ADJECTIVEThursday, 13 September 2007

Overview

• It modifies a noun/pronoun by describing, identifying, or quantifying words.

• It precedes the noun/ pronoun • Some nouns, pronouns, participles

phrases can be acted as adjective• There are four kinds of adjectives:

Possessive, Demonstrative, Interrogative, and Indefinite

Possessive Adjective

• Similar or identical to possessive pronouns, but as adjective that modifies a noun or noun phrase

• Examples:1. Rina lent me her English book.2. My car was stolen last night.3. How is chicken lay its egg?4. Father’s office close on Saturday

Demonstrative Adjective

• Identical to demonstrative pronoun (this, that, these, and those)

• Examples:1. You need to repair that car.2. I like Harry Potter and I have collected those novel for series.3. This broken table should be put in the attic.4. I love these puppies than those puppies

Interrogative Adjective

• Form (which or what) = interrogative pronoun, modifies a noun/noun phrase

• Examples:1. Which skirt do you choose?2. What car you bought?3. Which house she rent?

Indefinite Adjective

• Similar to an indefinite pronoun, modifies a noun, pronoun, noun phrase

• Examples:1. Several people don’t believe in God2. You can bring all stuff you need.3. I have spent much time doing some home assignments

Order of Adjectives

Determiner Observation Physical Description Origin Material Qualifier Noun

Size Shape Age Color

a beautiful old Italian touring car

an expensive big antique silver mirror

those square wooden hat

her short black hair

some delicious Thai food

This is an area where there are some rules, but the rules are so difficult to apply that it is best for students to meet lots of different examples and try to develop a ‘feel’ for what sounds right.

Degree of Adjective

positive comparative superlative

strong stronger strongestcareful more careful most careful

positive comparative superlativegood better bestbad worse worstlittle less least

much/ many more mostfar further furthest

Comparatives and Superlatives

Some two-syllable adjectives worry us. We have learned the rule that with longer adjectives we use more or most – more difficult, most interesting. We then meet commoner and more common and we sometimes come across more most used with monosyllabic adjectives where a native speaker is using them to give emphasis. For example:

Which is better-this example or that one?>I’m not sure. This one is much more pure.

‘purer’ would also have been correct, but for some reason of emphasis

the native speaker chose more pure!

Adjectives and Adverbs

• It is a delicious meal. Adj. N

• It is delicious.Pro. Adj.

• He writes letters quickly. V Adv.

• It is quickly written letter. Adv. Adj. N

• It is an extremely quickly written letter. Adv. Adv. Adj. N

USE OF ADECTIVES AND ADVERBS

Adjectives Adjectives describe nouns or pronoun

Adverbs Adverbs describe verb, adjectives, or other adverbs.

ADJECTIVE AND ADVERBS AFTER VERBS

(subject) + (regular verbs) + (adverb) She spoke nicelyA regular verb is followed by an adverb. The adverb describes the subject.(subject) + (linking verbs) + (adjective) She looks niceA linking verb is followed by an adjective. The adjective describes the subject.

(subject) + (linking verbs) + (adverb) + (adjective)

He seems unusually niceIt is possible for a linking verb to be followed by an adverb and an adjective. The adverb describes the adjective, and the adjective describes the subject.

appearbebecome

feellookprove

seemsmelltasteLinking Verbs

Adjectives ending in ed/ing

• Why are you looking so depressed/depressing? I’ve just been to the doctor and he told me I would to

take a pill every day for the rest of my life.• Why is that so depressed/depressing? He only gave me twenty-five pills.

Marry : That boy over there is annoyed/annoying me.Jane : But he is not even looking at you.Marry : That’s what I am annoyed/annoying about!

Too / enough

A woman went to a fortune teller who charged 50 for twoquestions.• Don’t you think 50 is too expensive/ expensive enough for two

questions? Yes, it is, agreed the fortune-teller. Now what is your second

question?

• What did the big chimney say to the little chimney? I don’t know.• You are too young/ young enough to smoke.