The ADJECTIVES (COMART1)

THE ADJECTIVES

                  An adjective is a part of speech used to describe or limit a noun or a noun equivalent.  Many adjectives are being coined by adding a derivational ending or suffix to a noun or verb.  Some suffixes commonly added are the following:

-able                -ible             -al              -ed                  -ful

comfortable     credible        medical      beloved          dutiful
formidable       edible           surgical      worked           soulful
passable           irreducible   practical     aged               scornful


-ish                  -less             -ous                -y
foolish             hopeless       dolorous         thorny
bluish               lawless        analogous       balmy
mannish           fruitless       amorous          squashy


KINDS OF ADJECTIVES

1. DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES are the most common type.  They modify nouns by naming a quality or condition of the person, thing, or place named.

        Examples:
        blue eyes                   difficult words              pretty girl
        poor man                   intelligent boy              fat pocketbook

2. LIMITING ADJECTIVES points out the person, place or thing referred to.

        Examples:
                            A teacher                   the school house
                            An engineer               the butterfly

3. PRONOMINAL ADJECTIVES are pronouns used as modifiers.

The Main List of Pronominal Pronouns

• There are several pronouns that are used in everyday vernacular. This is a basic list of those pronouns, and then the pronouns will be broken down into different types. The main pronouns are: that, these, those, this, which, what, each, every, neither, some, latter, former, much, such, whole, all, few, fewer, fewest, first, last, little, many, more, both, another, one, any, none, other, most, own, same, several, certain and enough.

Reciprocal Pronouns

• Reciprocal pronouns are pronouns that are related to each other in a reciprocal way. The reciprocal pronouns include each, other, and one another, words that can be used to relate to other words within the sentence.

  Example: Each of the two books can be picked up at the library.
  "Each" is used to replace the titles of the two separate books.

Indefinite Pronouns

• Indefinite pronouns put the spotlight on a certain item without question, and use the words another, other, such, whole, any, all, none, one, or some.

  Example: All of the football players are going out to dinner after the game.
  "All" is used to replace the names of the members of the team, as the entire team will be going to dinner after the game.

Demonstrative Pronouns

• Demonstrative pronouns are the words same, this, that, these, former and latter. They demonstratively point out different items in a sentence by establishing specifics within the sentence.

  Example: This is my favorite movie.
  "This" is used to describe a specific movie. Not just any movie, "this" specific movie, is the favorite.

Distributive Pronouns

• Distributive pronouns takes the place of words that are being discussed singularly. The distributive pronouns include the words each, every, either, and neither.

  Example: Each of the apples in the basket are red and shiny.
  "Each" is being used to talk about the individual apples. "Each" specific apple is red and shiny.

  Numerical (Numeral) Pronouns: replaces  noun and specifies a quantity of it in the form of a specific number.

  Function: indicate how many of a group of people, places or things do or are something.
• cardinal: one book, two teachers, three tablets, etc.
• ordinal: first boy, second girl, etc.

1. Demonstrative adjectives- this, that, these, those
Ex: 
this dress
that bird
these books
those pants

2. Possessive adjectives- my, our, your, his, her, its, their
Ex:
my report
their old house
its wings
his grandmother
your share
our agenda

3. Distributive adjectives- each, every, either, neither
Ex:
every pupil
either boy
each contestant
neither girl

4. Interrogative adjectives- which, what, whose
Ex:
which coat
what number
whose wallet

5. Indefinite adjectives- some, any, all, few, several, many both, little, much, more, most
Ex:
some children
all compositions
several pages
both sides

4. PROPER ADJECTIVES are derived from proper nouns.

                     French possesions                 Elizabeth drama
                     Filipino culture                      American value
                     Putian manners                      British idioms

ANOTHER WAY OF CLASSIFYING ADJECTIVES

             According to its position in a sentence an adjective is either attributive or predicate.

-An attribute adjective modifies a noun directly as in old grandmother.  It is placed next to the noun it modifies usually preceding it.

-Sometimes an attributive adjective my follow the noun and be seperated from it by a comma as in:

Example:  A girl, sweet, simple, and gentle is hard to find nowadays.
                 When the attributive follows the noun, it is sometimes called an appositive adjective.

-Predicate adjectives come after linking verbs.  (review the lesson on verbs for a complete list)

Example:    The man is tall.
                    She appeared sorry.

-Coordinate adjectives are two adjectives modifying the same.  They are coordinate if they can be joined by and.  In some cases the second adjective is so closely linked with the noun.

Example:    Francis is a faithful, sincere friend.
                   (the adjectives are coordinate in thought: faithful and sincere, they both modify friend)

                   We saw a grand, awe-inspiring sunset.
                   (the adjectives are co-ordinate)

Other Uses of Adjectives

1.  Preceded by an article, words that are ordinarily adjectives may be found in the position of the noun as subject.

Example:             The just will receive their reward in heaven.
                             The rich wallow in luxury.
                             The rich live in palatial homes, the poor in hovels.
                             The unemployed hope for better times.

2.  Adjectives may also occur in an object position after a verb or a preposition.

Example:             We have great sympathy for the poor
                             We reverse the good and the true.
                             Who doesn't love the beautiful in life?