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Characteristics of the Adjective

Four features are commonly considered to be characteristic of adjectives: They can freely occur in ATTRIBUTIVE function (ie they can premodify a noun) An ugly painting the round table dirty linen They can freely occur in PREDICATIVE function (ie they can occur after copular verbs and after objects) The painting is ugly He thought the painting ugly They can be premodified by the intensifier very The children are very happy They can take COMPARATIVE and SUPERLATIVE forms, by means of inflections (-er & -est) or by adding the premodifiers more and most The children are happier now they are the happiest people I know These students are more intelligent they are the most beautiful paintings I have ever seen.

ADJECTIVES

Attributive and Predicative

Adjectives function in attributive and predicative positions. Adjectives are attributive when they premodify the head of a noun phrase The children are happy He seems careless Adjectives are predicative when they occur after copular verbs or after an object when it expresses the result of the process denoted by the verb I find him careless He made the children happy He pulled his belt tight he pushed the window open We painted our house green

Postpositive
Adjectives can sometimes be postpositive, ie they can immediately follow the noun they modify. Thus, we may have three positions of adjectives: Predicative: this information is useful Attributive: useful information Postpositive: something useful Indefinite pronouns can be modified only postpositively: Anyone intelligent something larger

Adjectives with Complementation

In several institutionalized expressions, the adjective is postpositive: The president elect Heir apparent Attorney general From time immemorial Vice-chancellor designate Postmaster general Court martial Notary Public

The complement can be a prepositional phrase, a to-infinitive clause or a nominal that clause: I know an actor suitable for the part Im Im not interested in politics Hes a man so difficult to please Were are so glad that you can join us

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Intensifying Adjectives
Some adjectives have a heightening effect on the noun they modify, or a lowering effect. There are three semantic sublcasses of intensifying adjectives: Emphasizers p Amplifiers downtoners
Emphasizers have a general heightening effect and are generally attributive only: A clear failure a true scholar plain nonsense Sheer arrogance a definite loss g the simple truth p Amplifiers scale upwards from an assumed norm; they denote a high or extreme degree: A complete victory great destruction total destruction Downtoners have a lowering effect. They are relatively few: Slight (slight effort) feeble (a feeble joke)

Semantic Sub-classification of Adjectives

Three semantic scales are applicable to adjectives:

INHERENT / NONINHERENT

INHERENT / NONINHERENT GRADABLE / NONGRADABLE STATIVE / DYNAMIC

Most adjectives are Inherent, that is to say, they characterize the referent of the noun directly. When adjectives do not characterize the referent they are Noninherent That old man (opposite of young man) = the man is old An old friend of mine = my friend is old??? p ; p ( g The person cannot be identified as old; it is his friendship that is old (longlasting) Consider the following: A wooden cross a wooden actor A firm handshake a firm friend A perfect alibi a perfect stranger A certain result a certain winner A true report a true scholar

Gradable / Nongradable
If the adjective is inherent, it is often possible to derive a noun form it: Her soft touch the softness of her touch However, with a noninherent adjective such derivation is not possible. Compare: A firm handshake the firmness of the handshake A firm friend *the firmness of the friend *? A true report the truth of the report A true scholar *the truth of the scholar *? Most adjectives are gradable. Gradability is manifested through comparison: Tall taller tallest Beautiful more beautiful most beautiful Gradability is also manifested through modification by intensifiers Very tall so beautiful extremely useful

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Stative & Dynamic

Adjectives are characteristically stative. But many adjectives can be seen as dynamic. Adjectives that are stative cannot be used with the p g progressive aspect or with the imperative p p Hes being tall *? Be tall *? Compare: Hes being careful be careful