WHAT IS AN ADJECTIVE?

An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun by describing, identifying, or

quantifying words. An adjective usually precedes the noun or the pronoun which it
modifies.

In the following examples, the highlighted words are adjectives:

The truck-shaped balloon floated over the treetops.
Mrs. Morrison papered her kitchen walls with hideous wall paper.
The small boat foundered on the wine dark sea.

An adjective can be modified by an adverb, or by a phrase or clause functioning
as an adverb.


KINDS OF ADJECTIVES

Descriptive Adjectives are the most common type: they modify nouns by
naming a quality or a condition of the person, thing, or place named:

The highlighted words in the following examples below are descriptive
adjectives.

yellow butterfly expensive ring incredible story

Limiting Adjectives point out the person, place or thing referred to.

The highlighted words in the following examples below are limiting adjectives.

a helicopter the philosophy an expert

Prominal Adjectives are pronouns used as modifiers. The following are the
kinds of prominal adjectives.

A possessive adjective (my, your, his, her, its, our and their) is similar or identical
to a possessive pronoun: however, it is used as an adjective and modifies a noun or a
noun phrase, as in the following sentences:

I cant complete my assignment because I dont have the textbook.

In this sentence, the possessive adjective my modifies assignment and the
noun phrase my assignment functions as an object. Note that the possessive pronoun
form mine is not used to modify a noun or noun phrase.

What is your phone number?

Here the possessive adjective your is used to modify the noun phrase phone
number: the entire noun phrase your phone number is a subject complement. Note
that the possessive pronoun form yours is not used to modify a noun or a noun
phrase.

The demonstrative adjectives (this, these, that, those, and such) are
identical to the demonstrative pronouns, but are used as adjectives to modify nouns or
noun phrases, as in the following sentences:

When the librarian tripped over that cord, she dropped a pile of books.

In this sentence, the demonstrative adjective that modifies the noun cord
and the non phrase that cord is the object of the preposition over.

This apartment needs to be fumigated.

Here this modifies apartment and the noun phrase this apartment is the
subject of the sentence.

An interrogative adjective (which, whose, or what) is like an interrogative
pronoun, except that it modifies a noun or noun phrase rather than standing on its own.

Which plants should be watered twice a week?

Like other adjectives, which can be used to modify a noun or a noun phrase. In
this example, which modifies plants and the noun phrase which plants, is the
subject of the compound verb should be watered.

What book are you reading?

In this sentence, what modifies book and the noun phrase what book is
the direct object of the compound verb are reading.

An indefinite adjective is similar to an indefinite pronoun, except that it
modifies a noun, pronoun or noun phrase, as in the following sentences:

Many people believe that corporations are under-taxed.

The indefinite adjective many modifies the noun people and the noun
phrase many people is the subject of the sentence.

I will send you any mail that arrives after you have moved to Sudbury.

The indefinite adjective any modifies the noun mail and the noun phrase
any mail is the direct object of the compound verb will send.

A relative adjective is similar to a relative pronoun, except that it modifies a
noun, pronoun, or noun phrase, as in the following sentences.

The man whose name was called could not answer.

The relative adjective whose modifies the noun name.

She cant tell which one is missing.

The relative adjective which modifies the pronoun one.

A numerical adjective is an adjective that answers the questions how many.
Numerical adjectives may be cardinal or ordinal.

There are three visitors in the living room.

The adjective three is a cardinal adjective that gives the number or quantity of
the noun modified.

She is in the first contestant to finish the challenge.

The adjective first is an ordinal adjective that indicates number serially.

Proper Adjectives are similar to proper nouns, except that they are used as
modifiers, as in the following sentences.

Her store sells Italian furniture.

In this sentence, the proper adjective Italian modifies the noun furniture and
the noun phrase Italian furniture is used as objective of the verb sells.

Filipino values are discussed in his book.

Here, the proper adjective Filipino is used to modify the noun values, and
the noun phrase Filipino values is used as subject of the sentence.

Common Adjectives are similar to common nouns, except that they are used as
modifiers, as in the following sentences.

The marble table in the corner of the garden is really expensive.

The common adjective marble modifies the noun table, and the noun phrase
marble table functions as subject of the sentence.

The handle of the leather bag is broken.

Here the common adjective leather modifies the noun bag, and the noun
phrase leather bag is used as subject of the preposition of.


POSITIONS OF ADJECTIVES

When a series of modifiers precedes a noun, the modifiers may be placed in the
order illustrated below.

