* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Adjectives Modify Nouns
Old Irish grammar wikipedia , lookup
Sanskrit grammar wikipedia , lookup
Udmurt grammar wikipedia , lookup
Macedonian grammar wikipedia , lookup
Old English grammar wikipedia , lookup
Georgian grammar wikipedia , lookup
Kannada grammar wikipedia , lookup
Compound (linguistics) wikipedia , lookup
Chinese grammar wikipedia , lookup
Modern Hebrew grammar wikipedia , lookup
Arabic grammar wikipedia , lookup
Old Norse morphology wikipedia , lookup
Serbo-Croatian grammar wikipedia , lookup
Ukrainian grammar wikipedia , lookup
Arabic nouns and adjectives wikipedia , lookup
Swedish grammar wikipedia , lookup
Scottish Gaelic grammar wikipedia , lookup
Lithuanian grammar wikipedia , lookup
Romanian grammar wikipedia , lookup
Pipil grammar wikipedia , lookup
Latin syntax wikipedia , lookup
Sotho parts of speech wikipedia , lookup
Zulu grammar wikipedia , lookup
Malay grammar wikipedia , lookup
Literary Welsh morphology wikipedia , lookup
Portuguese grammar wikipedia , lookup
Modern Greek grammar wikipedia , lookup
Spanish grammar wikipedia , lookup
Japanese grammar wikipedia , lookup
Turkish grammar wikipedia , lookup
Russian grammar wikipedia , lookup
Esperanto grammar wikipedia , lookup
Ancient Greek grammar wikipedia , lookup
Yiddish grammar wikipedia , lookup
French grammar wikipedia , lookup
English grammar wikipedia , lookup
English Adjectives What is an Adjective? An adjective is a word that tells us more about a noun or a pronoun. An adjective describes or modifies a noun. Adjective lists that follow each topic are only partial ones. Three Questions. Adjectives usually answer three questions about the nouns they describe: Adjectives quizzes and lists: List of adjectives Spelling of adjectives Comparison of adjectives: Positive degree – the simplest form. Comparative degree – comparing two things or persons. Superlative degree – comparing three or more things or persons. 1. What kind of? I found a red rose in the cave. What kind of rose? Red Positive Comparative Superlative large larger largest horrible more horrible most horrible 2. How many? Three tickets, please. How many tickets? Three. 3. Which one(s)? I would eat these muffins. Which muffins? These. Kinds of adjectives. 1. Demonstrative adjective this, that, these, those are called demonstrative adjectives. They point out nouns. They always answer the question which one? In the following example, demonstrative adjectives are shown in color. Lets play this game and later watch that movie. Remember that this, that, these, those can also act as demonstrative pronouns in which case they are not followed by nouns (as demonstrative adjectives are), but take the place of nouns. In the following example, demonstrative pronouns are shown in color. Lets play this and later watch that. 2. Common adjective is just a simple, regular adjective. It describes a noun in a general way. sharp, flexible, hot, red, hidden, dripping, nice, huge. 3. Proper adjective is derived from a proper noun and is capitalized. Proper noun Proper adjective China Chinese California Californian Mars Martian Spain Spanish Christianity Christian Japan Japanese How to compare adjectives 1. Add er and est to short adjectives of one syllable (sometimes two syllables) Positive Comparative Superlative short shorter shortest great greater greatest small smaller smallest old older oldest 2. If a short adjective ends with consonant and y, change the y to i and add er and est. Positive Comparative Superlative lucky luckier luckiest heavy heavier heaviest happy happier happiest silly sillier silliest ugly uglier ugliest 3. If a short adjective ends with e, add er and st. Positive Comparative Superlative little littler littlest fine finer finest 4. Put more(less) and most(least) in front of longer adjectives (with two or more syllables) to show comparison. Positive Comparative Superlative appealing less appealing least appealing remarkable more remarkable most remarkable beautiful more beautiful most beautiful alert more alert most alert If you are uncertain whether to add er and est or to use more and most, then check dictionary. In most cases, you can trust your ears. Hollywood Hollywood Texas Texas Sometimes, as in last two examples, a proper noun does not change at all to become a proper adjective. Where an adjective goes in a sentence. Usually an adjective comes in front of the noun it is describing. The big balloon floated over the dark sea. An adjective can also come after a linking verb, like to be, and describe the subject of the sentence. In this case it is called predicate adjective. The balloon was dark. Adjective Links Some adjectives are irregular