The word “evil” is related to the negative attributes of one’s nature though can be used to mock. Let us check if the word “evil” can play the role of an adjective or a noun.
The word “evil” can play the role of both an adjective and a noun. We can differentiate the word “evil” as an adjective or a noun of parts of speech by their uses in the sentence because the purposes of an adjective and a noun in a sentence are completely different.
Let us check important facts and related explanations regarding the use of “evil” as an adjective and as a noun.
When is “evil” an adjective?
The word “evil” can be termed as an adjective if we can use it to modify any noun or noun equivalent. Let us check if the word “evil” is an adjective or not.
The word “evil” can be used as an adjective when we use it as a negative attribute of someone’s or something’s nature. We can note that a negative attribute can be caused to someone or done as an active performer.
Examples of “evil” as an adjective –
Now, we will learn various usages of the adjective “evil” through examples and related explanations.
| Example | Aspect to show | Explanation |
| 1. We must be aware of evil Mina as she is looking here and there to find some gossip. | Outlining of singular noun | The adjective “evil” is in use to denote the negative characteristics of the singular noun Mina. |
| 2. We must be aware of the evil group of Mina’s as they are looking here and there to find some gossip. | Outlining of plural noun | The adjective “evil” is in use to denote negative characteristics of the plural noun group of Mina’s. |
| 3. Keep eyes on that vagrant man sitting on the road? I can tell you that he is an evil spirit person. | Outlining of singular pronoun | The adjective “evil” is in use to denote the wrathful characteristics of the pronoun ‘he’. Here, the pronoun ‘he’ is referring to the noun, ‘man’. |
| 4. I am trying so hard to boil those sweet potatoes, but they are evil. So, they are not coming to a boil. | Outlining of plural pronoun | The adjective “evil” is in use to denote wrathful characteristics of the pronoun ‘they’. Here, the pronoun ‘they’ are referring to is the noun, sweet potatoes. The adjective “evil” is in use to show mockery. |
| 5. An evil sweet white cat is trying to eat my nose. | Outlining of singular noun phrase | The adjective “evil” is in use to denote the damnable nature of the singular noun phrase, sweet white cat. The adjective “evil” is in use to show mockery. |
| 6. Evil colourful soft flowers are trying to make me faint with their sweet fragrance. | Outlining of plural noun phrase | The adjective “evil” is in use to denote the rancorous side of the plural noun phrase, colorful soft flowers. The adjective “evil” is in use to show mockery. |
| 7. You are as evil as me regarding eating chocolates without sharing them with friends. | To mark the similarity | The similarity of evil nature between the speaker and the addressed person has been shown with the help of the adjective “evil”. |
| 8. You are eviler than me regarding eating chocolates without sharing them with friends. | To show the comparison | The comparison between the addressed person and the speaker regarding eating chocolates without sharing them with friends has been done with the help of the adjective “evil”. |
| 9. You are the evilest person in the group when it comes to eating chocolates without sharing them with friends. | To show the superiority | The superiority of the addressed person regarding eating chocolates without sharing them with friends has been done with the help of the adjective “evil”. It has been done in the disguise of mockery. |
Is “evil” a descriptive adjective?
We use descriptive adjectives to state any particular quality or state of a noun or noun equivalent. Let us check if the word “evil” is a descriptive adjective or not.
The adjective “evil” can certainly be termed as a descriptive adjective to depict the meaning of something atrocious. We must use the adjective “evil” to denote only negative attributes.
Examples of “evil” as a descriptive adjective –
Now, we will learn examples and explanations related to the use of the word “evil” as a descriptive adjective.
| Example | Aspect to show | Explanation |
| The evil nature of Robin will not allow him to grow his business, though he has all the capacity to do so. | Wicked nature of living being | The word “evil” functions as a noun as it marks the offensive nature of the person Robin. |
| The evil nature of the wind has blown away all the clothes which I have kept in the sunshine to dry. | Wicked feature of nature | The word “evil” functions as a noun as it marks the villainous nature of the wind. But we must keep in mind that the wind can never be evil. It is just the speaker’s way of expressing disappointment. |
Is “evil” a noun?
A word can be marked as a noun if it is a naming entity of a living or non-living being. Let us check if the word “evil” can play the role of a noun or not.
The word “evil” comes under the group of nouns in parts of speech, though the same word can be used as an adjective as well.
When “evil” is a noun?
The word “evil” can be marked as a noun if it performs any of the below-listed usages.
| Usages of the noun “evil” | Example | Explanation |
| 1. To mark a quality that is not good or offensive in a living being. | Do you have the courage to face evil and come out of all the obstacles with flying colors? | The noun “evil” is in use to mark the offensive entity which causes obstacles in life. |
| 2. To mark a quality that is not good or offensive in nature. | Robin is not frightened to face the evil at the office as he knows his potential very well. | The noun “evil” is in use to mark the offensive entity which exists in the office of Robin. |
Which type of noun the word “evil” is?
All types of nouns have their own characteristics and implications. Let us check the noun type to which the word “evil” belongs.
The word “evil” belongs to the group of “abstract nouns” in various types of noun groups, as the word “evil” does not depict any concrete or physical entity but an abstract nature that can be felt only by the heart.
Example of “evil” as a noun –
Now, we will go through examples and explanations related to the use of the word “evil” as a noun.
| Example | Explanation |
| 1. Mina had faced evil in life, but she never denied leaving life gracefully. | The noun “evil” is used to refer to the ominous naming entity Mina had encountered in her life. |
| 2. Did you read the evil in the book, as the book is filled with ominous rituals? | The noun “evil” is in use to mark the ominous naming entity that the addressed person may have read about in the specific book. |
| 3. Wild animals are now facing evil in the forest due to their lack of habitation. | The noun “evil” is in use to mark the ominous naming entity that the wild animals are facing to sustain their forest habitation. |
| 4. I felt the evil in the person whom we met yesterday while going to the garden in the evening. | The noun “evil” is in use to mark the ominous naming entity that the speaker felt in his heart while meeting with a particular person. |
| 5. Robin and his sister are dealing with evil to earn a livelihood for not only them but also for their mother. | The noun “evil” is in use to mark the ominous naming entity that Robin and his sister are facing while earning livelihood for themselves and for their mother. |
Conclusion –
We can make a note of some of the words which are similar in use to the word “evil”, like; degenerate, corrupt, calamitous, loathsome, etc. Though each of these words has its own distinct meanings, the general meaning of all of them is the same.
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.