Adjectives

 

Words that modify nouns or pronouns.

Example: 

He owns a beautiful guitar.

(beautiful is an adjective modifying the guitar. It is giving more information about the noun, guitar)

 
  Adjectives  
     
  Can also come after verbs like be, feel, seem and look.  
     
 

Example:

She is hardworking.

I feel happy.

They look satisfied.

 
     
 
 
6.1

 Adjective Phrases

 
  • An adjective phrase is a group of words that modify a noun or pronoun in a sentence.
  • They function in two basic ways:

 

Attributively

Appearing inside a noun phrase and modifying that noun phrase. 

 

They bought a very expensive car

  • "very expensive" is the adjective phrase;
  • "expensive" is the adjective;
  • "car" is the noun modified by the adjective phrase.
  •  "a very expensive car" is a noun phrase.

 

Predicatively

Appearing outside the noun phrase that they modify and typically following a linking verb.

 

The examination was unbelievably difficult

  • "unbelievably difficult" is the adjective phrase;
  • "difficult" is the adjective;
  • "The examination" is the noun phrase modified by the adjective phrase.  
 

Positions of adjectives phrasal adjectives

1. Beginning

Example: He’s interested in her. (‘interested’ initiates the adjective phrase, interested in her)

2. Medial

Example: He’s quite interested in her. (‘interested’ comes in the medial position of the adjective phrase, quite interested in her)

3. End

Example: He was very happy. (‘happy’ comes at the end of the adjective phrase, very happy)

 
 
6.2

 Demonstratives

 

Words that show which person or thing is being referred to.

Example: This is my brother. (‘this’ is a demonstrative)

 

Other types of demonstratives: this, that, these, those

Demonstrative adjectives are different from independent demonstratives.

A demonstrative adjective modifies the noun.

Example: This drink is good. Those people are fun.

An independent demonstrative stands on its own, replacing the noun instead of modifying.

Example: This is good. Those are fun.

 

Use of demonstratives

-by distance

-by numbers

  • This modifies or refers to singular nouns that are near to the speaker.
  • That modifies or refers to singular nouns that are far from the speaker.
  • These modifies or refers to plural nouns that are near to the speaker.
  • Those modifies or refers to plural nouns that are far from the speaker.

 

 
6.3

 Comparative Adjectives

 

Comparative adjectives are used to compare two nouns or pronouns. 

 
  • You must add '-er' and 'than' to the adjective when comparing two objects.
  • Note: When comparing two objects, the word 'than' must follow after the comparative adjective. 
  1. This box is lighter than that one.
  2. The dictionary is thicker than the novel.
 
  • For two syllables adjectives ending with '-y', change the 'y' to '-i' and add '-er'.
  1. happy: happier
  2. lovely: lovelier
 
  • For some adjectives with two or more syllables, use 'more' followed by the adjective and 'than'. 
  1. modern: more modern than
  2. comfortable: more comfortable than
 
  • Superlative adjectives are used to compare at least three nouns or pronouns.
  • You must add '-est' to the adjective and 'the' before it. 
  1. KLCC is the tallest tower in Malaysia.
  2. Sarah is the prettiest girl in the school. 
 
Some adjectives are irregular.
 
Adjectives Good Bad Far
Comparatives Better Worse Further
Superlatives Best Worst Furthest

 

 

 
6.4

 Comparing Without 'Than'

 
Comparative adjectives can also be used without 'than'.
 
Example:
 
From this sentence : That luggage is heavier than this.
     
To this sentence : This luggage is heavy but that is heavier.
 
Note: Both examples above have the same meaning.
 
 
6.5

 Comparing Similar Things

 
  • To express similarities, we use 'as...as' when comparing two objects.
  • Add 'not' to 'as...as' when the two objects do not have the same quality or quantity.
 

Examples:

1. Mike is as funny as the comedian.

(This is a comparison of quality. The sentence means that if Mike is funny, the comedian is funny too.)

2. Lily has as many books as Amy. 

(This is the comparison of quantity. Amy has three books and Lily has three as well.)

3. Helen is not as diligent as her sister.

(This shows that her sister is more diligent than her.)