grammatical categories

1.4. adjectives

ADJECTIVES

Words that describe nouns or pronouns are called adjectives. They often answer the questions What kind? How many? and Which one? The adjectives in the following sentences are italicized. Observe that the adjectives all answer questions about the nouns they describe.

• Small, independent businesses are becoming numerous. (What kinds of businesses?)
• We have six franchises in four states. (How many franchises? How many states?)
• That chain of health clubs started as a small operation. (Which chain? What kind of operation?)
• He is energetic and forceful, while she is personable and deliberate. (What pronouns do these adjectives describe?).
• Carrie read an interesting story. (What kind of story?)
• The recent article has that information. (Which article?)
• Kent owns those surfboards. ( Which surfboards?)
• Wendy paid fi fty dollars for the jacket. (How many dollars?)
• Much space was devoted to her artwork. (How much space?)

Adjectives usually precede nouns. They may, however, follow the words they describe, especially when used with linking verbs, as shown in the first and last preceding examples. Here is a brief list of words used as adjectives:

effective green sensitive excellent intelligent small expensive long successful

 

The words a, an, and the are the most frequently used adjectives. Although they are sometimes referred to as articles or noun markers, they are really adjectives, plain and simple. Use a before words that start with a consonant sound ( a joking man or a lucky lottery player) and an before words that start with a vowel sound ( an hour’s wait or an interesting story).

An adjective can come before or after the noun or pronoun it describes:

Older cards are found on the table. ( Which cards?)

Tall players and intelligent coaches were interviewed by the interested reporter. ( Which players? Which coaches? Which reporter?)

Tired and hungry , the campers reached the lodge. ( What kind of campers?)

The campers, tired and hungry , reached the lodge. ( What kind of campers?)

 

There are several types of adjectives:

A proper adjective is formed from a proper noun.

Italian bread Herculean strength Midas touch Canadian sunset

A compound adjective is a word composed of two or more words. Sometimes these words are hyphenated.

landmark decision black-and-blue mark hometown hero

Do not use a hyphen after an adverb ending in - ly.

newly painted mural sickly sweet odor recently purchased.

 

People sometimes confuse adjectives with nouns or with pronouns. Here are some points to remember.

 

QUESTION 1: When is a word a noun? When is a word an adjective?

The magazine article applauded the students’ efforts in the charity drive. (Magazine is an adjective that describes which article.)

The article about the students’ efforts in the charity drive was in the magazine. (Here magazine is a noun since it is the name of a thing and does not describe anything.)

Our Thanksgiving celebration was fun. (Thanksgiving is an adjective describing which ; celebration.)

We celebrated Thanksgiving . (Thanksgiving is the name of the holiday that was celebrated.)

 

QUESTION 2: When is a word a pronoun? When is a word an adjective?

These demonstrative pronouns can be used as adjectives: that, these, this, and those.

These interrogative pronouns can be used as adjectives: what and which.

These indefi nite pronouns can be used as adjectives: all, another, any, both, each, either, few, many, more, most, neither, other, several, and some.

This problem is difficult. ( This is an adjective since it answers the question, Which problem?)

This is diffi cult. (This is a pronoun since it takes the place of a noun and does not modify a noun or a pronoun.)

Some people are very funny. ( Some is an adjective since it answers the question, Which people?)

Some are funny. ( Some is a pronoun since it takes the place of a noun and does not modify a noun or a pronoun.)

 

WRITING TIP Adjectives tell more and help your reader know more about people, places, and things.

Select the precise word to describe people, places, and things. Which is the most accurate adjective to describe the student: smart, brilliant, insightful, clever, brainy, or bright? Decide.

 

Use a dictionary to find the subtle difference in adjectives that are closely related in meaning.