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CHAPTER- 4 THE ADJECTIVE
Definition:
Adjectives are words qualif ying nouns or describing words. The y qualify or describe nouns. They are
called noun-helper.
Adjectives are a large class of words (for example, good, bad, new, accurate, careful) which dene more
precisely the reference of a noun or pronoun. An adjective gives more distinct meaning to a noun or a
pronoun by describing or limiting it.
All adjectives answer three specic questions about the nouns or pronouns they are modifying:
e.g.
What kind?
strong, cheerful, red
Which one(s)
this, that, these, those
How many?
few, some, three, several
Adjectives That Follow Verbs
Pay special attention to adjectives that follow verbs. Sometimes, the adjective follows a verb, but it
describes a noun or pronoun that comes before the verb.
e.g.
These strawberries taste sour.
The pickles are salty
Adjectives are used either attributively or predicatively.
The boy is clever
The problem is easy
Adjectives have many different endings. Many adjectives are created simply by adding certain suffixes
to words that were previously nouns or verbs.
Some adjectives end in -ful. These adjectives describe noun or pronouns that are full of
something or have a lot of something.
a joyful smile
a beautiful face
a careful student
a cheerful baby
a powerful machine
a wonderful time
colorful clothes
a useful book
a skillful player
Some adjectives end in -ous.
a mountainous area
a famous writer
a dangerous job
a poisonous snake
a humorous film
a generous gift
Some adjectives end in -y.
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a sunny day
a noisy car
dirty hands
an easy test
a cloudy sky
stormy weather
Some adjectives end in -less. These adjectives describe a person or thing that does not have
something.
a meaningless word
a sleeveless dress
a fearless fighter
a careless driver
a cloudless sky
seedless grapes
Some adjectives end in -al.
actual
final
general
mental
physical
special
Here are some adjectives that end in -ic, -ish, -ible, -able, -ive and -ly.
enthusiastic shouting
comfortable clothes
expensive jewelery
a selfish act
a likeable child
friendly teachers
a fantastic singer
visible footprints
an imaginative story
Many adjectives end in -ing.
a smiling face
an outstanding swimmer
chattering monkeys
loving parents
a disappointing result
a caring nurse
Many adjectives end in -ed.
boiled eggs
satisfied customers
wasted time
excited students
reduced prices
invited guests
Many adjectives end in -ar.
familiar
particular
popular
similar
regular
ADJECTIVE OF QUALITY
(Descriptive Adjective)
Definition :
Adjective showing the kind or quality of nouns or pronouns are called Adjective of
Quality
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nice
bold
wonderful
smart
heavy
good
wise
clever
e.g.
He is a good boy
David is good
My friend is wise
Taj Mahal is wonderful
Sara is a smart girl
Rose is a beautiful flower
ADJECTIVE OF QUANTITY
(Quantitative Adjective)
Definition :
Adjective which shows the quantity of thing is called the Adjective of Quantity.
e.g.
He ate the whole apple
She spent all her moneys
I ate some rise
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There was no milk in the jug.
We have had enough exercise
ADJECTIVE OF NUMBER
(Numeral Adjective)
Definition :
Adjective which expresses the number of persons or things is called the Adjective of
Number or Numeral Adjective
Adjectives of Number (or Numeral Adjectives) are of three kinds :-
Definite Numeral Adjectives, which denote an exact number; as,
Definite Numeral Adjectives,
Cardinals
One
Two
Three
Ordinals
First
Second
Third
Indefinite Numeral Adjectives, which do not denote an exact number; as,
Indefinite Numeral Adjectives,
All
No
Many
Few
Some
Any
Certain
Several
Sundry
Distributive Numeral Adjectives, which refer to each one of a number; as.,
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Each boy must take his turn
India expects every man to do his duty.
Every word of it is false.
Either pen will do
e.g.
I wrote two letters
The hand has five fingers
Few dogs look well
All men must die
Most boys like football
There are ten class rooms in our school
Differents between Adjectives of Quantity and Adjectives of Number
Adjectives of Quantity
Adjectives of Number
I have enough sugar
There are not enough spoons
He did not eat any rice
Are there any mango-trees in this garden?
