What are Adjectives?

An adjective is a word used

to modify a noun or a
pronoun.

When we say a word modifies a

noun, we mean that it restrictsthe
application of the noun to such
persons or things. Every adjective
has a restrictiveforce; we can
define an adjective as "a word
used to restrict the application of
a noun by adding something to its
meaning."

The adjective is usually placed before its noun. In some instances it

follows the noun; such as, The apple is sweet. A cause worthy to
defend. Words make men strong. The car rides smoothly on the road.

In many sentences the adjective may either precede or follow the noun,
such as: A wise and judicious politican; or, A
politician wise and judicious.

Misplacing a single adjective can affect the meaning of a sentence. Note

the difference in the meaning of these two sentences:

EX. I heard only him.

EX. Only I heard him.

CLASSIFICATION OF ADJECTIVES

Adjectives are divided into two general

classes: 1) descriptive orqualifying
adjectives and 2) definitive or limiting adjectives.

Descriptive Adjectives

A descriptive adjective describes or names some quality of the object

expressed by the noun or pronoun (i.e. strange, green, French).

EX. The giant elm tree casted its shadows over the stream.
EX. These two generous ladies have a mean neighbor.
EX. The bald-headed eagle is a beautiful bird.

In the examples I have given above, giant, generous, mean, bald-

headed,and beautiful are descriptive adjectives. A descriptive
adjective answers the question, "What kind of?" in connection with the
noun or pronoun modified; as, What kind of elm? Giant. What kind of
ladies?Generous.

Definitive Adjectives

A definitive adjective points out or tells how much or how many

(i.e.these, two, the, a, that, many).

EX. This book contains one hundred pages.

This points out the particular book in mind. One hundred tells how
manypages.

Limiting Adjectives

Limiting adjectives include the following kinds of words:

1) The articles, the and a (or an).

2) Numeral adjectives: three boys, the third chapter, eleven players,

theeleventh month, the first day.

Numeral Adjectives

Numeral adjectives are divided into two classes: cardinals,

which include all such adjectives as one, two, three, four, ninety-nine;
andordinals, which include the forms first, second, third, fourth,
ninety-ninth,and all others like them.

The words once, twice, thrice are adverbs.

The cardinal numeral adjectives may be used as nouns.

EX. If we have a tornado, what will become of the food?

EX. Two twos are four.
EX. Hundreds lost their lives in that riot.

NOTE You can use about twenty-five words either as adjectives or as

pronouns. Among them are this, these, that, those, each, both, some,
any, all, few, many, either, neither, one, another, former, latter, more,
most, same, much.

NOTE This, these, that, those, are called demonstratives, because

theypoint out persons, places, or things.

NOTE Any, some, other, such, and others are not as definite as the
demonstratives, and are therefore called indefinites.

Interrogative Adjectives

In certain uses, interrogative and relative pronouns are among limiting

adjectives.

EX.Which movie do you want to watch next?

EX. I know which book you are reading next.
EX. He sold what land he had and whatever food he could buy.
EX. The man whose wallet you found lives in Texas.
EX. Which statement of his do you object to?

Possessive Adjectives

Possessive adjectives are the possessive forms of limiting adjectives,

such as: my, your, his, her, its, our, their, andwhose, when these words
are used as adjectives.

My, your, her, our, and their are always so used; but his,
its, and whoseare sometimes used as adjectives, sometimes as
pronouns.

EX. I have my book, your package, her purse, and our movie tickets.
EX.Whose book is this? Is it his book? Is it Brian's book?
EX.Whose is this book? This book is hers. Its cover is torn.

Proper Adjectives

We call adjectives derived from proper nouns as proper adjectives.

You should always begin a proper adjective with a capital letter.

EX. the French government

EX. the English language
EX. the American flag

Adjective Uses of Nouns and Pronouns

A noun may be modified by another noun or by a pronoun. In the
following sentences the nouns and pronouns in italics are used
adjectively:

EX. The mechcanic built a car chain.

EX. The house boat needed repairs.
EX. The bowling ball rested easily in the wheel chair.
EX. Brian's hat lay on the steering wheel.
EX. Whose book is this? It is her book.

Cautions in Using Adjectives

This, that, these, those, them

This and that are the only adjectives that have a plural
form. These andthose are plural and you must use them with plural
nouns. Those kind is incorrect. You should write: that kind or those
kinds. Them is not an adjective and you should not use it to modify a
noun.

Each otherone another

Each other refers to two objects only; one another refers to more than
two objects.

EX. The two sisters love each other.

EX. The three sisters love one another.

Either, neitherany one

Either or neither properly refers to one of two. Any one refers to one of
several.

First and last

When you use adjectives that express number, use the

words first andlast before the adjective.

EX. the first two sentences

EX. the last ten pages

Misc. Rules

NOTE When two or more adjectives modify the same noun, the
article is used before the first adjective only.

EX. A black and white dog. (One dog.)

NOTE When two or more adjectives modify different nouns, one of

which is expressed and the rest understood, the article is used before
each adjective:

EX.The black and the white care are mine. (Cat is understood after
black.)
EX.The white and the red house belong to Mr. Henry.
EX.The Republican and the Democratic party seem to agree on the
new law.
EX. Lisa bought a silk and a cotton towl. (Two towls.)
EX. Lori bought a silk and a cotton towl. (One towl.)
EX. Brian drew a map of the Northern and the Southern streets.

Remember: A descriptive adjective is one that describes.