Name : FUSTHAATHUL RIZKOH
ID Number : A 121 10 046
ADJECTIVE
1. Definition of adjective
a. An adjective is a describing word, the main syntactic role of which is to qualify a noun or noun phrase, giving more information about the object signified. An adjective usually precedes the noun or pronoun which it modifies.
b. An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun by describing, identifying, or quantifying words.( Heather MacFadyen © University of Ottawa)
c. An adjective describes how something 'is'. For this reason, we usually use the verb 'to be' when using adjectives.( Kenneth Beare)
2. The function of adjective
Adjective modify a noun by directly being linked to the noun as part of the noun phrase. An adjective modifies a noun and pronoun by describing, identifying or quantifying words.
3. Kinds of adjective
a. Possessives Adjective modifies a noun by telling whom it belongs to. It answers the question "Whose?" For example :
· I can't complete my assignment because I don't have the textbook.
In this sentence, the possessive adjective "my" modifies "assignment" and the noun phrase "my assignment" functions as an object. Note that the possessive pronoun form "mine" is not used to modify a noun or noun phrase.
· What is your phone number?
Here the possessive adjective "your" is used to modify the noun phrase "phone number"; the entire noun phrase "your phone number" is a subject complement. Note that the possessive pronoun form "yours" is not used to modify a noun or a noun phrase.
· The bakery sold his favourite type of bread.
In this example, the possessive adjective "his" modifies the noun phrase "favourite type of bread" and the entire noun phrase "his favourite type of bread" is the direct object of the verb "sold."
· After many years, she returned to her homeland.
Here the possessive adjective "her" modifies the noun "homeland" and the noun phrase "her homeland" is the object of the preposition "to." Note also that the form "hers" is not used to modify nouns or noun phrases.
· We have lost our way in this wood.
In this sentence, the possessive adjective "our" modifies "way" and the noun phrase "our way" is the direct object of the compound verb "have
lost". Note that the possessive pronoun form "ours" is not used to modify nouns or noun phrases.
· In many fairy tales, children are neglected by their parents.
Here the possessive adjective "their" modifies "parents" and the noun phrase "their parents" is the object of the preposition "by." Note that the possessive pronoun form "theirs" is not used to modify nouns or noun phrases.
· The cat chased its ball down the stairs and into the backyard.
In this sentence, the possessive adjective "its" modifies "ball" and the noun phrase "its ball" is the object of the verb "chased." Note that "its″ is the possessive adjective and "it's" is a contraction for "it is."
b. Demonstrative adjective
This form of adjective is used to demonstrate or indicate certain things. For instance:
· When the librarian tripped over that cord, she dropped a pile of books.
In this sentence, the demonstrative adjective "that" modifies the noun "cord" and the noun phrase "that cord" is the object of the preposition "over."
· This apartment needs to be fumigated.
Here "this" modifies "apartment" and the noun phrase "this apartment" is the subject of the sentence.
· Even though my friend preferred those plates, I bought these.
In the subordinate clause, "those" modifies "plates" and the noun phrase "those plates" is the object of the verb "preferred." In the independent clause, "these" is the direct object of the verb "bought." Note that the relationship between a demonstrative adjective and a demonstrative pronoun is similar to the relationship between a possessive adjective and a possessive pronoun, or to that between an interrogative adjective and an interrogative pronoun.
c. Interrogative adjective
The interrogative adjectives are used with nouns to ask questions. For example :
· Which plants should be watered twice a week?
Like other adjectives, "which" can be used to modify a noun or a noun phrase. In this example, "which" modifies "plants" and the noun phrase "which plants" is the subject of the compound verb "should be watered".
· What book are you reading?
In this sentence, "what" modifies "book" and the noun phrase "what book" is the direct object of the compound verb "are reading."
d. Indefinite adjective
While demonstrative adjectives point out specific things, indefinite adjectives do not indicate anything specific. Indefinite adjectives are formed from indefinite pronouns and the most common ones among them are “any”, “many”, few”, “several”, etc. For Instance:
· Many people believe that corporations are under-taxed.