adjectives and don't follow thee rules. They change form considerably from one degree to the next. You need to study these changes carefully in order to recognize them easily. List of irregular adjectives. Positive Comparative Superlative bad worse worst far further furthest far farther farthest good better best many more most little less least old elder eldest well (healthy) better best Never use er or est at the same time you use more or most. These are incorrect: more shorter, most alertest Incomparable adjectives. Some adjectives cannot be compared because the positive (simplest) form expresses the only degree possible. List of incomparable adjectives: perfect, unique, fatal, universal, dead, wrong, straight, blind, final, vertical, right, left Types of Adjectives DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVE: These types of adjectives add detail or description to the noun. [In the following examples, the adjective is bold and the noun is underlined.] 1. When Tennessee and Connecticut first met in women's basketball in 1995, it was a nice made-for-TV game between an established power and one on the rise. 1. NICE describes the predicate nominative GAME and ESTABLISHED describes the object of the preposition POWER. 1. Note: In this sentence, ESTABLISHED is also a participle. 2. The tall man thought he could reach the top shelf of the bookcase. 1. TALL describes the subject MAN and TOP describes the direct object SHELF. 3. After the difficult surgery, the famous doctors to a nap. 1. DIFFICULT modifies the object of the preposition SURGERY and FAMOUS describes the subject DOCTOR. 4. A worthwhile rivalry had been born. 1. WORTHWHILE describes the subject RIVALRY. 5. Monica said, "Wow, this is a great game." 1. GREAT describes the predicate nominative GAME. 2. LIMITING ADJECTIVE: These types of adjectives specify or limit the noun. [In the following examples, the adjective is bold and the noun is underlined.] 1. The two teams have met every season since 1932. 1. TWO tells us how many TEAMS and EVERY tells us how many SEASONS. 1. Note: It does not describe the teams; it tells us which ones to limit our attention to. 2. Saturday, Oregon plays USC before what should be a sellout crowd. 1. SELLOUT tells us what size of crowd. A specific number would also be limiting. 3. Did Garret see this article that appeared in the paper? 1. THIS indicates which "limited" article. 1. Note: In this sentence, THIS is NOT a demonstrative pronoun. 4. Will you be sitting at the captain's table this evening? 1. CAPTAIN'S limits what table we are considering. 1. Note: This type of possessive is called a possessive noun. 5. This season, the two are meeting on a home-and-home basis, unusual for non-conference rivals. 1. HOME-AND-HOME limits the basis for meeting. 1. Note: We use hyphens to connect words that work together to modify the noun. 3. PREDICATE ADJECTIVE: This is a special type of adjective that follows a linking verb and modifies (directly refers to) the subject of the sentence. [In the following examples, the predicate adjective is bold and the subject/noun is underlined.] 1. People are interested in this game. 1. ARE is a linking verb connecting the subject PEOPLE with its descriptor of equal weight INTERESTED. 1. Note: The descriptor is an adjective; therefore, it is a predicate adjective. A noun would be a predicate nominative. 2. Watching the championship was fun. 1. WAS is a linking verb connecting the subject WATCHING with its descriptor of equal weight FUN. 1. Note: WATCHING is the form of a verb used as a noun—a gerund. 3. Don argues that cheering for a team can be nerve-wracking, too. 1. CAN BE is a linking verb connecting the subject CHEERING with its descriptor of equal weight NERVEWRACKING. 1. Note: CHEERING is the form of a verb used as a noun—a gerund. 4. If you're not careful, the whole group is going to judge you on what you do on this day. 1. ARE in the contraction YOU'RE is a linking verb connecting the subject YOU with its descriptor of equal weight CAREFUL. 5. The two teams look very similar in the tempo that they play. 1. LOOK is a linking verb connecting the subject TEAMS with its descriptor of equal weight SIMILAR. 1. Note: TO BE is not the only linking verb. 6. Stan does not seem scared of them. 1. DOES SEEM is a linking verb connecting the subject STAN with its descriptor of equal weight SCARED. 4. VERBALS AS ADJECTIVES: Two types of verbals can acts as adjectives. Participles are always adjectives and may end in EN, ED or ING. Infinitives (TO+VERB) may act as adjectives, adverbs or nouns. [In the following examples, the verbal is bold and the noun it modifies is underlined.] 1. Playing tough defense, both teams push the ball up the floor and score a lot of points. 