90 Questions
What are the two most fundamental lexical categories in English?
Verbs and nouns.
What is the function of verbs in clause structure?
They function as head.
What is the focus of the following essay?
Adjectives and adjectival clauses.
Why are nouns and verbs not enough to express every shade of meaning needed?
Because there are not enough different nouns and verbs to denote every variation of meaning.
What type of words are typically used to modify nouns?
Adjectives.
What type of words are used to modify verbs?
Adverbs.
What are the simplest clauses composed of?
At least a noun and a verb.
What is the core semantic function of adjectives?
To provide terms for individual properties of the kinds such as having positive or negative worth or value, of size, of age, physical properties, human tendencies, and so on.
What are the three main functions in which adjectives can appear?
Attributive, predicative, and postpositive.
What are some degree modifiers that adjectives can accept?
Very, too, enough.
What are some inflectional or analytic comparatives and superlatives that adjectives can have?
Happier, happiest, more useful, most useful.
What kind of modifiers do adjectives characteristically take?
Adverbs.
What is the function of an attributive adjective?
To describe a noun and always precedes it.
What are the two major groups of adjectival suffixes in English?
Relational adjectives and qualitative adjectives.
What is the general rule for forming the comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives with three or more syllables?
by using more and most respectively
Are adjectives with two syllables predictable in their comparative forms?
no, they are less predictable
What are the three forms of adjectives used for comparison?
absolute/positive, comparative, and superlative
Which two adjectives have irregular forms for comparison?
good and bad
What are the two types of dependents that can accompany an adjective in an adjective phrase?
complements and modifiers
What is the most common type of modifier in an adjective phrase?
an adverb
Can adjective phrases with post-head dependents be used attributively?
no, except for some exceptions
What is an example of an irregular form for a one-syllable adjective?
a more just society
What is an example of an adjective phrase with a preposition complement?
afraid of the dark
What is the predicative position for adjectives and what kind of verb is used with it?
The predicative position for adjectives is when it comes after the noun or pronoun described and is connected to it by a stative verb such as to be, to feel, to look.
What are postpositive adjectives?
Postpositive adjectives are adjectives that occur immediately after a noun, especially in certain institutionalised expressions, and are connected to the noun by a stative verb.
When is postposition obligatory for adjectives?
Postposition is obligatory for adjectives when they modify a pronoun.
What are attributive-only adjectives and never-attributive adjectives?
Attributive-only adjectives are adjectives that are restricted to the attributive function and cannot function as predicative. Never-attributive adjectives are adjectives that cannot function as attributive and only work as predicative.
What is the difference between gradable and non-gradable adjectives?
Gradable adjectives are adjectives that can denote a property that can be possessed in varying degrees, while non-gradable adjectives cannot.
How are comparatives and superlatives formed for adjectives?
Comparatives and superlatives for adjectives are formed by either inflection or by the use of degree adverbs such as more and most.
How are adjectives of one syllable usually compared?
Adjectives of one syllable are usually compared by means of the suffixes -er and -est.
What is the default function of an adjective in a sentence?
attributive function
What do we call adjectives that occur immediately after a noun?
postpositive adjectives
What is the prefix in English that is associated with never-attributive adjectives?
"a"
What are the two types of adjectives that are restricted in function?
attributive-only and never-attributive adjectives
What is the prototypical adjective in English?
gradable adjective
What is the function of degree adverbs in forming comparatives and superlatives?
They are used to form analytic comparatives and superlatives.
What is the general rule for forming comparatives and superlatives of adjectives with one syllable?
They are usually compared by means of the suffixes -er and -est.
______ are the commonest words in text, the most abundant in the dictionary, and the most productively added to the language by word-formation processes and borrowing
Nouns
Verbs function as ______ in clause structure
head
The words that modify verbs are ______
adverbs
There is a verb to denote falling, but not enough different verbs to denote falling at all the different speeds we might want to distinguish, or in all the different ways things might fall. In English the necessary finer gradations of meaning are expressed by means of words (and phrases) that alter, clarify, or adjust the meaning contributions of ______ and verbs
nouns
Adjectives are words used to modify ______
nouns
Canonical clauses contain at least a noun and a verb, and the simplest ones contain just one of each: ______
Rain fell ; People change; Kim disappeared
The words used to modify nouns are typically ______, and the words that similarly modify verbs are adverbs
adjectives
______ with two syllables are less predictable in their forms and many can be compared either way
Adjectives
The different forms of the adjective – absolute (or positive), the comparative and the superlative – make the regular degrees of comparison for most everyday English ______
Adjectives
______ and bad are the major exceptions with their irregular paradigms good, better, best and bad, worse, worst
Good
Idioms occasionally dictate an irregular form for a one-syllabled ______
Adjective
Adjective phrases containing post-Head Dependents cannot normally be used ______
Attributively
The complements of adjective phrases are almost always preposition phrases or subordinate ______
Clauses
The most common type of modifier in an adjective phrase is an adverb (or adverbial ______)
Phrase
Adjective phrases consist of an adjective as Head, alone or accompanied by one or more Dependents, which may be Complements or ______
Modifiers
______ consisting of three or more syllables almost always form their degrees of comparison by means of more and most (expensive, more expensive, the most expensive)
Adjectives
Adjectives modify nouns and can appear in three main functions: attributive, predicative, and ______.
postpositive
Adjectives are gradable and can accept degree modifiers such as very, too, and ______.
enough
Adjectives can be identified by their ability to perform ______ tasks, such as providing terms for individual properties of kinds like size, age, and physical properties.
semantic
Some adjectives are formed using suffixes such as -ful, -able, and -less, which are used to form ______ adjectives.
qualitative
The most common suffixes used to form relational adjectives are -al and ______.
