Adjectives
Adjectives are one of the four major word classes, along with nouns, verbs and adverbs. Examples of adjectives are: big, small, blue, old, rich and nice. They give us more information about people, animals or things represented by nouns and pronouns:
That’s a big house.
Look at the grey horse.
Some dogs have long tails.
She is tall.
Adjectives are one of the four major word classes, along with nouns, verbs and adverbs. Examples of adjectives are: big, small, blue, old, rich and nice. They give us more information about people, animals or things represented by nouns and pronouns:
That’s a big house.
Look at the grey horse.
Some dogs have long tails.
She is tall.
Meanings of adjectives
Adjectives give us more information. They modify or describe features and qualities of people, animals and things.
Here are some of the common meanings.
examples
meaning
I am fond of ice cream.
Cairo is differentfrom Alexandria.
His car is similar to mine.
Other examples:
keen (on), near (to), aware (of)
Relations between people and things. These adjectives usually require a word or phrase (complement) to complete their meaning.
He’s generous.
She’s a kindwoman.
The waiter was verypolite.
Other examples:
talkative, cruel, cooperative, helpful, useful
Descriptions of people and things in terms of their actions.
That’s an old house.
The Olympic stadium is big.
Other examples:
tall, old, good, rough, true, ugly, red, heavy
Features that will last a long time or will not change (permanent).
Anyone hungry? Lunch is nearly ready.
It’s so cold in Nick’s house.
Other examples:
absent, ill, dry, full, lonely, wet, hot, thirsty, angry
States and conditions that can change.
I saw a greatFrench film last night.
I don’t like modernpaintings.
I live in a detachedhouse.
Other examples:
organic (vegetables), impressionist (painter), wild (salmon)
Classifying people and things into types.
Adjectives give us more information. They modify or describe features and qualities of people, animals and things.
Here are some of the common meanings.
examples
|
meaning
|
Other examples:
keen (on), near (to), aware (of)
|
Relations between people and things. These adjectives usually require a word or phrase (complement) to complete their meaning.
|
Other examples:
talkative, cruel, cooperative, helpful, useful
|
Descriptions of people and things in terms of their actions.
|
Other examples:
tall, old, good, rough, true, ugly, red, heavy
|
Features that will last a long time or will not change (permanent).
|
Other examples:
|
States and conditions that can change.
|
Other examples:
organic (vegetables), impressionist (painter), wild (salmon)
|
Classifying people and things into types.
|
Oppositeness
Most common adjectives are members of a pair of opposites (antonyms):
beautiful – ugly
dead – alive
happy – sad
rough – smooth
big – small
dry – wet
heavy – light
tall – short
cold – hot
good – bad
Most common adjectives are members of a pair of opposites (antonyms):
beautiful – ugly
|
dead – alive
|
happy – sad
|
rough – smooth
|
big – small
|
dry – wet
|
heavy – light
|
tall – short
|
cold – hot
|
good – bad
|
Gradable and ungradable
Many pairs of opposites are gradable, i.e. they have different degrees of the same feature:
Small:
This suitcase is extremely small.
This suitcase is very small.
This suitcase is quite small.
Hot:
It was reasonably hot in Italy this summer.
It was quite hot in Italy this summer.
It was pretty hot in Italy this summer.
It was very hot in Italy this summer.
It was extremely hot in Italy this summer.
One type of adjective is not gradable. These are the adjectives that we use to classify people and things into types:
Warning:
These vegetables are organic.
Not: These vegetables are very organic.
I like salmon especially when it is wild.
Not: I like salmon especially when it is quite wild.
Many pairs of opposites are gradable, i.e. they have different degrees of the same feature:
Small:
This suitcase is extremely small.
This suitcase is very small.
This suitcase is quite small.
Hot:
It was reasonably hot in Italy this summer.
It was quite hot in Italy this summer.
It was pretty hot in Italy this summer.
It was very hot in Italy this summer.
It was extremely hot in Italy this summer.
One type of adjective is not gradable. These are the adjectives that we use to classify people and things into types:
Warning:
These vegetables are organic.
Not:These vegetables are very organic.
I like salmon especially when it is wild.
Not:I like salmon especially when it is quite wild.
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