Let's learn: adjectives are one of the most powerful words in the English language — they turn plain sentences into something vivid and full of life! With just one word, you can show how something looks, feels, or even how someone is. Think of adjectives as the soul of the English language! In case you do not remember what the adjective is, watch this video: What is an adjective?
Now, what makes someone kind, shy, or bossy? It all comes down to character traits! What does it mean?
character trait — [ˈkær.ək.tər treɪt] — a word that describes what a person is like on the inside — how they usually think, feel, and behave; rakstura īpašība
Character traits help us understand how people usually behave and what makes them unique.
In English vocabulary world we call them - personality adjectives to describe what people are like. These words help us describe people in a way that brings them to life. They’re perfect for talking about friends, writing stories, or understanding characters in books and films. Some traits shine bright like “cheerful” or “brave,” while others like “rude” or “moody” might show someone’s tougher side. Every word tells a story. Let's start with the adjectives describing a positive personality.
Word bank:
friendly — [ˈfrend.li] — describes someone who is kind, helpful, or shows a positive attitude toward others. It can also describe actions, places, or things that are welcoming or not harmful; draudzīgs(a)
Anna is so friendly — she always smiles and says hello to everyone, even people she doesn’t know well.
kind — [kaɪnd] — describes someone who is caring, considerate, and wants to help others or not hurt them. A kind person shows concern for others’ feelings and well-being; laipns(a)
It was very kind of you to help me carry the bags.
generous — [ˈdʒen.ər.əs] — describes someone who gives time, money, help, or other things willingly and happily, especially more than is usual or expected. It can also mean being fair, forgiving, or open-hearted; dāsns(a), devīgs(a)
He was very generous and gave money to the people in need.
positive — [ˈpɒz.ə.tɪv] — describes someone who believes that good things will happen or expects the best in the future, even when the situation is difficult; pozitīvs(a)
Even when it started to rain on the class trip, Emma stayed positive and said, “Now we’ll have a fun adventure in the rain!”
reliable — [rɪˈlaɪ.ə.bəl] — describes someone who you can trust to do what they are supposed to do or what they promise. A reliable person always does their job well and on time; uzticams, tāds(a), uz kuru var paļauties
She is a very reliable friend — she always keeps her promises.
responsible — [rɪˈspɒn.sə.bəl] — describes someone who behaves sensibly and can be trusted to do what is expected. A responsible person does their duties carefully and accepts the results of their actions; atbildīgs(a), uzticības cienīgs(a)
My best friend is so responsible — he recycles everything.
cheerful — [ˈtʃɪə.fəl] — describes someone who is noticeably happy, smiling, and full of positive energy. A cheerful person makes others feel good because of their bright and pleasant attitude; mundrs, priecīgs(a)
The waiter was very cheerful and made us laugh.
easygoing (also: easy-going) — [ˌiː.ziˈɡəʊ.ɪŋ] — describes someone who is relaxed, calm, and not easily upset or stressed. An easygoing person doesn’t worry too much and gets along well with others; bezrūpīgs(a), bezbēdīgs(a), mierīgs(a)
Mark is really easygoing — nothing seems to bother him.
honest — [ˈɒn.ɪst] — describes someone who always tells the truth, doesn’t lie, cheat, or steal, and behaves in a fair and sincere way. An honest person can be trusted to do what is right; godīgs(a)
Anna is very honest — she always tells the truth.
patient — [ˈpeɪ.ʃənt] — describes someone who stays calm and does not get angry or upset when waiting for something or dealing with difficult situations. A patient person doesn’t rush or lose control easily; pacietīgs(a)
While helping his little brother with homework, Tom explained everything slowly and never got angry, even when his brother kept making the same mistake. Their mother smiled and said, “You’re so patient, Tom.”
lovely — [ˈlʌv.li] — when we say someone is lovely, we mean they are kind, friendly, pleasant, and easy to like. It's a warm, positive word that shows affection and appreciation for someone's personality; jauks(a)
She’s such a lovely person — always smiling and ready to help others.
independent — [ˌɪn.dɪˈpen.dənt] — if someone is independent, it means they like to do things on their own without needing much help or support from others. They make their own decisions, take responsibility, and are often confident in managing tasks or solving problems by themselves; patstāvīgs(a)
Sarah is very independent — she moved to a new city alone and quickly learned how to take care of everything herself.
brave — [breɪv] — describes someone who shows courage and does not let fear stop them, especially in dangerous, difficult, or painful situations. A brave person faces challenges or fears with strength and determination. Someone who is brave by nature is often willing to speak up, try new things, or stand up for others, even when it’s difficult or risky; drosmīgs(a)
She’s a brave girl who never gives up, even when things are hard.
charming — [ˈtʃɑː.mɪŋ] — describes someone who is very pleasant and makes others feel happy and comfortable. A charming person is often friendly, polite, and fun to be around — people enjoy their company; jauks(a)
Everyone liked Anna because she was so charming and always knew how to make people smile.
funny — [ˈfʌn.i] — when someone is described as funny, it means they have a good sense of humor — they say or do things that make other people laugh or smile. A funny person is often entertaining and knows how to tell jokes, make clever comments, or behave in amusing ways; jautrs(a)
My uncle is really funny — he always tells the best jokes!
pleasant — [ˈplez.ənt] — when used to describe a person, pleasant means someone who is friendly, polite, and easy to be around. A pleasant person makes others feel comfortable and happy through their kindness, calm attitude, or positive behavior; patīkams(a)
She’s such a pleasant woman — always smiling and kind to everyone.
