31. WHAT ARE ADJECTIVES?

Adjectives are words that modify a noun or a pronoun, usually describe them.
They include a group of determiners (the, this, a, your etc.) and descriptive
adjectives. Descriptive adjectives usually indicate a particular quality, such as
good and bad or a physical state covering age, size, color, etc. The words
might take base forms, such as weak, strong, clean, dark, bright, stupid,
clever, and so on, as well as derivational forms. This category will be
explained any further in this chapter.

Derivational adjectives

Derivational adjectives here mean adjectives which are formed from words of
other classes by adding suffixes called derivational processes.
These adjectives include the words ending with: -(i)al; -ar; -ary; -en; -esque;
-ful; -ic(al); -ish; -istic; -less; -like; -ly; -ous; -ward; -wide; -y; -able; -ible; -ent;
-ant; -ile; -ive; -(at)ory.
historic
dependant
backward

familiar
childlike
childish

musical
harmful
futuristic

hostile ing & -ed adjectives

Ending
enjoyable

dangerous

monumental

elementary

friendly

harmless

worldwide

sensible

forward
active
-ing adjectives
which describe a person,
thing, or situationexplanatory
e.g.: The film was very frightening.
-ed adjectives which describe the effect this person, thing, or situation has
on us
e.g.: My sister was frightened by the film.
Other adjectives of this pair are:
surprising surprised interesting interested boring bored
terrifying terrified
disappointing disappointed
satisfying

satisfied etc.
It was surprising that Ann could finish her job on time. I was really
surprised.

Opposites

The addition of the suffixes shown in

the table results in the change of the
pole to the negative ones. The
example words are also presented.
e.g.: un + kind = unkind
an unkind response
It was unkind of you to give such a
response.

Exercise 31

A. What are the opposites of the following adjectives:

1. dependent
: ............................
2. honest
: ............................
3. responsible
: ............................
4. able
: ............................
5. patient
: ............................
6. visible
: ............................
7. legal
: ............................
8. polite
: ............................
9. correct
: ............................
10.kind
: ............................
B. Change the following words into adjectives by adding necessary
affixes.
future
danger
history
enjoy
explain
monument
sense
act
harm
friend
music
back
C. Fill the blanks with the adjectives taken from C.
1. She was ......................... in a local organization on environment.
2. Les Miserable is one of my favorite ......................... movies.
3. This medicine is ........................ to children. Dont give it to him.
4. What is your ......................... for your absent in the meeting yesterday?
5. I cannot understand this ......................... novel, the event takes place even
in 2030.
6. This issue is really ......................... to talk about.
7. Winning this talent show is really ......................... event for her, now she can
realize her dream to be a singer.
8. This ........................ bridge was built by Moslem merchants who firstly come
to the city.
9. Dont go there! Its very .........................!
10.Its really an ........................ evening here with a great view of sunset.
D. Decide whether you need to add suffix ed or ing to the verbs in the
brackets to complete the sentences.
1. The show was really ........................ I kept yawning. (bore)
2. My Dad was ........................ knowing that I failed in the test. (disappoint)

3. We were ........................ by his story about ghost in this school. (terrify)

4. Its ........................ to talk with smart people. (interest)
5. My score is ........................ this time. (satisfy)