Bright, luminous, shiny, and sunny are some of the words to describe the inner meaning of the word “light”. Let us check if the word “light” is an adjective, noun, adverb, or verb.
The word “light” can certainly be termed as an adjective in parts of speech. We must keep in mind that the word “light” can play not only as an adjective but also as a noun, verb, and adverb.
Let us check the usage of the word “light” as an adjective, noun, adverb, and verb.
When is “light” an adjective?
The goal of the description is the ultimate aim of the parts of speech. Let us check when “light” is an adjective.
The word “light” can be marked as an adjective when it shows the features, state, or quality of any singular or plural noun, singular or plural pronoun, or singular or plural noun phrase. Similarity and comparison between nouns, along with the superiority of any noun, can also be shown with the adjective “light”.
Is “light” a descriptive adjective?
The adjective “light” does not always go with the literal meaning of illumination. Let us check if the adjective “light” comes under the group of descriptive adjectives or not.
The adjective “light” comes under the category of descriptive adjectives in the English language. The adjective “light” has both exterior and interior meanings to use for.
When we can use “light” as a descriptive adjective?
The adjective “light” has multiple purposes. The adjective “light” can be used to serve any of the below-listed purposes.
- Illumination by any type of source of glow can be described with the adjective “light”.
- Sometimes, sunrise is also described with the adjective “light”.
- Sometimes, dim or sober color is also referred to as light color.
- The adjective “light” can also describe a weight that is easy to carry.
- A person who eats a small amount of food can also be described with the adjective “light”.
- Less quantity can also be described with the adjective “light”.
- Soft sensations like touch and sound can also be described with the adjective “light”.
Now, we will learn examples that will help you understand the correct usage of the noun “light.”
| Example | Explanation |
| 1. The balcony in our new farmhouse is not only airy but also full of bright light from the sun. | The adjective “light” is in use to mark the sun’s rays. |
| 2. I have never seen my mother eat a heavy meal. So, I always call her a light eater. | The adjective “light” is used to describe a person who eats a very small amount of food. |
| 3. My father likes to purchase not dark-colored but light-colored trousers. | The adjective “light” is in use to mark trousers that are stitched with dull-coloured clothes. |
| 4. This new gown of mine is as light as the feather of a small willow leave. | The adjective “light” is in use to describe the weight of the new gown of the speaker. |
| 5. I gave a light knock on the door to wake up my mother without disturbing others in their deep sleep. | The adjective “light” is in use to describe the soft sound that the speaker creates by knocking on the door. |
Is “light” a noun?
Nouns are only naming entities, which mainly refer to people, places, things, and ideas. Let us check if the word “light” is a noun or not.
The word “light” can be certainly marked as a noun as it refers to the idea of illuminating or glowing any person, place, thing, or idea.
When we can use the noun “light”?
We can use the noun “light” as a naming entity for any of the below-listed situations.
- When a place needs to be illuminated, we can use the noun “light”.
- When our face or mind becomes enlightened with any thought or idea, then we can also mark that situation with the naming entity “light”.
- Sources of ablaze can also be marked as the naming entity “light”.
- If we are very attached to any person or object, then we can also call that person or object the “light” of life.
- Spiritual awareness in mind is normally referred to as “light” towards the almighty.
- Opening a close secret to the public can be referred to as bringing a secret to “light”.
Which type of noun is “light”?
The noun “light” comes under the group of “common nouns”. The common noun “light” can be marked as an uncountable noun as we can not count the number of lights. Now we can make a note that sometimes we call sources of illumination “lights” and then those sources can be referred to as countable nouns.
Now, we will learn about examples that are framed with the noun “light.”
| Example | Explanation |
| 1. My little son tries to flash the light of the torch through the glass door as he gets immense enjoyment from this activity. | The noun “light” is in use as a naming entity of aglow, which was coming out of the torch and the speaker’s son was trying to flash that through the glass door. |
| 2. We must find some candles as the light in our go-down has not worked for five days. | The noun “light” is in use to refer to electricity or the concept of current. |
| 3. Children like lots of light and sweets during any type of festival. | The noun “light” is in use as a naming entity for sources of glow that glow while we put the electricity on. |
| 4. The multicolor light in the drawing space to celebrate the birthday party is looking dazzling. | The noun “light” is in use as a naming entity for a source of multi-colored illumination. |
| 5. Light started glowing in my mind as soon as I met with my guru in the ashram and heard life notes from him. | The noun “light” is in use as a thought which comes into the mind of the speaker and causes the speaker to become enlightened. |
Is “light” a verb?
