Is Jealous Adjective Or Adverb? 3 Facts (When & Examples)

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Envious, malicious, spiteful, and green-eyed are the words that can be used to describe the meaning of “jealous”. Let us check if the word “jealous” is an adjective or an adverb.

The word “jealous” comes under the group of adjectives in parts of speech, though the same word can not be used as an adverb. The adverbial form of the word “jealous” is “jealously,” which mainly depicts the manner in which a person behaves out of jealousy.

Let us check important facts and explanations related to the use of the word “jealous” as a part of speech.

When is “jealous” an adjective?

The word “jealous” always describes certain characteristics of human nature. Let us check that the word “jealous” is an adjective.

The word “jealous” can be marked as an adjective when it performs any of the below-listed functions.

  • The word “jealous” needs to modify any singular noun or plural noun to be marked as an adjective.
  • The word “jealous” needs to modify any singular pronoun or plural pronoun to be called an adjective.
  • The word “jealous” needs to modify any singular noun phrase or plural noun phrase to be called an adjective.
  • The word “jealous” must show alikeness or similarity between nouns or noun equivalents to be marked as an adjective.
  • The word “jealous” must make a comparison of nouns or noun equivalents to be marked as an adjective.
  • The word “jealous” must show the superiority of a noun or noun equivalent to be called an adjective.

Is “jealous” a descriptive adjective?

The adjective “jealous” is an emotion that a living person feels due to their envious nature. Let us check if the adjective “jealous” belongs to the descriptive nature.

The adjective “jealous” belongs to the group of descriptive adjectives as it mainly describes a particular type of emotion of a noun or noun equivalent. The term “jealous” is itself a negative term that mainly discusses the negative attributes of living beings.

When we can use the descriptive adjective “jealous”?

The descriptive adjective “jealous” can be used to describe the below-listed attributes of a noun or noun equivalent.

  • The descriptive adjective “jealous” can show the ‘envious nature’ of any noun or noun equivalent.
  • The descriptive adjective “jealous” can show the ‘unhappy nature’ of any noun or noun equivalent.
  • The descriptive adjective “jealous” can show the ‘desirous nature’ of any noun or noun equivalent.
  • The descriptive adjective “jealous” can show the ‘intolerant nature’ of any noun or noun equivalent.
  • The descriptive adjective “jealous” can show the ‘grudging nature’ of any noun or noun equivalent.

Here are some examples and explanations related to the usage of the descriptive adjective “jealous”.

ExampleExplanation
1. The boy on the next bench in my class is jealous of my new geometry box.The descriptive adjective “jealous” is used to describe the envious nature of the boy sitting next to the speaker.
2. You must not be jealous of others’ success in life, as everyone grows in their own way and timeframe.The descriptive adjective “jealous” is in use to describe the unhappy nature of the addressed person towards the success of others.
3. My neighbours are very much jealous of our black rose garden, as they are not only beautiful but also rare.The descriptive adjective “jealous” is in use to describe the desirous nature of the neighbors of the speaker.
4. Robin is feeling jealous of his brother as he got two chocolates from his mother but he got only one chocolate.The descriptive adjective “jealous” is in use to describe the grudging nature of Robin.
5. Our local newspaper reporters are very jealous of the reporters of national newspapers as they always receive news before them.The descriptive adjective “jealous” is in use to describe the unhappy nature of local newspaper reporters towards national newspaper reporters.
6. Mina is jealous of her sister as her sister can cook well, but she can not.The descriptive adjective “jealous” is in use to describe the envious nature of Mina toward her sister.
7. You must not be jealous of your sister’s education; rather you should try to be as studious as her in education.The descriptive adjective “jealous” is in use to describe the intolerant nature of the addressed person towards her sister.
Examples of the descriptive adjective “jealous”

Is “jealous” an adverb?

An adverb sometimes describes or investigates itself. Let us check if the word “jealous” can play the role of an adverb or not.

The word “jealous” can not be used as an adverb. The adverbial form of the word “jealous” is “jealously”. The adverb “jealously” conveys meanings like envy, grudge, evil eye, etc.

When we can use the adverb “jealously”?

We can use the adverb “jealously” when we need to depict one of the below-listed meanings.

  • The adverb “jealously” mainly modifies a manner or action that has been done in an angry manner out of a sceptical attitude.
  • The adverb “jealously” mainly modifies a manner or action that has been done in an envious manner because of rivalry.
  • The adverb “jealously” mainly modifies a manner or action that has been done on a grudging note due to intolerance towards anyone’s success.
  • The adverb “jealously” mainly modifies a manner or action that has been done in an unhappy manner to gain something.

Which type of adverb “jealously” is?

The adverb “jealously” belongs to the group of “adverbs of manner” in English parts of speech. It modifies the action by saying that the action was done on a positive note with happiness or on a negative note due to unhappiness towards the success of others.

Now, we will see examples and explanations related to the usage of the adverb “jealously.”

ExampleExplanation
1. I watched the actors jealously as I always wanted to be an actor but never succeeded in doing so.The adverb “jealously” is used to modify the activity of watching to depict the ‘envy feeling’ that the speaker felt as if she or he could not become an actor.
2. I know I am more successful than my cousins’ brothers, but they never look at me jealously.The adverb “jealously” is in use to modify the activity of looking to depict the ‘envious feeling’ that cousins of the speaker never carry for him.
3. Sandip became part of the meeting jealously as he wanted to present the presentation by himself, but the boss did not rely on him.The adverb “jealously” is used to modify the activity “watching” to depict the grudge feelings that Sandip is carrying because of his inability to present the presentation in the office.
4. The boy in the market is standing jealously at the chocolate corner and nagging continuously at his mother for some chocolates.The adverb “jealously” is used to modify the activity standing to depict the desirous feeling that the little boy is feeling to have the chocolates.
5. My father is observing spicy foods jealously, though he is not allowed to eat those foods because of his health.The adverb “jealously” is used to modify the activity “observing” to depict the demanding feelings that the father of the speaker is feeling towards the spicy food.
Examples of the adverb “jealously”

Conclusion:

We can make a note of the preposition that we mainly used along with the adjective “jealous” and that is “of”. “Jealous of” is the most common phrasal verb for the adjective “jealous”.