1. PLAYING modifies or describes the subject TEAMS. It is not the verb for the subject, but rather it describes the subject. 1. Note: PUSH and SCORE are the verbs for the subject TEAMS. 2. Connecticut, averaging 90.3 points, is winning by an average of 29. 1. AVERAGING describes CONNECTICUT. It is not the verb for the subject, but rather it describes the subject. 1. Note: IS WINNING is the verb for the subject CONNECTICUT. 3. USC, shocked by a loss to OSU in its season opener, has little hope of going to the Rose Bowl. 1. SHOCKED describes USC. It is not the verb for the subject, but rather it describes the subject. 1. Note: HAS is the verb for the subject USC. 4. It will be an interesting game to watch. 1. TO WATCH modifies the predicate nominative GAME. 5. DEGREES OF ADJECTIVES Adjectives are used to indicate levels, degrees of intensity or comparison 1. high ____ base 2. higher ____ comparative 3. highest ____ superlative When comparing two things always use the comparative. For example in a comparison between two people the correct usage would be: Bill is taller. Bill is the tallest would require that there be more than two people. 6. ARTICLES Some sources identify the articles A, AN, THE as adjectives. 1. The tempo of the game could reflect a track meet more than a basketball game. 1. Note: Use "A" before words that begin with a consonant or consonant sounds. 2. Tennessee no longer has Chamique Holdsclaw, twice the national player of the year. 1. But the Lady Vols have an outstanding combination in Tamika Catchings, Semeka Randall and Kristen Clement. 1. Note: Us "An" before words that begin with a vowel or vowel sound What are adjectives? Definition of Adjective Adjectives are describing words. Large, grey and friendly are all examples of adjectives. In the examples below, these adjectives are used to describe an elephant. Examples: Large elephant Grey elephant Friendly elephant Adjectives Modify Nouns The word elephant is a noun. Adjectives are added to nouns to state what kind, what colour, which one or how many. Adjectives are said to modify nouns and are necessary to make the meanings of sentences clearer or more exact. Examples: Follow the yellow cab. (In this example, the adjective 'yellow' modifies the noun 'cab'.) Craig caught another large bass. (In this example, the adjective 'large' modifies the noun 'bass'.) It is the girl with the pale face again. The principal words should be in bold. (Beware of the adjective 'principal' - see right) The rusty nail he stood on was the cause of the infection. Please put the old documents in the shredder. There is an essential matter we need to discuss. Peter guessed the right number. Adjectives Modify Pronouns Although less common, adjectives can also modify pronouns. Examples: It is a blue one. (In this example, the adjective 'blue' modifies the pronoun 'one'.) Only a brave few have received a recommendation. THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ADJECTIVES Adjectives are describing words. However, there are many other words that are classified as adjectives, some of which do not fall easily under this description. PERSONAL TITLES Personal titles such Mr, Mrs, Auntie, Uncle, Dr and Lord are classified as adjectives when they are attached to a name. The day after tomorrow, you can visit Auntie Pauline and Uncle Joe. The lecture on Friday will be presented by Dr Ingols and Prof. Munro. POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES Possessive adjectives are used to show possession. They are my, your, his, her, its, our and their. THE ARTICLES The words a, an and the are known as articles and are classified as adjectives too. 'A' and 'an' are called the indefinite articles, as they do not indicate a specific noun; whereas, 'the' is called the definite article, because it does point to a specific noun. A cup (< any cup) The cup (< a specific cup) DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES Demonstrative adjectives are used to demonstrate or indicate specific things. This, that, these and those are all demonstrative adjectives. If I hear that parrot again, I will call the RSPCA. ('That' is a demonstrative adjective. It refers to a specific parrot.) Medals will only be given to those runners who complete the marathon in less than 8 hours. ('Those' is a demonstrative adjective. It refers to specific people.) INDEFINITE ADJECTIVES Unlike demonstrative adjectives, which indicate specific items, indefinite adjectives do not point out specific things. They are formed from indefinite pronouns. The most common indefinite adjectives are no, any, many, few and several. The chief has heard many people make the same promise. (The