An adjective phrase, just like an adjective, is used to describe a noun or a pronoun. An adjective phrase is a phrase – and by phrase we mean two or more words – that behaves as an adjective.  It is not, as some think, a phrase which contains an adjective. The phrase contains an adjective but also modifiers, thus making it a pair or a group of words. Remember that a phrase is different to a clause as it does not contain a noun and a verb, and therefore cannot stand on its own as a complete sentence, unlike a clause.  A phrase is a part of a sentence. The adjective phrase is very common, because it is merely an adjective which is preceded by an adverb or preposition.  An adjective phrase can be formed by adding a string of adjectives to describe a noun, a pronoun, a noun phrase or a clause.

examples of the adjective phrase

• Use a string of adjective to describe a noun and this makes for an adjective phrase.

We saw some small, glossy, blue birds on our hike.

• Use an adjective phrase to modify a pronoun:

We were in trouble.

• Modify a noun using an adjective phrase rather than an adjective, just to make your sentence more interesting:

This old hat.  adjective
This hat which is old.  adjective phrase

The neglected building.  adjective
The building which was in a state of neglect. adjective phrase

An adjective phrase, just like an adjective, is used to describe a noun or a pronoun. An adjective phrase is a phrase – and by phrase we mean two or more words – that behaves as an adjective.