Chapter 6: Adjectivals

Marsh v. You: May the Best Better Grammarian Win

But I am the best. I swear.

Adjectivals

Noun Phrases are frequently expanded with modifiers:

AdjectivesPrepositional PhrasesAdjectival ClausesParticipial PhrasesInfinitive PhrasesNouns

Adjectivals

In preheadword position, we use nouns as well as adjectives and single-word participles:

Adjectivals

In preheadword position, we use nouns as well as adjectives and single-word participles:

We live next door to a grocery store.I drive an old black truck.My broken TV was set out with the garbage.

Adjectivals

In preheadword position, we use nouns as well as adjectives and single-word participles:

We live next door to a grocery store.I drive an old black truck.My broken TV was set out with the garbage.

Adjectivals

In preheadword position, we use nouns as well as adjectives and single-word participles:

We live next door to a grocery store.I drive an old black truck.My broken TV was set out with the garbage.

Adjectivals

In postheadword position, we use prepositional phrases, participial phrases, and relative clauses:

The Keystone Biology Exams on Tuesday will be challenging.

The gummy candy melting in Marsh’s drawer is old and stale.

This is the class that I dread most.

Adjectivals

In postheadword position, we use prepositional phrases, participial phrases, and relative clauses:

The Keystone Biology Exams on Tuesday will be challenging.

The gummy candy melting in Marsh’s drawer is old and stale.

This is the class that I dread most.

Adjectivals

In postheadword position, we use prepositional phrases, participial phrases, and relative clauses:

The Keystone Biology Exams on Tuesday will be challenging.

The gummy candy melting in Marsh’s drawer is old and stale.

This is the class that I dread most.

AdjectivalsWe use the headword to avoid subject/verb agreement errors:

The stack of instruction forms was/were misplaced.

The complicated instructions on the new income tax form really confuses/confuse me.

AdjectivalsWe use the headword to avoid subject/verb agreement errors:

The stack of instruction forms was/were misplaced.

The complicated instructions on the new income tax form really confuses/confuse me.

AdjectivalsWe use the headword to avoid subject/verb agreement errors:

The stack of instruction forms was/were misplaced.

The complicated instructions on the new income tax form really confuses/confuse me.

AdjectivalsWhen do we punctuate adjectives?

AdjectivalsWhen do we punctuate adjectives?

Alex consulted his little black book of phone numbers for a date for Saturday night. He is a smooth cool player when it comes to the ladies.

AdjectivalsWhen do we punctuate adjectives?

Alex consulted his little black book of phone numbers for a date for Saturday night. He is a smooth cool player when it comes to the ladies.

AdjectivalsWhen do we punctuate adjectives?

Alex consulted his little black book of phone numbers for a date for Saturday night. He is a smooth, cool player when it comes to the ladies.

AdjectivalsWhen do we punctuate adjectives?

his little (and) black book? a smooth (and) cool player?

AdjectivalsWhen do we punctuate adjectives?

his little black booka smooth, cool player

AdjectivalsLet’s play around a little more with this:

Alex consulted his little black book of phone numbers for a date for Saturday night. He is a smooth, cool player when it comes to the ladies.

AdjectivalsLet’s play around a little more with this:

Alex consulted his little black book of phone numbers for a date for Saturday night, for he is a smooth, cool player when it comes to the ladies.

AdjectivalsLet’s play around a little more with this:

Alex consulted his little black book of phone numbers for a date for Saturday night, for he is a smooth, cool player when it comes to the ladies.

Noun as an Adjectival

AdjectivalsLet’s play around a little more with this:

Alex consulted his little black book of phone numbers for a date for Saturday night, for he is a smooth, cool player when it comes to the ladies.

Noun as an Adjectival(Shall we diagram it?)

Do it.