What’s an Adjective?
The noun is one of the essential parts of speech. It is a word that is frequently used in a sentence. However, to describe its quality, quantity, number, etc., a supporting element is necessary. That supporting element is called the adjective. The use of adjectives is primarily descriptive.
Oliver gave two apples to Sam. Here, the adjective two describes how many apples Oliver gave to Sam. Basically, adjectives modify nouns and add something to its meaning.
There are two ways how adjectives can be utilized:
1. Attributively: Greedy Maya lost everything. In this sentence, the ‘greedy’ (adjec) is used along with the noun ‘Maya’ as an attribute. Therefore, here the adjective is utilized attributively.
2. Predicatively: Maya is greedy. In this sentence, the adjective ‘greedy’ (adjec) is utilized along with the verb ‘is.’ It forms a part of the predicate, and therefore, it is called using the adjective predicatively.
List of Adjectives:
Adjectives are majorly divided into seven different types. This division is done on the type of information they provide about the noun.
Adjectives of Quality
They describe the quality.
A red box is placed on the table. Here, ‘red’ is an adjective as it describes the quality of a box.
Adjectives of Quantity
These words describe quantity (how much). There is little time let left to finish the task. The term ‘little’ is an adjective as it describes the quantity of time.
Adjectives of Number
These words describe the number (how many) of nouns. You are allowed to take only one thing from the shop. Here, ‘one’ is the adjective describing that only one thing is allowed to be taken.
Demonstrative Adjectives
These words are used for pointing out a noun. This car is blue. The term ‘this’ is utilized like an adjective here because it points out a car.
Interrogative Adjectives
These words are utilized when one requires asking questions along with the obect. Which shape will fit fine? The adjective used along with shape is ‘which;’ the word which asks a question regarding the shape.
Emphasizing Adjectives
There are two adjectives that are usually used for emphasis- ‘own’ and ‘very.’ I have seen something moving there with my own eyes.
Exclamatory Adjectives
It is a lesser-used adjective type. The word ‘what’ is used for exclamatory purposes. What a day! The sentence has ‘what’ as the adjective used along with ‘day’ showing exclamation. Use descriptive words to modify the perception of a person, event, or thing.
What are the 3 types of adjectives?
When you need to compare two or more things having the same quality but different degrees, the use of adjectives for comparison is essential. Adjectives have three different forms to express comparison. They are called the three Degrees of Comparison, which are Positive, Comparative, and Superlative.
Comparative is between two objects and superlative is for an object that is incomparable, top of the class. One can say that comparative and superlative differ in levels but must describe a similar aspect. Here are examples:
She is a beautiful lady. Here, the ‘beautiful’ is utilized in the positive degree. In the case of a positive degree, the adjective is placed in its simple form.
These guys are stronger than I thought. Here, the word ‘stronger’ describes in the comparative degree. In the comparative degree, the adjective is used to denote a higher degree than the positive degree.
This one is the largest animal I have seen ever. Here, the word ‘largest’ is utilized in the superlative degree. In the superlative degree, the adjective is used to describe its highest possible degree.
List of adjectives for kids
The table added below shows samples of widely used adjectives along with their different degrees. Let’s see what these examples are:
Adjectives used as a noun
Adjectives are often used as nouns as shown by the following examples:
1. Adjectives are placed as plural nouns to denote the class of people or groups.
The rich (rich people) have no idea how we are surviving. The adjective ‘rich’ is utilized as a noun here indicating the whole class of rich people.
2. Adjectives are placed like single nouns when they need to describe some abstract quality.
She is an admirer of the beautiful. The word ‘beautiful’ describes the abstract quality of beauty.
3. Sometimes adjectives actually become nouns themselves when derived from proper nouns.
Example: Americans, French, juniors, criminals, etc. They normally work as nouns.
4. In some exclusive phrases like before long; for good; in short; from bad to worse.
Position of Adjectives
It is necessary to know how to position the adjective. Note that the wrong positioning of adjectives may lead to improper formation of sentences, and even changes the meaning of a sentence. Here are examples:
While using adjectives attributively, it is placed immediately before the noun.
Consider the following examples and check the position of adjectives:
- An old man’s house.
- A man’s old house.
In sentence one, the adjective ‘poor’ is placed before the ‘man’ and it shows the quality of the man. However, when placed after the man, it shows the quality of the houses. With the change in position, even the meaning of the adjective changes.
In the case of poetry or poetic phases, it is common to apply adjectives after the ‘noun.’ Oh my love dear, will you be there? The adjective ‘dear’ is placed after the noun to make the sentence appear poetic.
When there is more than one adjective attached to the noun, they can be placed after the noun for emphasis. The essay, easy and short, will be completed in minutes. The adjectives ‘easy’ and ‘short’ are placed after the noun ‘essay’ for its emphasis.
When a phrase or a single word is attached to adjectives exhibiting the meaning, the adjective is placed after the noun. She was a woman expert in her art. The adjective ‘expert’ requires its placement after the noun women as the phrase ‘her art’ justifies the placement of the adjective.
Exclusive rules of using some adjectives
You need to know the particular use of words to modify your application. Here are examples:
Little, a little, the
- Students showed little concern about their exams. Little is utilized as an adjective indicating ‘not much.’ Therefore, it has a negative meaning.
- There is little hope that he will come back. A little when utilized as an adjective indicated ‘some but not enough.’ It is utilized to bring positivity to a sentence.
- The little help we had was useless. The little, when utilized as an adjective, means ‘it’s not much but all there is.’
Few, a few, the few
- Few people want him to win. Few, when utilized as an adjective, indicates ‘not many or hardly any.’ Therefore, it has a negative meaning.
- A few workers are coming to help you. A few, when utilized as an adjective, indicated ‘some.’ It is utilized to bring positivity to a sentence. It is considered as opposed to ‘none.’
- The few friends I have are the great ones. The few means ‘it’s not many, but all there is.’
Each, every
- Each is utilized for addressing all the individuals of a group with emphasis. Whereas, every addresses the whole group at once.
- Mainly, each is utilized when there are a limited number of people or things in a group. Every is utilized when the group has an indefinite number.
Examples:
- Each one of you must come.
- Every person is going there.
Now that you know what adjectives are, I’m sure your sentences will be much more descriptive.
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