indefinite adjective 'many' modifies the noun 'people'.) According to a council spokesman, there are no wallabies left in Derbyshire. However, over the past few months, many walkers have reported seeing several adults with young. (The indefinite adjectives in this example are no, few, many and several.) NUMBERS Numbers are classified as adjectives too. Four dolphins stayed with the boat until dawn. (The adjective 'four' modifies the noun 'dolphins'.) All we could muster was 9 cans of beans. (The adjective '9' modifies the noun 'cans'.) Select the correct answer: Q1 The park is by a smelly old river near the windmill. Which word is an adjective? a. smelly b. windmill c. river Q2 I cannot reward such obvious incompetence. Which word is an adjective? a. obvious b. incompetence c. reward Q3 She has one brown eye and one blue one. Her lips are like rubies. Which word is an adjective? a. brown b. rubies c. lips English Grammar Adjectives For example:The grey dog barked. (The adjective grey describes the noun "dog".) The good news is that the form of an adjective does not change. It does not matter if the noun being modified is male or female, singular or plural, subject or object. Some adjectives give us factual information about the noun - age, size colour etc (fact adjectives - can't be argued with). Some adjectives show what somebody thinks about something or somebody - nice, horrid, beautiful etc (opinion adjectives - not everyone may agree). If you are asked questions with which, whose, what kind, or how many, you need an adjective to be able to answer. There are different types of adjectives in the English language: Numeric: six, one hundred and one Quantitative: more, all, some, half, more than enough Qualitative: colour, size, smell etc. Possessive: my, his, their, your Interrogative: which, whose, what Demonstrative: this, that, those, these !Note - The articles a, an, and the and the possessives my, our, your, and their are also adjectives. Opinion Adjectives can be used to give your opinion about something. good, pretty, right, wrong, funny, light, happy, sad, full, soft, hard etc. For example: He was a silly boy. Size Adjectives can be used to describe size. big, small, little, long, tall, short, same as, etc. For example: "The big man." or "The big woman". Age Adjectives can be used to describe age. For example: "He was an old man." or "She was an old woman." Shape Adjectives can be used to describe shape. round, circular, triangular, rectangular, square, oval, etc. For example: "It was a square box." or "They were square boxes." Colour Adjectives can be used to describe colour. blue, red, green, brown, yellow, black, white, etc. For example: "The blue bag." or "The blue bags". Origin Adjectives can be used to describe origin. For example: "It was a German flag." or "They were German flags." Material Adjectives can be used to identify the material something is made of. "A wooden cupboard." or "Wooden cupboards." !Note - In English we often use a noun as an adjective. For example: glass - a glass vase / metal - a metal tray etc. Distance Adjectives can be used to describe distance. l -- o -- n -- g / short long, short, far, around, start, high, low, etc. For example: "She went for a long walk." or "She went for lots of long walks." Temperature Adjectives can be used to describe temperature. cold, warm, hot, cool, etc. For example: "The day was hot." or "The days were hot." Time Adjectives can be used to describe time. late, early, bed, nap, dinner, lunch, day, morning, night, etc. For example: "She had an early start." Purpose Adjectives can be used to describe purpose. (These adjectives often end with "-ing".) For example: "She gave them a sleeping bag." or "She gave them sleeping bags." !Note - In each case the adjective stays the same, whether it is describing a masculine, feminine, singular or plural noun. When using more than one adjective to modify a noun, the adjectives may be separated by a conjunction (and) or by commas (,). For example: "Her hair was long and blonde." or "She had long, blonde hair." More examples: Adjective Pretty Serious Fast Quiet Example She was a pretty girl. He was a serious boy. It was a fast car. They were quiet children. !Note - Adjectives that go immediately before the noun are called attributive adjectives. Adjectives can also be used after some verbs. They do not describe the verb, adverbs do that. Adjectives after a verb describe the subject of the verb (usually a noun or pronoun). They are called predicative adjectives. For example: "David looks tired." The subject (in this case David) is being described as tired not the verb to look. There is also the adjective used to, which is explained her