Adjectives

Adjective : Adjective Kinds of Adjective

Adjective : Adjective Read the following sentences: Sita is a clever girl. (Girl of what kind?) I don’t like that boy. (Which boy?) He gave me five mangoes. (How many mangoes?) There is little time for preparation.( How much time?) Definition: A word used with a noun to describe or point out, the person, animal, place or thing which the noun names, or to tell the number or quantity is called an Adjective. So we may define an Adjective as a word used with a noun to add something for its meaning.

Kinds of Adjective : Kinds of Adjective Adjectives of Quality or descriptive Adjective Adjectives of Quantity Adjectives of Number or Numeral Adjectives Demonstrative Adjectives Interrogative Adjectives Emphasizing Adjectives Exclamatory Adjectives

Adjectives of Quality : Adjectives of Quality Def: Adjectives of Quality show the kind or quality of a person or thing; as, London is a large city. He is an honest man. The foolish old crow tried to sing. This is the Grammar of the English* language. [*Adjectives formed from Proper Nouns (e.g. French Wines, Turkish tobacco, Indian tea, etc] are sometimes called Proper Adjectives. They are generally classed with Adjectives of Quality.] Adjectives of Quality answer the question: Of What Kind?

Adjectives of Quantity : Adjectives of Quantity Def: Adjectives of Quantity show how much of a thing is meant; as, I ate some rice. He showed much patience. He has little intelligence. We have had enough exercise. He has lost all his wealth. You have no sense. He did not eat any rice. Take great care of your health. He claimed his half share of the booty. There has not been sufficient rain this year. The whole sum was expended. Adjectives of Quantity answer the question: How Much?

Adjectives of Number : Adjectives of Number Def: Adjectives of Number show how many persons or things are meant or in what order a person or thing stands; as, The hand has five fingers. Few cats like cold water. There are no pictures in this book. I have taught you many things. All men must die. Here are some ripe mangoes. Most boys like cricket. There are several mistakes in your exercise. Sunday is the first day of the week. Adjectives of Number answer the question: How many?

Adjectives of Number are of three kinds: : Adjectives of Number are of three kinds: Definite Numeral Adjectives Indefinite Numeral Adjectives Distributive Numeral Adjectives Definite Numeral Adjectives, which denotes an exact number; as One, two, three, etc. These are called CARDINALS. First, second, third, etc. These are called ORDINALS. [A Cardinals denotes how many, and an Ordinals the order of things in a series. It will be seen that Ordinals really do the work of Demonstrative Adjectives.]

Indefinite Numeral Adjectives, Which do not denote an exact number as, : Indefinite Numeral Adjectives, Which do not denote an exact number as, All, no, many, few, some, any, certain, several, sundry. Distributive Numeral Adjectives, which refer to each one of a number, as; Each boy must take his turn. India expects every man to do his duty. Every word of it is false. Either pen will do. On either side is a narrow lane. Neither accusation is true.

The same Adjective may be classed as of Quantity or Number, according to its use. : The same Adjective may be classed as of Quantity or Number, according to its use. Adjectives of Quantity I ate some rice. He has lost all his wealth You have no sense. He did not eat any rice. I have enough sugar. Adjectives of Number Some boys are clever. All men must die. There are no pictures in this book. Are there any mango-trees in this garden? There are not enough spoons.

Demonstrative Adjectives point out which person or thing is meant; as, : Demonstrative Adjectives point out which person or thing is meant; as, This boy is stronger than Harry. That boy is industrious. These mangoes are sour. Those rascals must be punished. Yonder fort once belonged to Shivaji. Don’t be in such a hurry. I hate such things. Demonstrative Adjectives answer the question: Which? [It will be noticed that this and that are used with Singular nouns and these and those with Plural nouns.]

Interrogative Adjectives : Interrogative Adjectives What, which and whose, when they are used with nouns to ask questions, are called Interrogative Adjectives. What manner of man is he? Which way shall we go? Whose book is this? [It will be seen that what is used in a general sense, and which in a selective sense.]

Emphasizing Adjectives : Emphasizing Adjectives I saw it with my own eyes. He was beaten at his own game. Mind your own business. He is his own master. That is the very thing we want. “When all else left my cause, My very adversary took my part”.

Exclamatory Adjectives : Exclamatory Adjectives The word what is sometimes used as an Exclamatory Adjectives; as, What genius! What folly! What an idea! What a blessing! What a piece of work is man! As already pointed out this and that are the only Adjectives which are inflected or changed in form to show number. This girl sings. These girls sing. That boy plays. Those boys play. This, these indicate something near to the speaker. That, those indicate more distant objects.

Exercise : Exercise Pick out all the adjectives in the following sentences, and say to which class each of them belongs. The ship sustained heavy damage. I have called several times. Every dog has his day. A live ass is better than a dead lion. Every man has his duties. Say the same thing twice over. Several persons were present at the time. He is a man of few words. Neither party is quite in the right. What time is it? Which pen do you prefer? The way was long, the wind was cold, the minstrel was infirm and old He comes here every day. I have not seen him for several days. There should not be much talk and title work.