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CHAPTER- 4 THE ADJECTIVE

Definition:
Adjectives are words qualif ying nouns or describing words. The y qualify or describe nouns. They are
called noun-helper.
Adjectives are a large class of words (for example, good, bad, new, accurate, careful) which dene more
precisely the reference of a noun or pronoun. An adjective gives more distinct meaning to a noun or a
pronoun by describing or limiting it.
All adjectives answer three specic questions about the nouns or pronouns they are modifying:
e.g.
What kind?

strong, cheerful, red

Which one(s)

this, that, these, those

How many?

few, some, three, several

Adjectives That Follow Verbs

Pay special attention to adjectives that follow verbs. Sometimes, the adjective follows a verb, but it
describes a noun or pronoun that comes before the verb.
e.g.
These strawberries taste sour.
The pickles are salty
Adjectives are used either attributively or predicatively.
The boy is clever

The problem is easy

Adjectives have many different endings. Many adjectives are created simply by adding certain suffixes
to words that were previously nouns or verbs.

Some adjectives end in -ful. These adjectives describe noun or pronouns that are full of
something or have a lot of something.
a joyful smile

a beautiful face

a careful student

a cheerful baby

a powerful machine

a wonderful time

colorful clothes

a useful book

a skillful player

Some adjectives end in -ous.

a mountainous area

a famous writer

a dangerous job

a poisonous snake

a humorous film

a generous gift

Some adjectives end in -y.

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a sunny day

a noisy car

dirty hands

an easy test

a cloudy sky

stormy weather

Some adjectives end in -less. These adjectives describe a person or thing that does not have
something.
a meaningless word

a sleeveless dress

a fearless fighter

a careless driver

a cloudless sky

seedless grapes

Some adjectives end in -al.

actual

final

general

mental

physical

special

Here are some adjectives that end in -ic, -ish, -ible, -able, -ive and -ly.
enthusiastic shouting

comfortable clothes

expensive jewelery

a selfish act

a likeable child

friendly teachers

a fantastic singer

visible footprints

an imaginative story

Many adjectives end in -ing.

a smiling face

an outstanding swimmer

chattering monkeys

loving parents

a disappointing result

a caring nurse

Many adjectives end in -ed.

boiled eggs

satisfied customers

wasted time

excited students

reduced prices

invited guests

Many adjectives end in -ar.

familiar

particular

popular

similar
regular

ADJECTIVE OF QUALITY
(Descriptive Adjective)

Definition :
Adjective showing the kind or quality of nouns or pronouns are called Adjective of
Quality

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nice

bold

wonderful

smart

heavy

good

wise

clever

e.g.
He is a good boy

David is good

My friend is wise

Taj Mahal is wonderful

Sara is a smart girl

Rose is a beautiful flower

ADJECTIVE OF QUANTITY
(Quantitative Adjective)

Definition :
Adjective which shows the quantity of thing is called the Adjective of Quantity.
e.g.
He ate the whole apple

She spent all her moneys

I ate some rise

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There was no milk in the jug.

We have had enough exercise

ADJECTIVE OF NUMBER
(Numeral Adjective)

Definition :
Adjective which expresses the number of persons or things is called the Adjective of
Number or Numeral Adjective
Adjectives of Number (or Numeral Adjectives) are of three kinds :-

Definite Numeral Adjectives, which denote an exact number; as,

Definite Numeral Adjectives,

Cardinals

One

Two

Three

Ordinals

First

Second

Third

Indefinite Numeral Adjectives, which do not denote an exact number; as,

Indefinite Numeral Adjectives,

All

No

Many

Few

Some

Any

Certain

Several

Sundry

Distributive Numeral Adjectives, which refer to each one of a number; as.,

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Each boy must take his turn

India expects every man to do his duty.

Every word of it is false.

Either pen will do

e.g.
I wrote two letters

The hand has five fingers

Few dogs look well

All men must die

Most boys like football

There are ten class rooms in our school

Differents between Adjectives of Quantity and Adjectives of Number

Adjectives of Quantity

Adjectives of Number

I have enough sugar

There are not enough spoons

He did not eat any rice

Are there any mango-trees in this garden?

