood tall near the river.

Exercise 16: What’s Missing?

Level: Intermediate

Instructions: Each sentence is missing an adjective phrase. Add a phrase that makes the sentence more descriptive and interesting.

1. I bought a table ___.
2. We saw a man ___.
3. She held a baby ___.
4. There’s a book ___.
5. He opened a box ___.
6. They live in a house ___.
7. I met a boy ___.
8. We walked into a room ___.
9. She took a photo ___.
10. The wall was ___.
11. He gave me a bag ___.
12. I love flowers ___.
13. We found a chair ___.
14. I saw a dog ___.
15. She wore a dress ___.

Exercise 17: Spot and Improve

Level: Advanced

Instructions: Each sentence contains a basic adjective. Improve the sentence by replacing the basic adjective with a descriptive adjective phrase.

1. I like the tall man.
2. We visited the old house.
3. She carried a small cat.
4. He wore a dirty shirt.
5. I found a broken chair.
6. They saw a big truck.
7. The angry woman shouted.
8. I sat in a quiet room.
9. She has a shiny necklace.
10. He gave me a cold drink.
11. We walked past a clean pond.
12. I saw a happy child.
13. She opened a beautiful box.
14. He pointed to the dark cave.
15. They saw a fast car.

Exercise 18: Rewriting Descriptively

Level: Advanced

Instructions: Rewrite the sentences using adjective phrases to make the description clearer or more vivid.

1. I saw a cat. It had blue eyes.
2. She wore a scarf. It was made of silk.
3. He gave me a gift. It was in a red box.
4. They moved into a house. It had wooden walls.
5. She held a baby. The baby was sleeping.
6. I found a bottle. It was full of oil.
7. We walked through a street. It was covered in mud.
8. He opened a book. It was about ancient ships.
9. She picked a flower. It smelled like roses.
10. I saw a painting. It had bright colors.
11. We talked to a woman. She wore a red jacket.
12. He pointed to a bench. It was broken.
13. She showed us a map. It had red markings.
14. I found a phone. It had a cracked screen.
15. They took photos of a mountain. It was covered in snow.

Exercise 19: Expand the Story

Level: Advanced

Instructions: Expand each short sentence by adding one or more adjective phrases. Be as descriptive as possible.

1. I met a woman.
2. We walked into a room.
3. He showed me his bag.
4. She opened a box.
5. They found a table.
6. The cat jumped.
7. I saw a tree.
8. He wore a jacket.
9. She painted a picture.
10. They read a letter.
11. I bought a vase.
12. The dog barked.
13. She drank from a cup.
14. I took a photo.
15. The child smiled.

Exercise 20: Creative Writing Sparks

Level: Advanced

Instructions: Use at least 3 different adjective phrases in each short paragraph you write. Write a short description (3–4 sentences) based on the topic.

Topics:

1. A mysterious house
2. A colorful market
3. A noisy classroom
4. An empty street at night
5. A jungle path
6. An artist’s room
7. A festive dinner table
8. A train station
9. A child’s bedroom
10. A small bakery
11. A wedding party
12. A beach at sunset
13. A mountain trail
14. A public park
15. A library full of secrets

Exercise 21: Build Your Own List

Level: Advanced

Instructions: Write your own list of 15 adjective phrases that describe objects, people, or places. Then, write one complete sentence for each.

Example:
Adjective phrase: with colorful feathers
Sentence: I saw a bird with colorful feathers sitting on the branch.

Conclusion

Teaching adjective phrases doesn’t have to be overwhelming—for you or your students. With the right set of exercises and a step-by-step approach, students can move from basic understanding to confident, creative use.

The activities in this post were designed to give learners plenty of support and variety. Whether they’re identifying, rewriting, or creating their own descriptive phrases, they’re always building practical, real-world language skills.

Feel free to mix and match the exercises based on your students’ levels and goals. And remember—clear, descriptive language starts with noticing the little details, and adjective phrases help bring those details to life.

Keep the learning going, and if you need more ready-to-use ESL materials, check out our other grammar and writing resources.

FAQs about Adjective Phrases

What is an adjective phrase?
An adjective phrase is a group of words that work together to describe a noun, like full of hope or happy with her results.

How is an adjective phrase different from a single adjective?
A single adjective is one word (happy), while an adjective phrase includes additional words (happy with her work) that add more detail.

Where do adjective phrases go in a sentence?
Most adjective phrases come right after the noun they describe, like a man with a beard.

Can adjective phrases start a sentence?
They usually don’t, but in more advanced writing, they can be placed before the subject for style, such as Full of excitement, she opened the gift.

Do adjective phrases always come after the noun?
Often yes, but some can appear before the noun as part of the noun phrase, like a bag full of coins.

Are adjective phrases important for speaking, or just writing?
They’re useful for both! Adjective phrases help learners speak more naturally and describe things clearly in conversation.

What’s the difference between adjective phrases and adverb phrases?
Adjective phrases describe nouns; adverb phrases describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Can students use adjective phrases in IELTS or academic writing?
Absolutely. Using varied adjective phrases can improve vocabulary range and description in both speaking and writing tasks.

How can I teach adjective phrases to beginners?
Start with common examples and visuals. Then use simple matching or fill-in-the-blank activities before moving on to writing.

Can adjective phrases contain prepositions?
Yes! Many adjective phrases include prepositional phrases, like tired of waiting or interested in art.