-ic
An attributive adjective always ______ the noun it describes.
precedes
Adjectives do not inflect for ______ or tense and cannot be modified by other adjectives.
number
What are the two most fundamental lexical categories in English?
Verbs and nouns
What is the role of verbs in clause structure?
They function as heads
What is the function of adjectives in English?
To modify nouns
What is the difference between gradable and non-gradable adjectives?
Gradable adjectives can be compared using comparative and superlative forms, while non-gradable adjectives cannot
What is the default function of an adjective in a sentence?
Predicative
What are the most common suffixes used to form relational adjectives in English?
-al and -ic
What is the focus of the essay?
Adjectives and adjectival clauses
What is the core semantic function of adjectives?
To provide terms for individual properties of the kinds
What are the two major groups of adjectival suffixes in English?
-al and -ic
What is the function of a postpositive adjective?
To modify a noun
Which word ending is the most common one to form relational adjectives?
-al
What is the difference between attributive and predicative adjectives?
Attributive adjectives are connected directly to the noun they describe, while predicative adjectives come after a linking verb
What is the most common function of adjectives?
To modify nouns
What is the general rule for making adjectives?
There is no general rule
What is the primary function of adjectives in a sentence?
To modify nouns or pronouns
Which adjectives have irregular paradigms for their degrees of comparison?
Adjectives with two syllables
What is the most common type of dependent in an adjective phrase?
Preposition phrases
Which adjectives can be compared either way in their forms?
Adjectives with two syllables
What is an example of an adjective phrase with a subordinate clause complement?
eager to win
What is the function of adjectives in forming comparatives and superlatives?
To modify nouns or pronouns
What is an example of an idiom dictating an irregular form for a one-syllabled adjective?
a more just society
What are the irregular paradigms for the adjectives good and bad?
good, better, best and bad, worse, worst
What is the most common type of modifier in an adjective phrase?
Adverbial phrases
What is the difference between attributive-only adjectives and never-attributive adjectives?
Attributive-only adjectives can only be used before a noun, while never-attributive adjectives can only be used after a noun
Which adjectives are formed with the prefix 'a' that derives from an obsolete Old English preposition?
Attributive-only adjectives
What is the difference between gradable and non-gradable adjectives?
Gradable adjectives denote a property that can be possessed in varying degrees, while non-gradable adjectives cannot be possessed in varying degrees
What is the default function of an adjective?
Attributive
Which adjectives can be used in both a gradable and non-gradable sense?
Prototypical adjectives
What is the difference between postpositive and postpositive-only adjectives?
Postpositive adjectives can come before or after a noun, while postpositive-only adjectives can only come after a noun
Which adjectives inflect for grade?
Gradable adjectives
Study Notes
Lexical Categories and Clause Structure
- The two most fundamental lexical categories in English are nouns and verbs.
- Verbs function as predicates in clause structure.
Adjectives and Modifiers
- Adjectives are words used to modify nouns.
- Adjectives modify nouns and can appear in three main functions: attributive, predicative, and postpositive.
- The core semantic function of adjectives is to provide terms for individual properties of kinds like size, age, and physical properties.
- Adjectives can accept degree modifiers such as very, too, and extremely.
- Adjectives can be identified by their ability to perform various tasks, such as providing terms for individual properties.
- Adjectives can be formed using suffixes such as -ful, -able, and -less, which are used to form derived adjectives.
- The most common suffixes used to form relational adjectives are -al and -ic.
Attributive and Predicative Adjectives
- An attributive adjective always precedes the noun it describes.
- Adjectives can be used in both attributive and predicative positions.
- The default function of an adjective in a sentence is attributive.
- Attributive-only adjectives are those that only appear before a noun, while never-attributive adjectives only appear after a verb.
Comparatives and Superlatives
- The different forms of the adjective – absolute (or positive), the comparative, and the superlative – make the regular degrees of comparison for most everyday English adjectives.
- Adjectives with three or more syllables almost always form their degrees of comparison by means of more and most.
- Adjectives with two syllables are less predictable in their forms and many can be compared either way.
- Good and bad are the major exceptions with their irregular paradigms good, better, best and bad, worse, worst.
- Idioms occasionally dictate an irregular form for a one-syllabled adjective.
Adjective Phrases
- Adjective phrases consist of an adjective as Head, alone or accompanied by one or more Dependents, which may be Complements or modifiers.
- The most common type of modifier in an adjective phrase is an adverb (or adverbial phrase).
- Adjective phrases containing post-Head Dependents cannot normally be used attributively.
- The complements of adjective phrases are almost always preposition phrases or subordinate clauses.
Postpositive Adjectives
- Postpositive adjectives are those that appear after a noun.
- Postposition is obligatory for adjectives that are used to form a particular idiom or fixed phrase.
Focus of the Essay
- The focus of the essay is to discuss the role of adjectives in English, their functions, and their forms.
Test your knowledge of English grammar with this quiz on the correct position of adjectives in sentences. Learn when to use the predicative position and when adjectives can come immediately after a noun. Perfect for English language learners and grammar enthusiasts.
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