You have no sense

There are no pictures in this book

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I ate some rice

Some boys are clever

DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVE
Definition :
This Adjective straight=awa y points out the person or thing concerned
The four words this, that, these and those are called demonstratives. When they are followed by some other
word (especially a noun) in a noun phrase, they are demonstrative determiners. We use this and these to
point to people or things near us. You use that and those to point to people or things that are farther from
us.
Singular

Plural

This

These

That

Those

They are used to tell which thing or person you mean.

e.g.
I am ready to buy this house
I want to look at that house
These are the times that try mens souls
That boy is intelligent
Those cows are white

INTERROGATIVE ADJECTIVE
Definition :
Interrogative Adjectives are used with nouns to ask questions.
What

Which

Whom

These words are called interrogative determiners or interrrogative adjectives.

e.g.
What color is her hair?
Whose car is this?

Whose

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Which road leads to the zoo?
Whome do you want to meet?
Whose shop is closed?

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVE
Definition :
This Adjective expresses the state of possession of nouns.
Possessive adjectives show possession or ownership: my, her, his, its, our, their, your. because they are used
with nouns and do the work of Adjectives. When placed before nouns function like adjectives; they qualify
the noun directly.
e.g.
My aim in life is to become a doctor
Is this your desk?
Mike crashed his bike into a wall
Her sister sings in a sweet voice
The dog was licking its paws
Mike and Peter have invited me to their party
These possessive adjectives are used according to the number, gender, and person of the noun instead
of which they are used and the y can be classified as follows:
Number
Person

Singular

Plural

First Person

my (Masculine or Feminine)

our (Masculine or Feminine)

Second Person

your (Masculine or Feminine)

your (Masculine or Feminine)

his (Masculine)
her (Feminine)
Third Person

its (Neuter or Common)

their (All genders)

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Possessive Adjectives are somethings called Pronominal Adjectives, as they are formed from Pronouns. The
word his is used both as an Adjective and as a Pronoun; as
Possessive Adjective

This is his pen

Possessive Pronoun

This pen is his

DISTRIBUTIVE ADJECTIVE
Definition :
This Adjective expresses the distributive state of nouns.
e.g.
On either side of the canal there were long fields of barley
Every boy has one or the other pet
Neither of the tow men is trustworthy
Each girl in our class is well-versed in music

PROPER ADJECTIVE
Definition :
Adjective that is formed from proper noun is called proper Adjective.
Proper adjectives are derived from proper nouns and are almost always capitalized
e.g.
An Indian girl
An English woman
An American dollar
They stole a priceless Elizabethan watch

DEGREES OF ADJECTIVE
Definition :
Ever y adjective has three degrees of its own. They are : Positive, Comparative, Superlative degrees.
There are two types of Adjectives :

Regular Adjectives

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Definition :
Regular adjectives make their comparative and superlative forms by adding er and est.
e.g.
Positive

Comparative

Superlative

bold

bolder

boldest

bright

brighter

brightest

black

blacker

blackest

great

greater

greatest

old

older

oldest

proud

prouder

proudest

warm

warmer

warmest

mean

meaner

meanest

Some adjectives are added with only r to form comparative and st to form superlative degree.
e.g.
Positive

Comparative

Superlative

able

abler

ablest

true

truer

truest

simple

simpler

simplest

nice

nicer

nicest

Some adjectives are added with consonant + er to form comparative and consonant + est to
form superlatie degree
e.g.
Positive

Comparative

Superlative

fat

fatter

fattest

red/td>

redder

reddest

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sad

sadder

saddest

Some adjectives add er and est to form comparative and superlative by replacing the last letter y into
i
e.g.
Positive

Comparative

Superlative

dry

drier

driest

busy

busier

busiest

early

earlier

earliest

ugly

uglier

ugliest

If an adjective has two or more than tow syllables we use more or most to form comparative and
superlative degree
e.g.
Positive

Comparative

Superlative

active

more active

most active

beautiful

more beautiful

most beautiful

careful

more careful

most careful

proper

more proper

most proper

faithful

more faithful

most faithful

Irregular Adjectives
When there is a complete change in comparative and superlative degrees, they are called irregular
adjectives.
e.g.
Positive

Comparative

Superlative

good

better

best

bad

worse

worst

little

less

least

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old

older

oldest

far

farther

farthest