The indefinite adjective "many" modifies the noun "people" and the noun phrase "many people" is the subject of the sentence.
· I will send you any mail that arrives after you have moved to Sudbury.
The indefinite adjective "any" modifies the noun "mail" and the noun phrase "any mail" is the direct object of the compound verb "will send."
· They found a few goldfish floating belly up in the swan pound.
In this example the indefinite adjective modifies the noun "goldfish" and the noun phrase is the direct object of the verb "found":
· The title of Kelly's favourite game is "All dogs go to heaven."
Here the indefinite pronoun "all" modifies "dogs" and the full title is a subject complement.
e. Predicative adjective
This form of adjective is not part of the noun phrase followed by the noun it modifies, but it is the complement of a copulative function, which links it to the noun. For instance, in the sentence, “The house is big”, the predicative adjective here is “big”, which is linked to the noun “house”, by the verb “is”. Most of the descriptive adjectives can be also used as predicative adjectives. Pronouns can also be used as adjectives, like in the sentence “He is happy”. Even hyphenated adjectives containing past participles are used as predicate adjectives, like in the sentence “The belief is widespread”. However, there are also few adjectives which are only used predicatively. They are words such as “Afloat”, “Afraid”, “Alive”, “Alone”, “Asleep” and “Aglow”.
f. Descriptive adjective
Descriptive adjectives can be classified into different categories such as color, size, sound, taste, touch, shape, time, personality
and age.
· Colors as adjectives: black, blue, white, green, red
· Sizes as adjectives: big, small, large, thin, thick
· Shapes as adjectives: triangular, round, square, circular
· Qualities as adjectives: good, bad, mediocre
· Personality traits as adjectives: happy, sad, angry, depressed
· Time as adjective: yearly, monthly, annually
g. Personal adjective
Titles such as Mr, Mrs, Auntie, Uncle, Dr and Lord are classified as adjectives, if they are attached in frontof a name. For instance, in the sentence “Did you visit Uncle Neil on your way back home?” Here in the word “Uncle” is an adjective.
4. Using adjective
a. Normal position
1. Two position can go into main places in a sentence.
· With a noun, usually before it. This is called ‘attributive position’
The new secretary doesn’t like me
In older English, it was quite common to put adjectives after nouns especially in poetry and songs.
· After be, seem,look,become and other link verbs this is called predicative position.
That dress is new, isn’t it?
She looks rich
2. Adjectives used only before nouns
Some adjectives are use only (or mostly) before noun. After verbs, other words must be used. Common examples:
Elder and eldest compare:
My elder sister is a pilot. She is three years older than me
Little and small
A nice little house The house is quite small
3. Adjectives used only after verbs
Some adjectives beginning with a-, and a few others, are used mainly after link verbs, especially be. Common examples: afloat, afraid, alight, alike, alive, alone, asleep, awake. Compare:
The baby asleep
A sleeping baby
4. Verb + Object + Adjcetive
Another possible position for adjectives is after the object.
I will get the car ready
Do I make you happy?
b. After nouns and pronouns
Adjectives come immediately after nouns in a few special cases.
1. Fixed phrases
Adjectives come after nouns in some fixed phrases.
Secretary General President elect
Court martial God Almighty!
2. Available, possible etc.
Some adjectives can be used after nouns in a similar way to relative clauses. This common with adjectives ending in –able/-ible.
Send all the tickets available/ available tickets. ( tickets which are available).
3. Expressions of measurement
Adjectives usually follow measurement nouns.
Two metres high two years older two miles long
4. Adjectives with complements
When an adjective has its own complement, the whole expression normally comes after noun.
We are looking for people skilled in design.
A relative clause is often more natural.
We are looking for people who are skilled in design
In some cases, an adjective can be put before a noun and its complement after it. This happens with different, similar, the same, next, last, first, second etc: comparatives and superlatives, and a few other adjectives like difficult and easy.