Not everyone we meet is cheerful or kind — sometimes, people can be rude, selfish, or bossy. Let’s learn the words we use to describe negative personality traits.
Word bank:
rude — [ruːd] — describes someone who behaves in a way that is not polite. A rude person might speak without thinking about other people’s feelings, interrupt others, or say things that can hurt someone. Being rude means not showing respect or kindness in the way we talk or act; rupjš, nepieklājīgs(a)
It was rude of Max to talk while the teacher was speaking.
lazy — [ˈleɪ.zi] — describes someone who doesn’t want to work or put in effort. A lazy person avoids doing things they need to do, even if they are simple. They often choose rest or fun instead of responsibilities; slinks(a)
Ben was too lazy to clean his room, even though his things were all over the floor.
selfish — [ˈsel.fɪʃ] — describes someone who only thinks about themselves and doesn’t care about what others need or want. A selfish person takes more than they give and doesn’t like to share or help others; egoistisks(a), savtīgs(a)
It was selfish of Lily to eat all the cookies without saving any for her friends.
bossy — [ˈbɒs.i] — describes someone who always tells other people what to do in a way that sounds like they are in charge — even when they’re not. A bossy person often gives orders instead of asking nicely; tāds(a), kuram / kurai patīk komandēt
Jake was being bossy when he told everyone how to play the game without listening to their ideas.
jealous — [ˈdʒel.əs] — describes someone who feels upset or unhappy because they want what someone else has — like a talent, a toy, attention, or a friendship. A jealous person might feel angry or sad when others succeed or get something special; greizsirdīgs(a)
Emma felt jealous when her best friend spent the whole day with someone else.
angry — [æŋ.ɡri] — means that a person tends to get mad or irritated easily and often. It’s not just about being angry in one moment — it describes someone who is frequently in a bad mood, loses their temper quickly, or is generally aggressive; dusmīgs(a)
He’s known as an angry person who shouts at everyone for no reason.
boring — [ˈbɔː.rɪŋ] — when we say someone is boring, we mean they lack excitement, variety, or interest in their behavior, stories, or personality. A boring person might talk about dull topics, avoid new experiences, or speak in a way that doesn't capture attention. Calling someone boring is quite negative, and it focuses on how others feel around that person — usually uninterested, disengaged, or sleepy; garlaicīgs(a)
He never wants to go anywhere or try anything new — he’s so boring.
noisy — [ˈnɔɪ.zi] — a noisy person is someone who often makes a lot of sound — they may talk loudly, laugh loudly, or play in a way that is not quiet. Being noisy isn’t always bad — it can mean someone is cheerful and playful, but sometimes it bothers others if it’s too much; skaļš(a)
I don’t enjoy working with him — he’s noisy and doesn’t know when to be quiet.
Not all personality traits are good or bad — some are simply part of who someone is. Words like quiet, shy, or serious don’t always mean something negative or positive. They are neutral personality adjectives.
Word bank:
shy — [ʃaɪ] — describes someone who feels nervous or uncomfortable around other people, especially in new situations. A shy person may find it hard to speak up, meet new people, or be the center of attention; kautrīgs(a)
Alexa is shy, so she usually sits quietly at the back of the room and waits for others to talk to her first.
quiet — [ˈkwaɪ.ət] — describes someone who doesn’t talk much and prefers to listen or stay calm. A quiet person is often peaceful, gentle, and doesn’t make a lot of noise. They may enjoy being alone or in small groups; kluss(a)
During the group activity, Mia stayed quiet and only spoke when someone asked her a question.
serious — [ˈsɪə.ri.əs] — describes someone who thinks deeply and doesn’t joke around much. A serious person focuses on important things and often acts in a calm, responsible way. They don’t laugh or smile easily, especially when something important is happening; nopietns(a)
Mark was serious during the meeting because he wanted everyone to understand how important the project was.
calm — [kɑːm] — describes someone who stays quiet and relaxed, even when things around them are busy, noisy, or stressful. A calm person doesn’t panic or get angry easily — they stay in control of their feelings; mierīgs(a)
Even when the power went out during the storm, Sarah stayed calm and helped her little brother feel safe.
How to form questions and answers regarding someone's personality? There are three ways you can form a question:
What is ... (+ a person's name / subject pronoun) like? — Kāds(a) ir ... (cilvēka vārds / personu vietniekvārds)?
What is Mary like? She is always patient.
How would you describe ... (+ a person's name / object pronoun*)? — Kā tu raksturotu ... (cilvēka vārds / papildinātāja vietniekvārds)?
How would you describe him? Oh, you mean Robert? Well, he is always cheerful and tolerant.
How do you see ... (+ a person's name / object pronoun)? — Kā Tev šķiet, kāds(a) ir ... (cilvēka vārds / papildinātāja vietniekvārds)?
How do you see Anna? She is always calm and kind.
Svarīgi!
As you can see from the examples above, the basic form of the answer to this type of question is the following:
subject pronoun / name + to be + adjective
Laila is always generous.
There are some other options how to answer this question:
subject pronoun / name + to be + a/an + adjective + person
I think I am an honest person. (Be careful: if you want to add the word "person" to the sentence, you need the indefinite article — a or an. Basically, the article "an" is used before words that start with a wovel sound (a, e, i, u, o). Watch more: When to use A and An)
subject pronoun / name + tend to be + adjective
Alex tends to be honest. (Aleks lielākoties ir / mēģina būt godīgs)
subject pronoun / name + seem + adjective
Peter seems funny. (Man liekas, ka Pēteris ir jautrs)
*You studied about object pronouns in grade 4. In case you do not remember, revise it here: Object pronouns