Adjective: Definition, kinds, and Examples
Adjective: Definition, kinds, and
Examples
One of the most important components of a sentence is
the adjective. This part of speech is so common that people use it almost
automatically, both in speech and in writing. For you to understand the concept
of adjectives better this Lecture will answer the following questions:
·
Overview |
·
What is an adjective? |
·
What are the functions of
adjectives? |
·
What are the different
kinds of adjectives? |
·
What are the degrees of adjectives? |
·
Conclusion |
Aside
from answering the basic questions and defining the related terms, various
examples will also be included in this short write-up.
What is an Adjective
and its Functions?
An adjective is a part of speech which describes, identifies or quantifies a noun or a pronoun.
So basically, the main function of an adjective is to modify a noun or a
pronoun so that it will become more specific and interesting. Instead of
just one word, a group of words with a subject and a verb can also function as an adjective. When
this happens, the group of words is called an adjective clause.
For example:
My brother, who is much older than I am, is an
astronaut.
In the example above, the underlined clause modifies the noun”
brother.” But what if the group of words doesn’t have a subject and a verb?
What do you think the resulting group of words will be called?
If you think it’s called an adjective phrase, you are right.
As you might recall, phrases and clauses are both groups of words and the main difference
is that clauses have subjects and verbs, while phrases don’t.
For example, She is prettier than you.
What are the Different Kinds of Adjectives?
Now that you already know the answer to the question, “What
is an adjective?” you should know that not all adjectives are the same. They
modify nouns and pronouns differently, and just like the other parts of speech, there
are different kinds of adjectives. These are:
1. Descriptive Adjectives
Among the different kinds of adjectives, descriptive
adjectives are probably the most common ones. They simply say something about
the quality or the kind of the noun or pronoun they’re referring to. Adjective
showing the kind or quality of nouns or pronouns is called Adjective of
Quality. Examples: small, tall, young, mild, bitter
Examples:
·
Erika is witty.
·
She is tired.
·
Adrian’s reflexes
are amazing.
·
You look very smart in that
suit.
2. Adjectives of Number or Adjectives of
Quantity
As the name suggests, adjective
which shows the quantity of noun or pronoun. this kind of adjective answers the
question, “How many?” or “How much?”
Examples:
·
Twenty-one students
failed the exam.
·
The plants
need more water.
·
I didn’t have
enough clothes to last a week.
3. Demonstrative
Adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives point out “which one”
Examples:
·
I used to
buy this kind of shirts.
·
When the old man tripped
over that wire, he dropped a whole bag of groceries.
·
I think you’ll find
these more comfortable than those.
4. Possessive Adjectives
Obviously, this kind of adjectives shows ownership or
possession. Aside from that, possessive adjectives always come before the noun.
Possessive adjectives show possession or ownership: my, her, his, its, our,
their, and your, etc.
Examples:
·
I can’t answer my seatwork
because I don’t have a calculator.
·
Talat sold his dog.
·
Where’s my passport?
·
Where are my books
·
Who stole their pencils?
5. Interrogative
Adjectives
Interrogative adjectives ask
questions (what, which, whose) and
are always followed by a noun.
Examples:
·
What movie are you watching?
·
Which plants should be
placed over here?
·
What assignment is that?
·
Which book is yours?
·
Whose pencil do you have?
6. Proper Adjective:
An adjective that is
formed from a proper noun is called proper Adjective.
For example:
·
He is an Australian
citizen.
·
I often visit an Italian restaurant.
·
Do you read any of the Shakespearean
drama?
·
I love to eat French
bread.
v What are the Degrees of Adjectives?
There are only three degrees or levels of adjectives (also
known as degrees of comparison) namely, positive, comparative,
and superlative. When you talk about or describe only a single person,
place, or thing, you should use the
positive degree.
Examples:
·
She
is a beautiful lady.
·
It was
a memorable trip.
If on the other hand, you are comparing two persons, places,
or things, it is appropriate to use the comparative degree of the word.
Normally, you will need to add “-er” to transform the word into its comparative
form or add the word “more.” Also, the word “than” should be added after the
adjective in the comparative degree.
Examples:
·
This swimming pool
is bigger than that one.
·
Ayesha is more
intelligent than Kinza.
*Note: For words
ending in “y,” you should first change the “y” into “I,” and then add “-er” (e.g., lovely-lovelier; pretty- prettier;
tasty- tastier)
Lastly, if you are comparing more than two things, the superlative form of the adjectives
should be used and the word “the” should be added before the adjective. In
order to transform the adjective into its superlative form, you just have to
add the suffix “-est” or the word “most.”
Examples:
·
That is by far,
the tallest tree I have ever seen in my entire life.
·
This is the most
crucial match of the season.
*Note: For words ending in “y,” you should first change the
“y” into “I,” and then add “-est” (e.g.,
lovely-loveliest; pretty- prettiest; tasty- tastiest)
Conclusion
This lecture can be very helpful for the students who want
to improve their grammar skills and ace the English subject. If you really have
a deep understanding of what is an adjective, you will surely be able to apply
this concept to your compositions properly. Just remember that although
adjectives seem a little trivial, an effective use of this part of speech can
actually strengthen your writing.
Labels: Functional English
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