A different life from this one
The next house to the Royal Hotel
5. Adjective come after something, everything, anything, nothing, somebody, anywhere and similar words.
c. Position after as, how, so too
After as, how, so, too and this/that meaning so, adjectives go before a/am. This structure is common in a formal style.
As/how/so/too/this/that + adjective +a/an + noun
I have as good voice as you. She is too polite a person to refuse
How good a pianist is he? I couldn’t afford that big a car
The structure is not possible without a/an
I like your country – it’s so beautiful
d. Order before nouns
When several adjectives come before a noun for when nouns are used like adjectives before another noun, they are usually put in a more or less fixed order. For instance, we say a fat old lady. Here are the most important rules.
1. Description before classification
Words which describe come before words which classify (say what type of thing we are talking about).
Description classification noun
An old political idea
The latest educational reform
2. Opinion before description: a wonderful old house
Words which express opinions, attitudes and judgements usually come before words that simply describe. Example :
Opinion description noun
A lovely ` cool drink
A wonderful old house
3. Order of descriptive words
The order descriptive words is not completely fixed. Words for origin and material usually come last.
size age shape colour origin material noun
a fat old white horse
a big grey woollen sweater
4. Numbers
Numbers usually go before adjectives
Six large eggs
First, next and last most often go before one, two, three, etc.
5. Noun modifiers after adjectives
Note that noun modifiers (which often classify, or refer to material) usually follow adjectives.
A big new car factory
e. Adjectives without nouns
1. Well-known groups
The+adjective is used to talk about certain well-known groups of people who are in particular physical or social condition. Common expressions:
He’s collecting money for the blind
The meaning is usually general, occasionally a limited group is reffered to.
After the accident, the injured were taken to hospital
Adjectives are normally only used in this way with the or determiner like many or more
2. Adjective of nationality
A few adjectives of nationality ending in –sh or –ch are used after the without nouns. They include Irish, Welsh, English, British, Spanish, Dutch, French.
The Irish are very proud of their sense of humour
3. Singular examples
In a few formal fixed phrases, the +adjective can have a singular meaning. These include the accused, the undersigned, the deceased, the former and the latter.
The accused was released on bail
4. Abstract ideas
Adjectives are sometimes used after the to refer the general abstract ideas, especially in phililosophical writing. These expressions are singular
She is interested in the supernatural
5. We sometimes leave out a noun that has already been mentioned , or which does not need to be mentioned, when thinking about a choice between two or more different kinds of thing.
Have you got any bread? ~ Do you want white or brown?
f. What can follow an adjective?
· Many adjectives can be followed by complements – words and expressions that complete their meaning. Not all adjectives are followed by the same kind of complement. Some can be followed by preposition + noun/-ing.
I’m interested in cookery i’m interested in lerning to cook
· Some can be followed by infinitives
You do not look happy to see me
· An infinitive may have its own subject, introduced by for
I’m anxious for her to get a good education
· Some adjectives can be followed by clauses
I’m glad that you were able to come
· Many adjectives can have more than one kind of complement.
I’m pleased about her promotion I’m pleased to see you
· Rarely put adjective + complement before a noun
He’s a difficult person to understand
Be careful!
1. NOT!!: difficults books
Rule: Adjectives are placed before the noun. Example: a wonderful book very interesting people
2. NOT!!: an apple red
Do not place adjective after noun
3. Adjectives don't have a singular and plural form OR a masculine, femine and neuter form.
4. Adjectives are always the same! Never add a final -s to an adjective.
5. Adjectives can also be placed at the end of a sentence if they describe the subject of a sentence. Example: My doctor is excellent.
References:
Written by Heather MacFadyen University of Ottawa Beare, Kenneath. 2012. About.com English as 2nd Language Guide
M Manjusha, 2006-2007. Kinds of Adjectives
M Manjusha, 2006-2007. Kinds of Adjectives
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