Adjectives

ADJECTIVES

Definition of Adjectives

• Adjectives are words that:

  • Describe, limit, or modify nouns, pronouns, or groups of words functioning as nouns.

  • Answer the questions:

  • What kind? (e.g. white house)

  • Which one? (e.g. the right path)

  • How many? (e.g. fifteen students)

• • How much? (e.g. intensive review)

Formation of Adjectives

• Adjectives can be formed by adding derivational endings or suffixes to nouns or verbs. Common suffixes include:

  • -ant, -ary, -ative, -ory, -en, -ent, -ic, -ive, -some

  • Examples:

  • accountable, detachable, creditable

  • resistible, responsible, compatible

  • mathematical, critical, rational

  • Additional suffixes:

  • -able (e.g. durable)

  • -ible (e.g. accessible)

  • -al (e.g. regional)

  • -ed (e.g. excited)

  • -ful (e.g. joyful)

  • -ish (e.g. foolish)

  • -less (e.g. endless)

  • -ous (e.g. curious)

  • -y (e.g. rainy)

Kinds of Adjectives

1. Descriptive Adjectives

   • Attributes a certain quality to a noun or a pronoun.

   • Examples:

     • Green, leafy vegetables are a rich source of Vitamin K.

     • Generous people selflessly give help to the poor.

     • Our book for this course is very informative.

2. Limiting Adjectives

   • Limits the class to which the word belongs or indicates number or quality.

   • Includes articles (a, an, the):

     • Example: a road, an apple, the car

   • Pronominal adjectives are limiting adjectives that replace or represent an understood noun (e.g. demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these, those).

3. Proper Adjectives

   • Derived from proper nouns.

   • Examples: Filipino values, American pie, Philippine sea.

4. Noun Modifiers

   • Describes another noun, specifying types or characteristics.

   • Examples:

     • plastic bag, paper bag, industrial diamonds.

Compound Adjectives

• Formed by combining two, three, or four words (written as one word or hyphenated), conveying a meaning different from the individual words.

• Example: English-speaking country.

Structure and Position of Adjectives

• Adjectives may come in various structures: single words, phrases, or clauses.

  • Example frames:

  • noun/pronoun + adjective + verb

  • noun/pronoun + adjective + noun

  • verb + adjective + noun

Physical Descriptions and Qualifiers

• Adjectives can describe:

  • Size, Shape, Age, Color, or Origin of nouns. Examples include:

  • big, round, brown bamboo chair

  • young Filipina candidates

  • dynamic veteran Filipino university president

Comparison of Adjectives

Degrees of Comparison

1. Positive Degree

   • Used when the noun or pronoun is not compared to any other entity.

     • Example: Mayon volcano is amazing.

2. Comparative Degree

   • Used to compare two entities.

   • Common usage of than.

   • Formation rules:

     • Single syllable adjectives take -er (e.g. tall → taller).

     • Two-syllable adjectives ending in y change y to i and add -er (e.g. happy → happier).

     • More than two-syllable adjectives require more (e.g. beautiful → more beautiful).

   • Example: White is clearer than gray.

3. Superlative Degree

   • Used to compare three or more entities.

   • Formation rules:

     • Single syllable adjectives take -est (e.g. tall → tallest).

     • Two-syllable adjectives ending in y change y to i and add -est (e.g. happy → happiest).

     • More than two-syllable adjectives require most (e.g. beautiful → most beautiful).

   • Example: Which is the most beautiful among these flowers?

Rules to Remember for Modifiers

1. Avoid Redundancy

   • Use only one indicator of degree.

     • Incorrect: Our classroom is more wider than theirs.

     • Correct: Our classroom is wider than theirs.

2. Proper Use of Adjectives and Adverbs

   • A noun/pronoun requires an adjective as a modifier; adjectives, verbs, or adverbs require adverbs.

     • Incorrect: She presented the lesson quick.

     • Correct: She presented the lesson quickly.

3. Comparison

   • Use comparative degree for two entities; use superlative degree for three or more entities.

     • Incorrect: Yago is brightest than Dante.

     • Correct: Yago is brighter than Dante.

Regular Comparative and Superlative Forms

Irregular Comparative and Superlative Forms

Additional Notes

• Adjectives must be used correctly based on their function within sentences. Incorrect usage can lead to confusion and miscommunication.

• The study of adjectives is vital for constructing clear and coherent sentences in English grammar.