Adjectives
Adjectives are words that are used to modify nouns. They offer more information about the noun after them.
What Are Adjectives?
'Adjectives' are words that are used to describe a noun or pronoun and provide more information about it. Adjectives answer questions such as 'What kind?' 'Which one?' and 'Whose is it?'
Look at these two sentences to understand better:
My kids are playing with the puppy.
My
However, adjectives do more than describe nouns. They can also act as a subject complement to linking verbs.
She was
This is the
The man was really
Different Types of Adjectives
We can categorize adjectives based on different categories:
Based on Placement
Based on their position in a sentence, i.e. where they appear in a sentence, they can be categorized into two main groups:
Based on Capitalization
Based on whether their first letter is capitalized or not, adjectives can have two groups:
Based on Gradeability
Based on gradeability, adjectives can be categorized into two main groups:
Based on Comparability
Based on comparability, adjectives can be categorized into two main groups:
Based on Formation
Based on how they are formed, we can categorize adjectives into two types:
using the superlative form of the adjective 'happy'
Based on Degree
Some adjectives are comparable and this comparison is called degree. For example, a person may be 'nice,' but another person may be 'nicer,' and a third person may be the 'nicest' of the three. Based on this comparison, adjectives can be:
- Base Form of Adjectives
- Comparative Adjectives
- Superlative Adjectives
Based on Restrictiveness
Whether the attributive adjectives are necessary to the whole meaning of the sentence or not, they can be categorized into two groups:
Adjective Placement
Adjectives can come before a corresponding noun or they can come after a corresponding noun. Basically, in English, placement of adjectives can be classified into one of three categories:
- Prepositive adjectives (also called attributive adjectives): appear before the noun
- Postpositive adjectives: appear immediately after a noun or after a linking verb
- Nominalized adjectives: function as nouns and appear alone
Nominal Adjectives
'Nominal (also called substantive)' adjectives almost act as a noun. It means that they were supposed to be followed by a noun, but somehow the noun after them is omitted. Yet, you can easily understand what the adjective is referring to. Check out the examples:
It has been set up to help the
The charity dedicated $100 to the
In this example, by 'poor' we mean the 'poor people.'
Determiners vs. Adjectives
One of the differences between 'determiners' and 'adjectives' is that determiners are only used before nouns, while adjectives can also be used after verbs. Another difference between them is in the number of them before a noun.
I am supposed to submit
We can have an unlimited set of adjectives before nouns while using only one determiner is permitted before nouns. It is important to know that we cannot omit a determiner before a noun, but omitting adjectives makes no harm.
She had
Here is a table that can help you understand the differences between determiners and adjectives.
| determiner + determiner | ✗ | adjective + adjective | ✓ |
| determiner + adjective | ✓ | adjective + determiner | ✗ |
| determiner + noun | ✓ | adjective + noun | ✓ |
| noun + determiner | ✗ | noun + adjective | ✗ |
| verb + determiner | ✗ | verb + adjective | ✓ |
| can omit determiner | ✗ | can omit adjective | ✓ |
What Is an Adjective Phrase?
An adjective phrase is a group of words that functions as an adjective and modifies a noun or pronoun in a sentence.
The smell of
What is an Adjective Clause?
'Adjective clauses' are also known as 'relative clauses' because actually there is a 'relative clause' (we mean a relative pronoun followed by a clause) preceded by a noun. And the clause defines the noun. Here are some examples of adjective clauses:
The man
The door
Agreement
In some languages, such as French, adjectives change their form to reflect the gender, case, and number of the noun they describe. This is called agreement. In English, adjectives never agree.
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