Quick answer by GrammarGramps: The word “beautiful” is an adjective because it describes the quality of a noun, such as a person or a place, e.g., a beautiful baby, a beautiful valley, etc.
“Beautiful” is a gradable adjective, as it has a comparative and superlative form. When classified by function, it is a descriptive adjective, which is also referred to as a “quality adjective.”
The word “beautiful” can also be used as an interjection if it conveys a sudden feeling or emotion. In this case, however, it is followed by an exclamation mark. For instance, “The data shows a constant improvement! Beautiful!” Here, the word is not used because of its literal meaning, but is instead used to express joy.
The adverb form of “beautiful” is “beautifully,” and the noun form of “beautiful” is “beauty.”
Read more about all of this in more detail in the guide below.
Introduction by GrammarGramps
There are some common words in English that are a bit confusing when it comes to their classification in grammatical parts of speech. The word “beautiful” is one of them.
It is fairly expected for ESL students and non-native speakers to wonder whether it is an adjective, an adverb, etc.
In this guide, we’re going to explain what part of speech the word “beautiful” belongs to in detail.
Is “Beautiful” an Adjective?
Yes, the word “beautiful” is an adjective.
“Beautiful” refers to something pleasant to look at. Something pretty. Some common examples of how this word is used include:
- That is a very beautiful painting.
- I find this forest to be relaxing and beautiful.
- This is a beautiful dish.
In all such examples, the word “beautiful” describes the quality of a noun. The painting, the forest, the dish, etc.
As we know, adjectives describe nouns. They describe the qualities of nouns, such as their color, appearance, size, shape, etc. (We’ve covered the basics of adjectives in detail on GrammarGramps, if you’re interested in learning about those.)
“Beautiful” vs “Beautifully”: Adjective and Adverb Difference
One common confusion that can arise regarding the word “beautiful” is its relationship with the word “beautifully.”
Here is the clear rule to remember.
“Beautifully” is the adverb form of the word “beautiful.” “Beautifully” is used to refer to an act that is performed in a beautiful manner. Since it modifies a verb, it is an adverb.
The guide on adverbs on GrammarGramps is a good resource to read if you want to learn more about them in detail, as well as how to avoid confusing them with adjectives.
Table of Comparison + Examples
Here is a table that I have made to give you a quick overview of the differences between these two words, along with examples.
| Word | Part of Speech | Usage | Example Sentence |
| Beautiful | Adjective | Describes a noun | It was a beautiful sunset. |
| Beautifully | Adverb | Modifies how an action is done | He painted the mural beautifully. |
What are the Comparative and Superlative Forms of “Beautiful”?
The comparative form of “beautiful” is more beautiful, and the superlative form is most beautiful.
Unlike shorter adjectives such as tall (taller, tallest), “beautiful” does not take -er or -est suffixes. Instead, it uses more and most to indicate degree.
Here are some examples of both forms in use:
- It is more beautiful than anything I have ever seen.
- That was the most beautiful sunset I have ever witnessed.
Using “beautifuler” or “beautifulest” is grammatically incorrect.
Since the word “beautiful” has comparative and superlative forms, it is classified as a gradable adjective. (You can learn more about gradable and non-gradable adjectives in our detailed guide.)
Can “Beautiful” Be Used as Both an Attributive and Predicative Adjective?
Yes, “beautiful” can function as both an attributive and a predicative adjective.
An attributive adjective appears directly before the noun it describes. For example:
- She wore a beautiful dress.
A predicative adjective appears after a linking verb, such as is, was, or seems, and still describes the subject. For example:
- The dress is beautiful.
In both cases, “beautiful” is functioning as an adjective. The position in the sentence is simply different.
What is the Noun form of “Beautiful”?
The noun form of the word beautiful is beauty.
It is an abstract noun, to be precise, as it names an intangible quality that a person or place (or other type of noun) might possess.
By the way, our guide on nouns and their types is worth looking at, if you want to learn what a noun or abstract noun is.
What is the Verb form of the Word “Beautiful”?
The verb form of the word beautiful is beautify.
To beautify means to make something beautiful. For instance, beautifying a mirror would mean adding decorative elements to it so that it looks pretty and pleasant.
This word falls into the category of action (dynamic) verbs. As with the other concepts mentioned in this guide, the basics of verbs are also covered here on GrammarGramps.
Can “Beautiful” Also Act as an Interjection?
Yes, the word “beautiful” can also act as an interjection, in informal contexts.
Sometimes, you might hear a person say “Beautiful!” when beholding something that isn’t physically pleasant to look at. For instance, if Jack shows his uncle how far the donkey can kick the stack of hay, the latter might exclaim “Beautiful!” as a way to express his joy at the strength of the donkey.
It’s possible for neither the donkey nor the hay (nor Jack, for that matter) to be literally beautiful.
When this word is used as an exclamation in this manner, it becomes an interjection in the same way as the words “Sweet!” and “Cold!” are sometimes used to express emotions rather than conveying their literal meanings.
(Note: You can learn more about interjections in the detailed guide here on GrammarGramps.)
Word Profile: Beautiful
To wrap up, GrammarGramps will give you a word profile on “beautiful,” which will include its meaning, pronunciation, synonyms, and antonyms.
| Feature | Details |
| Word | Beautiful |
| Part of Speech | Adjective |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbjuː.tɪ.fəl/ |
| Meaning | Pleasing to the senses or mind; having qualities that delight |
| Synonyms | Attractive, lovely, gorgeous |
| Antonyms | Ugly, unattractive |
Related Resources on GrammarGramps
If you want to learn more word-level guides and breakdowns, you can check out these resources:
- Is the Word “Afraid” an Adjective?
- What Part of Speech is “Alive”?
- Is the Word “Aware” an Adjective?
- Is the Word “Good” an Adjective?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, the word “beautiful” is a quality adjective as it describes the trait or quality of a noun or pronoun. Quality adjectives are also called descriptive adjectives.
Like “beautiful,” the word “pretty” is also an adjective. “Beautiful” and “pretty” are synonyms.
“Gorgeous” is also an adjective. It is a synonym of the word “beautiful.”