You have no sense
There are no pictures in this book
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I ate some rice
Some boys are clever
DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVE
Definition :
This Adjective straight=awa y points out the person or thing concerned
The four words this, that, these and those are called demonstratives. When they are followed by some other
word (especially a noun) in a noun phrase, they are demonstrative determiners. We use this and these to
point to people or things near us. You use that and those to point to people or things that are farther from
us.
Singular
Plural
This
These
That
Those
They are used to tell which thing or person you mean.
e.g.
I am ready to buy this house
I want to look at that house
These are the times that try mens souls
That boy is intelligent
Those cows are white
INTERROGATIVE ADJECTIVE
Definition :
Interrogative Adjectives are used with nouns to ask questions.
What
Which
Whom
These words are called interrogative determiners or interrrogative adjectives.
e.g.
What color is her hair?
Whose car is this?
Whose
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Which road leads to the zoo?
Whome do you want to meet?
Whose shop is closed?
POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVE
Definition :
This Adjective expresses the state of possession of nouns.
Possessive adjectives show possession or ownership: my, her, his, its, our, their, your. because they are used
with nouns and do the work of Adjectives. When placed before nouns function like adjectives; they qualify
the noun directly.
e.g.
My aim in life is to become a doctor
Is this your desk?
Mike crashed his bike into a wall
Her sister sings in a sweet voice
The dog was licking its paws
Mike and Peter have invited me to their party
These possessive adjectives are used according to the number, gender, and person of the noun instead
of which they are used and the y can be classified as follows:
Number
Person
Singular
Plural
First Person
my (Masculine or Feminine)
our (Masculine or Feminine)
Second Person
your (Masculine or Feminine)
your (Masculine or Feminine)
his (Masculine)
her (Feminine)
Third Person
its (Neuter or Common)
their (All genders)
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Possessive Adjectives are somethings called Pronominal Adjectives, as they are formed from Pronouns. The
word his is used both as an Adjective and as a Pronoun; as
Possessive Adjective
This is his pen
Possessive Pronoun
This pen is his
DISTRIBUTIVE ADJECTIVE
Definition :
This Adjective expresses the distributive state of nouns.
e.g.
On either side of the canal there were long fields of barley
Every boy has one or the other pet
Neither of the tow men is trustworthy
Each girl in our class is well-versed in music
PROPER ADJECTIVE
Definition :
Adjective that is formed from proper noun is called proper Adjective.
Proper adjectives are derived from proper nouns and are almost always capitalized
e.g.
An Indian girl
An English woman
An American dollar
They stole a priceless Elizabethan watch
DEGREES OF ADJECTIVE
Definition :
Ever y adjective has three degrees of its own. They are : Positive, Comparative, Superlative degrees.
There are two types of Adjectives :
Regular Adjectives
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Definition :
Regular adjectives make their comparative and superlative forms by adding er and est.
e.g.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
bold
bolder
boldest
bright
brighter
brightest
black
blacker
blackest
great
greater
greatest
old
older
oldest
proud
prouder
proudest
warm
warmer
warmest
mean
meaner
meanest
Some adjectives are added with only r to form comparative and st to form superlative degree.
e.g.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
able
abler
ablest
true
truer
truest
simple
simpler
simplest
nice
nicer
nicest
Some adjectives are added with consonant + er to form comparative and consonant + est to
form superlatie degree
e.g.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
fat
fatter
fattest
red/td>
redder
reddest
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sad
sadder
saddest
Some adjectives add er and est to form comparative and superlative by replacing the last letter y into
i
e.g.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
dry
drier
driest
busy
busier
busiest
early
earlier
earliest
ugly
uglier
ugliest
If an adjective has two or more than tow syllables we use more or most to form comparative and
superlative degree
e.g.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
active
more active
most active
beautiful
more beautiful
most beautiful
careful
more careful
most careful
proper
more proper
most proper
faithful
more faithful
most faithful
Irregular Adjectives
When there is a complete change in comparative and superlative degrees, they are called irregular
adjectives.
e.g.
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
good
better
best
bad
worse
worst
little
less
least
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old
older
oldest
far
farther
farthest
