Adjectives

Adjectives

An adjective modifies a noun. it typically serving as a modifier of a noun to denote a quality of the thing named, to indicate its quantity or extent, or to specify a thing as distinct from something else.

Example : An excellent choice for an independent summer holiday, these large apartments are along an inland waterway in a quiet residential area. The friendly resort of Gulftown with its beautiful white sandy beach is only a short walk away. Restaurant and gift shop nearby.

Syntactic function of Adjective

1. Attributive : An adjective go before a noun to modify.
Example: It is a large stadium. (before a noun) A noisy party kept us awake. (before a noun)

2. Predicative : An adjective as complement after a linking verb such as be, seem, get.
Example : The children were soon asleep. ( after verb) The stadium is large. (as complement)

3. Head of a Noun phrase : Adjectives function as nouns of a noun phrase have personal references. Example: The young in spirit enjoy the life. The rich build many houses for poor.

Post positive Adjectives

Postpositive adjectives are adjectives that follow the nouns immediately that they modify.
Example : The only ferry available charged a higher fare

Kinds of Adjectives

1. Descriptive Adjectives: A descriptive adjective is a word which describes nouns and pronouns. Most of the adjectives belong in this type. These adjectives provide information and attribute  to the nouns/pronouns
they
modify
or
describe.
Descriptive
adjectives
are
also
called qualitative adjectives.
Participles are also included in this type of adjective when they modify a noun.
Examples:
I have a fast car. (The word ‘fast’ is describing an attribute of the car)
I am hungry. (The word ‘hungry’ is providing information about the subject)

2. Quantitative Adjectives:

A quantitative adjective provides information about the quantity of the nouns/pronouns. This type belongs to the question category of ‘how much’ and ‘how many’.

Examples:
I have 20 bucks in my wallet. (How much)
They have three children. (How many)
You should have completed the whole task. (How much)

3. Demonstrative Adjectives:

A demonstrative adjective directly refers to something or someone. Demonstrative
adjectives include the words: this, that, these, those.
Examples:
That building is so gorgeously decorated. (‘That’ refers to a singular noun far from the
speaker)
This car is mine. (‘This’ refers to a singular noun close to the speaker)
These cats are cute. (‘These’ refers to a plural noun close to the speaker)
Those flowers are heavenly. (‘Those’ refers to a plural noun far from the speaker)

4. Possessive Adjectives:

possessive adjective indicates possession or ownership. It suggests the belongingness
of something to someone/something.
Some of the most used possessive adjectives are my, his, her, our, their, your.
All these adjectives always come before a noun.
Examples:
My car is parked outside.
His cat is very cute.
Our job is almost done.
Her books are interesting.

5. Interrogative Adjectives:

An interrogative adjective asks a question. An interrogative adjective must be followed
by a noun or a pronoun. The interrogative adjectives are: which, what, whose.
Examples:
Which phone do you use?
What game do you want to play?
Whose car is this?

6. The Degree of Adjectives:

There are three degrees of adjectives: Positive, comparative, superlative.
These degrees are applicable only for the descriptive adjectives.
Examples:
Positive degree: He is a good boy.
Comparative degree: He is better than any other boy.
Superlative: He is the best boy.