Limiting
Demonstrative
Numeral Descriptive Proper
or
Common
Noun
Ordinal Cardinal Quality or
Appearance
Size
or
Shape
Color
The Third Science Project
That Attractive White Window Curtain
Her First
Three
Expensive Rings
Many Oval Patterns


COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES

There are three degrees of comparison of adjectives: the positive, comparative,
and the superlative. These three forms show a greater or lesser degree of the
characteristics of he basic word.

The positive degree is the base word. (e.g., low, large, pretty, etc.) It does not
compare a person, thing or quality as having different degrees of a characteristic.
However, this degree can be used to compare a person, thing or quality of the same
characteristics. This form of comparison is expressed by using as as in the
affirmative and ht not so as or not as as in the negative.

Peter is a brave boy.
Peter is as brave as John.

Some adjectives have only the positive and the superlative degrees.

Top top most
Bottom bottom most

Some adjectives, the absolute, do not normally form comparative and
superlative degrees because they express a final and complete quality in the nouns they
modify. These are also called classifying adjectives (e.g. equal, eternal, parallel,
perfect). However, absolute adjectives can be modified by the adverbs almost and
nearly (e.g. almost perfect, nearly equal).

Some adjectives ending in or do not have a positive form. As comparative
adjectives, they are followed by to instead of than (e.g. senior, superior, inferior,
junior).

The comparative degree is used in comparing two persons or things (e.g. lower,
larger, prettier)

It denotes a higher or lower degree of quality than the positive.

It is expressed by using the comparative forms with than in the affirmative and
not. And than in the negative.

better than - not better than
taller than - not taller than

Some comparisons are implied.

My mother is better today. (meaning she is better than she was before)

A parallel increase is expressed b the use the before the comparative and
another the before the second comparative.

The bigger debt, the greater will be the security.

A gradual increase is expressed by repeating the comparatives and joining them
by and.

The story is becoming more and more interesting

Use much before the comparative for emphasis.

She is luck but he is much luckier.

The comparative degree more can be used to compare two qualities of the
same person or thing. In such constructions more is added to the adjective.

He is more clever than intelligent.

The comparative form can be used to ask questions involving choice.

What will you have, coffee or tea?


The comparative degree of adjectives is formed in the following ways:

1. One syllable adjectives form their comparative degree by adding er to the
positive (e.g., new-newer, deep-deeper)

Some adjectives with two syllables also form their comparative degree by adding
er (e.g. clever cleverer, humble-humbler)

2. In some one-syllable adjectives, the last consonant is doubled before er is
added to form the comparative degree (e.g., thin-thinner, fit-fitter)

3. Adjectives which end in y and which letter follows a consonant, form their
comparative degree by changing y into i and adding er to the positive
form (e.g., dry-drier, easy-easier)

4. Some adjectives of two or more syllables take more or less with the positive
degree to form comparative degree (e.g., doubtful-more doubtful or less
doubtful)

5. One syllable adjectives ending in r form their comparative and superlative
degrees by adding th (e.g. far farther)

6. Some adjectives are formed by adding ful to a noun and inserting more or
less before the new word, the comparative (e.g. remorse-remorseful-more
remorseful or less remorseful)

7. Some adjectives ending in se form their comparative by putting more or
less before them (e.g. concise more concise or less concise)


The superlative degree is used in comparing more than two persons or things
(e.g. the largest ship). It is used to denote the highest or lowest degree.

The superlative degree or adjectives is formed in the following ways:

1. Many adjectives whether with one or more than one syllable, form their
superlative degrees by adding est to the positive (e.g., strong-strongest)

2. One-syllable adjectives ending in e form their superlative degree by adding
st (e.g. strange strangest)

3. In some one-syllable adjectives, the last consonant is doubled and est is
added to form the superlative degree (e.g., thin-thinnest)

4. Adjectives ending in y and which letter follows a consonant, change y to
i and add est to form their superlative degree (e.g., silly-silliest)

5. Some adjectives of three or more syllables add most or least before the
positive to form their superlative (e.g., practical most practical or least
practical)

There are adjectives that more than one accepted forms of comparative and
superlative degrees (e.g., handsome more handsome/less handsome/handsomer/ for
the comparative and most handsome/least handsome/handsomest for the superlative.)

There are adjectives that form their comparative and superlative degrees in
various ways (e.g., good better for the comparative and best for the superlative; bad
worse for the comparative and worst for the superlative.