Adjective Types and Functions

Study Notes

Definition and Function

Adjectives are words that describe nouns or pronouns.
They modify or provide more information about the noun or pronoun they are describing.
Adjectives usually come before the noun they modify.

Types of Adjectives

Descriptive adjectives: These adjectives describe the qualities or characteristics of a noun. Examples include "red," "happy," "large," and "beautiful."
Proper adjectives: These adjectives are formed from proper nouns. They are capitalized. Examples include "English," "African," and "Italian."
Demonstrative adjectives: These adjectives point out specific nouns. The demonstrative adjectives are "this," "that," "these," and "those."
Interrogative adjectives: These adjectives are used in questions. The interrogative adjectives are "what," "which," and "whose."
Possessive adjectives: These adjectives show ownership or possession. The possessive adjectives are "my," "your," "his," "her," "its," "our," and "their."
Articles: The words "a," "an," and "the" are articles, which are a special type of adjective.
- "A" and "an" are indefinite articles, indicating a non-specific noun.
- "The" is a definite article, indicating a specific noun.

Position of Adjectives

Before the noun: This is the typical position for adjectives. Example: "The red car."
After linking verbs: Linking verbs (e.g., "is," "are," "was," "were," "seems," "appears") connect the subject of the sentence to an adjective that describes the subject. Example: "The car is red."
After certain nouns: Adjectives may come after certain nouns to function as appositives, often offering further explanation or description. Example: "The car, a sleek red beauty, caught the eye."
After "be," "seem," "appear," "feel," "become," and "smell": These linking verbs don't require an adjective immediately after them but can have an adjective later within the sentence. Example: "The flowers smell sweet."

Degrees of Adjectives

Positive degree: This is the basic form of the adjective. Example: "big"
Comparative degree: This form of the adjective is used to compare two things. Example: "bigger" (for things that are more than one) or "larger"
Superlative degree: This form of the adjective is used to compare more than two things. Example: "biggest" or "largest"

Irregular Adjectives

Some adjectives have irregular forms for their comparative and superlative degrees.

"Good," "bad," "far," "little," "much," "many" are examples of irregular adjectives.

Compound Adjectives

Two or more words used together to modify a noun.
Often hyphenated. Example: "The long-distance runner."
Usually formed by joining two words where one describes a quantity (e.g., "two-story house") or one indicates a quantity and another describes a characteristic.
May involve "well-" or "ill-" before the rest of the compound adjective. Example: "a well-known author"

Using Adjectives Effectively

Using precise adjectives makes writing more descriptive and vivid, increasing readability.
The use of adjectives should reflect a writer's intended meaning and contribute to a positive reading experience.

Description

Test your knowledge on the various types of adjectives and their functions within sentences. This quiz covers descriptive, proper, demonstrative, interrogative, and possessive adjectives. Challenge yourself and see how well you understand how adjectives modify nouns and pronouns.