We can certainly use the word “light” as a verb, but we must add some suffixes to the word “light” to make it appropriate for the person and number of the sentence.
Which type of verb is “light”?
We can use the word “light” as both a transitive and intransitive verb. The verb “light” can be used in transitive mode when we try to light something, and the word “light” can be used in intransitive mode when something or someone starts burning itself or herself/himself.
When we can use the verb “light”?
We can add ‘ed’, ‘ing’, or ‘s’ according to the word “light” according to the person and number of the sentence. The verb “light” can be used as a verb in any of the below-listed situations.
- We can use the verb “light” to illuminate any object or place.
- We can use the verb “light” to burn any living or non-living object.
- We can use the verb “light” to illuminate any idea or thought process.
- We can use the verb “light” to glow with the help of any source of shine.
Examples with the verb “light” have been given below, along with related explanations.
| Example | Explanation |
| 1. To show respect for our tradition, you must not light up a cigarette in front of seniors. | The verb form “light” is in use as transitive verb. |
| 2. You must light your mind with some noble thoughts instead of thinking of hurting others. | The verb form “light” is in use as intransitive verb. |
| 3. Lighting a lamp while facing a storm is not an easy task. | The verb form “lighting” is in use as transitive verb. |
| 4. Sandip lights up the room with some pretty scented candles. | The verb form “lights” is in use as transitive verb. |
| 5. I could not find the pen as my study room is not properly lit. | The verb form “lit” is in use as transitive verb. |
Is “light” an adverb?
Dark, dull, and obscure are some of the words which are totally opposite to the meaning of “light”. Let us check if the word “light” can be an adverb or not.
The word “light” can also be used as an adverb like it has been used as an adjective and a noun. The word “travel” mainly conveys the meaning “light in weight, quantity, measure, etc. as an adverb. We must take note that the word “lightly” is also the adverbial form of the word “light”.
Which type of adverb is “light”?
The adverb “light” comes under the category of adverb of the manner in parts of speech in the English language. The adverb “light” mainly conveys a state where any measure is lighter in weight or quantity. The adverb “lightly” is also an adverb of manner, which depicts an action that needs gentle effort.
When we can use the adverb “light”?
The adverb light can be used to modify any verb, adjective or another with any of the below-listed meanings.
- An action which does not need much effort for completion can be modified with the adverb “light”.
- A state which does little quantity or little quality can be modified with the adverb “light”.
- An action that needs gentleness can be described with the adverb “lightly”.
Here is a list of examples and related explanations regarding usage of the adverb “light”.
| Example | Explanation |
| 1. Your light eating has also inspired me to have a healthy breakfast. | The adverb “light” is in use to depict the meaning of a low amount of food by modifying the action “eating”. |
| 2. You must pack your bag light as you have to carry all your pieces of luggage alone. | The adverb “light” is in use to modify the action “packing” to convey a smaller number of clothes. |
| 3. My habit of light sleeping never allows me to have a deep and sound sleep. | The adverb “light” is used to modify the action “sleeping” to convey a sleep that is not sound sleep. |
| 4. You must go for a light walk in the evening to keep yourself fit and healthy. | The adverb “light” is used to modify the action “walk” to convey a walk that does not need much exercise. |
| 5. You must hold the flower vase lightly as it is made out of paper and not wood. | The adverb “lightly” is in use to refer to the action “holding,” which needs a gentle effort. |
Conclusion –
We can conclude our learning with a note about the most common phrasal verb with the word “light”. The most common phrasal verb with the word “light” is “light up”. The phrasal verb “light up” mainly conveys the meaning “to make something glow” or “to make something shine”.
Read more about Is Wrong Adjective, Adverb, Noun Or Verb ?
Hey! I am Arpita Bose Roy. My qualifications are M.A. in English with B. Ed. in both general education and special education. I have 2 years of experience as a “language analyst” at IIT Kharagpur and 4 years of experience as an “Academic Content Developer” at IIT Kharagpur. Currently, I am working as an academic writer at Lambdageeks.