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Lesson 7; Adjectives

1. Posted by Bertha in Grammar |
2. November 30th, 2009 |
3. Comments

        

An Adjective qualifies a noun or adds something to the meaning of the noun in five different ways:-

1)      By showing quality of a thing or a person

2)      By showing quantity of a thing or a person

3)      By showing number of things or persons

4)      By showing that one thing or person is to be considered at a time

5)      By showing which thing or person is destined

According to the above mentioned ways, Adjectives can be categorized in five categories; such as,

1. ADJECTIVES OF QUALITY
2. ADJECTIVES OF QUANTITY
3. ADJECTIVES OF NUMBER
4. DISTRIBUTIVE ADJECTIVES
5. DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES

a. ADJECTIVES OF QUALITY or STATE

An Adjective that shows the Quality or State of a thing or a person is called the Adjective of Quality; such as,

A sick man, a brave girl, a glass of cold water, a tiny tot.

The words in italics show quality of a thing or a person; therefore they are Adjectives of Quality.

b. ADJECTIVES OF QUANTITY or DEGREE

Adjectives that show the Quantity, i.e. how much of a thing is meant are called the Adjectives of Quantity or State.

She ate little (a small quantity of) cake.

She ate less (a smaller quantity of) cake.

She ate least (the smallest quantity of) cake.

She ate much (a large quantity of) cake.

She ate more (a larger quantity of) cake.

She ate most (the largest quantity of) cake.

She ate no cake. She ate some cake.

She ate enough (sufficient quantity of) cake.

She ate all (the entire amount of) the cake.

c. ADJECTIVES OF NUMBER

Adjective that denotes some number is called Adjectives of Number. Adjectives of Number are divided into 1) Definite Numerals and 2) Indefinite Numerals.

1) Definite Numerals – Definite Numerals denote some exact number. These are subdivided into a) Cardinals and b) Ordinals.

a) Cardinals – Cardinals show how many objects there are; like, one, two, three, and four.

b) Ordinals – Ordinals show in what order an object stands; like, first, second, third, fourth.

Cardinals	Ordinals
One	First
Two	Second
Three	Third
Four	Fourth
Five	Fifth
Six	Sixth
Seven	Seventh
Eight	Eighth
Nine	Ninth
Ten	Tenth

2) Indefinite Numerals – Indefinite Numerals show number of some kind but without indicating exactly what the number; such as, all, some; most, more; several; few, many.

Some people are poor. Many men are rich. Few works have been done. All men are mortal. More people went there today than yesterday.

d. DISTRIBUTIVE ADJECTIVES

Distributive Adjectives denote that the things or persons named are taken separately, singly or in separate lots. Adjectives of this class are each, every, neither and either.

Let every man come.

He told a lie each time.

I liked neither of the films.

Either of these shirts will suit you.

e. DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES

Adjectives that point out which thing or person is indicated are called Demonstrative Adjectives; such as, this pencil, these pencils; that book, those books.

Here, this and these indicate some pencil or pencils nearby; while that and those indicate some book or books further off.

N.B:- This and that are used for Singular nouns; while these and those are used for Plural nouns.

Demonstrative Adjectives are subdivided into, 1) Definite Demonstratives and 2) Indefinite Demonstratives.

1) Definite Demonstratives: – Adjectives that point to any particular thing or person are called Definite Demonstratives.

2) Indefinite Demonstratives: – Adjectives that do not point to any particular thing or person are called Indefinite Demonstratives.

Definite Demonstratives	Indefinite Demonstratives
The; This, that; these, those; such; the other; the other	A, an; Any, one some, certain, Other any other, another

A bird sat on a branch of this tree.

That tree does not bear the same flower as this.

Some boy (or a certain boy) is waiting there.

I will visit doctor on some other day.

I saw him one day on that side of the road.

Any individual can do such a thing like that.

N.B: – ‘The’ is denoted as the Definite Article; and ‘a’ or ‘an’ is called Indefinite Article. ‘The’ is nothing but the shorter from of ‘this, these, that, those’; while ‘a’ or ‘an’ is the shorter form or ‘one’. Therefore, an Article is not a distinct Part of Speech; it is a form of Adjective.