Adjectives

Adjectives are words that modify a noun. They can describe the quality, state or action that a noun refers to in the sentence. We normally use adjectives in two positions before nouns and after link verbs (be, seem, appear, become, feel, taste, smell). 1. Comparatives & Superlatives Adjectives can express degrees. The degrees of comparison are known as the comparative (when comparing two things) and superlative (for comparing three or more things). The word than accompanies the comparative and the precedes the superlative. The suffixes -er and est
are used to form most comparative and superlative structures , while the words more and most are used to form structures when the adjectives have more than two syllables. e.g. Thomas is a rich man, but Paul is richer than him and Karl is the richest of the three. There are also some irregular forms in the comparative and superlative structure. e.g good/better/worst; bad/worse/worst.

Positive Rich Lovely beautiful

Comparative richer lovelier more beautiful

Superlative richest loveliest most beautiful

2. A gradable adjective can vary in intensity and be modified to show various degrees both strengthening and weakening the adjective e.g. very/less beautiful, cold, expensive. We can add words like rather/ reasonably/fairly/very/good. 3. A non gradable adjective has a fixed intensity (adjectives at the end of the scale e.g. freezing, boiling, huge, tiny, brilliant, awful, fascinating, incredible, terrifying, marvellous etc.) and can not be paired with words like very, fairly etc. It can not be modified but it can be intensified by adding words such as absolutely, utterly, really, quite etc.

Joanna Curmi

4. A Compound Adjective is an adjective that comprises more than one word. Usually hyphens are used to link the words together to show that it is one adjective. e.g four-foot table; part-time job; big-headed; short-sighted; blue-eyed; good-looking 5. Possessive Adjectives: the adjectives in this class distinguish an object by assigning it to its possessor. e.g. my, your, his, her, its, our, your, their 6. Interrogative Adjectives are like interrogative pronouns, except that they modifies a noun or noun phrase. e.g. which, what, whose e.g. Which book do you prefer? 7. Demonstrative Adjectives : These are like demonstrative pronouns but are so called because they modify nouns or noun phrases. (point out the thing they describe). e.g. these books, those shoes etc. e.g. This machine needs to be repaired.

(N.B. If the word stands in front of a noun and qualifies it, it is an adjective, but if it stands in place of a noun than it is a pronoun.) Both present participles (ing) and past participles (ed) can be used as adjectives. Present participle adjectives, amusing, boring, tiring etc. are active in meaning while past participle adjectives, amused, bored, tired etc. are passive in meaning.

Joanna Curmi