Adjective Phrases Quiz: Identify Adverbs and Nouns

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Questions and Answers

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. Signup and view all the answers

What type of words are typically used to modify nouns?

Adjectives. Signup and view all the answers

What type of words are used to modify verbs?

Adverbs. Signup and view all the answers

What are the simplest clauses composed of?

At least a noun and a verb. Signup and view all the answers

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. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three main functions in which adjectives can appear?

Attributive, predicative, and postpositive. Signup and view all the answers

What are some degree modifiers that adjectives can accept?

Very, too, enough. Signup and view all the answers

What are some inflectional or analytic comparatives and superlatives that adjectives can have?

Happier, happiest, more useful, most useful. Signup and view all the answers

What kind of modifiers do adjectives characteristically take?

Adverbs. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of an attributive adjective?

To describe a noun and always precedes it. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two major groups of adjectival suffixes in English?

Relational adjectives and qualitative adjectives. Signup and view all the answers

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 Signup and view all the answers

Are adjectives with two syllables predictable in their comparative forms?

no, they are less predictable Signup and view all the answers

What are the three forms of adjectives used for comparison?

absolute/positive, comparative, and superlative Signup and view all the answers

Which two adjectives have irregular forms for comparison?

good and bad Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of dependents that can accompany an adjective in an adjective phrase?

complements and modifiers Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common type of modifier in an adjective phrase?

an adverb Signup and view all the answers

Can adjective phrases with post-head dependents be used attributively?

no, except for some exceptions Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of an irregular form for a one-syllable adjective?

a more just society Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of an adjective phrase with a preposition complement?

afraid of the dark Signup and view all the answers

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. Signup and view all the answers

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. Signup and view all the answers

When is postposition obligatory for adjectives?

Postposition is obligatory for adjectives when they modify a pronoun. Signup and view all the answers

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. Signup and view all the answers

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. Signup and view all the answers

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. Signup and view all the answers

How are adjectives of one syllable usually compared?

Adjectives of one syllable are usually compared by means of the suffixes -er and -est. Signup and view all the answers

What is the default function of an adjective in a sentence?

attributive function Signup and view all the answers

What do we call adjectives that occur immediately after a noun?

postpositive adjectives Signup and view all the answers

What is the prefix in English that is associated with never-attributive adjectives?

"a" Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of adjectives that are restricted in function?

attributive-only and never-attributive adjectives Signup and view all the answers

What is the prototypical adjective in English?

gradable adjective Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of degree adverbs in forming comparatives and superlatives?

They are used to form analytic comparatives and superlatives. Signup and view all the answers

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. Signup and view all the answers

______ 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 Signup and view all the answers

Verbs function as ______ in clause structure

head Signup and view all the answers

The words that modify verbs are ______

adverbs Signup and view all the answers

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 Signup and view all the answers

Adjectives are words used to modify ______

nouns Signup and view all the answers

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 Signup and view all the answers

The words used to modify nouns are typically ______, and the words that similarly modify verbs are adverbs

adjectives Signup and view all the answers

______ with two syllables are less predictable in their forms and many can be compared either way

Adjectives Signup and view all the answers

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 Signup and view all the answers

______ and bad are the major exceptions with their irregular paradigms good, better, best and bad, worse, worst

Good Signup and view all the answers

Idioms occasionally dictate an irregular form for a one-syllabled ______

Adjective Signup and view all the answers

Adjective phrases containing post-Head Dependents cannot normally be used ______

Attributively Signup and view all the answers

The complements of adjective phrases are almost always preposition phrases or subordinate ______

Clauses Signup and view all the answers

The most common type of modifier in an adjective phrase is an adverb (or adverbial ______)

Phrase Signup and view all the answers

Adjective phrases consist of an adjective as Head, alone or accompanied by one or more Dependents, which may be Complements or ______

Modifiers Signup and view all the answers

______ 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 Signup and view all the answers

Adjectives modify nouns and can appear in three main functions: attributive, predicative, and ______.

postpositive Signup and view all the answers

Adjectives are gradable and can accept degree modifiers such as very, too, and ______.

enough Signup and view all the answers

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 Signup and view all the answers

Some adjectives are formed using suffixes such as -ful, -able, and -less, which are used to form ______ adjectives.

qualitative Signup and view all the answers

The most common suffixes used to form relational adjectives are -al and ______.

-ic Signup and view all the answers

An attributive adjective always ______ the noun it describes.

precedes Signup and view all the answers

Adjectives do not inflect for ______ or tense and cannot be modified by other adjectives.

number Signup and view all the answers

What are the two most fundamental lexical categories in English?

Verbs and nouns Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of verbs in clause structure?

They function as heads Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of adjectives in English?

To modify nouns Signup and view all the answers

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 Signup and view all the answers

What is the default function of an adjective in a sentence?

Predicative Signup and view all the answers

What are the most common suffixes used to form relational adjectives in English?

-al and -ic Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of the essay?

Adjectives and adjectival clauses Signup and view all the answers

What is the core semantic function of adjectives?

To provide terms for individual properties of the kinds Signup and view all the answers

What are the two major groups of adjectival suffixes in English?

-al and -ic Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of a postpositive adjective?

To modify a noun Signup and view all the answers

Which word ending is the most common one to form relational adjectives?

-al Signup and view all the answers

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 Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common function of adjectives?

To modify nouns Signup and view all the answers

What is the general rule for making adjectives?

There is no general rule Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of adjectives in a sentence?

To modify nouns or pronouns Signup and view all the answers

Which adjectives have irregular paradigms for their degrees of comparison?

Adjectives with two syllables Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common type of dependent in an adjective phrase?

Preposition phrases Signup and view all the answers

Which adjectives can be compared either way in their forms?

Adjectives with two syllables Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of an adjective phrase with a subordinate clause complement?

eager to win Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of adjectives in forming comparatives and superlatives?

To modify nouns or pronouns Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of an idiom dictating an irregular form for a one-syllabled adjective?

a more just society Signup and view all the answers

What are the irregular paradigms for the adjectives good and bad?

good, better, best and bad, worse, worst Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common type of modifier in an adjective phrase?

Adverbial phrases Signup and view all the answers

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 Signup and view all the answers

Which adjectives are formed with the prefix 'a' that derives from an obsolete Old English preposition?

Attributive-only adjectives Signup and view all the answers

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 Signup and view all the answers

What is the default function of an adjective?

Attributive Signup and view all the answers

Which adjectives can be used in both a gradable and non-gradable sense?

Prototypical adjectives Signup and view all the answers

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 Signup and view all the answers

Which adjectives inflect for grade?

Gradable adjectives Signup and view all the answers

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.