THE ADJECTIVES
Let’s Read
1.
Sita is a clever girl. (Girl of what kind?)
2.
I don't like that boy. (Which boy ?)
3.
He gave me five mangoes. (How many mangoes ?)
4.
There is little time for preparation. (How much time?)
In
sentence 1, 'clever' shows what kind of girl Sita is; or, in other words,
'clever' describes the girl Sita.
In
sentence 2, 'that' points out which boy is meant.
In
sentence 3, 'five' shows how many mangoes he gave me. In sentence 4, 'little' shows
how much time there is for preparation.
Let’s Learn
What are Adjectives?
· 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.
· [Adjective means added
to.]
Look at the following sentences.
1. The lazy boy was punished.
2.
The boy is lazy.
·
In sentence 1, the Adjective lazy is used along with the noun
boy as an epithet or attribute. It is, therefore, said to be used Attributively.
·
In sentence 2, the Adjective lazy is used along with the verb
is, and forms part of the Predicate. It is, therefore, said to be used Predicatively.
·
Some Adjectives can be used only Predicatively; as,
She
is afraid of ghosts.
I
am quite well.
Kinds of Adjectives:-
Adjectives of Quality (or Descriptive Adjective) show the kind or quality of a person or thing; as,
·
Kolkata is a large city He
is an honest man.
·
The foolish old crow tried
to sing
·
This is a Grammar of the
English language.
["Adjectives formed from Proper Nouns
(eg. French wines, Turkish tobacco, Indian tea, etc.) are some
times called Proper Adjectives. They are generally classed with Adjectives of Quality]
Adjectives of Quality answer the
question: Of what kind?
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 (or Numeral Adjectives) show how many persons or things are meant,or in what order a person or
thing stands; as,
·
Few cats like cold water.
·
There are no pictures in
this book.
·
I have taught you many
things.
·
All men must die.
·
Here 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 (or
Numeral Adjectives) are of three kinds:
(1) Definite Numeral Adjectives, which denote
an exact number; as,
·
One, two, three, etc. These
are called Cardinals.
·
First, second, third, etc.
These are called Ordinals.
[A Cardinal denotes how many, and an Ordinal
the order of things in a series. It will be seen that Ordinals really do the
work of Demonstrative Adjectives.]
(ii) Indefinite Numeral Adjectives, which
do not denote an exact number; as,
All, no, many, few, some, any, certain,
several, sundry.
(iii) 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
·
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.
|
Adjectives
of Quantity |
Adjectives
of Number |
|
I ate
some rice |
Adjectives
of Number |
|
He has lost all his wealth |
All men must die |
|
You have no sense |
There are no pictures in this book |
|
He did not eat any rice |
Are there any mango trees in this garden |
|
I have enough sugar |
There
are not enough spoons |
Demonstrative Adjectives point out which person or thing is meant; as,
·
This boy is stronger than
Hari.
·
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]
What, which and whose, when they are used
with nouns to ask questions, are called Interrogative Adjectives; as,
·
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.]
In the following sentences, the words own and
very are used as 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”.
The word what is sometimes used as an Exclamatory
Adjective; 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.
1.These girls sing.
This girl sings.
2.Those
boys play.
That boy plays.
This, these indicate something near to the
speaker. That, those indicate more distant objects.
Formation of Adjectives
(i)
Many adjectives are formed from nouns.
|
NOUNS |
ADJECTIVE |
|
Boy |
Boyish |
|
Fool |
Foolish |
|
Care |
Careful |
|
Play |
Playful |
|
Hope |
Hopeful |
|
Venture |
Venturesome |
|
Trouble |
Troublesome |
|
Shame |
Shameless |
|
Sense |
Senseless |
|
Silk |
Silken |
|
Gold |
Golden |
|
Dirt |
Dirty |
|
Storm |
Stormy |
|
Pardon |
Pardonable |
|
Laugh |
Laughable |
|
Outrage |
Outrageous |
|
Courage |
Courageous |
|
Glory |
Glorious |
|
Envy |
Envious |
|
Man |
Manly |
|
King |
Kingly |
|
Gift |
Gifted |
(ii) some adjectives are formed from
verbs.
|
Verb |
Adjective |
|
Tire |
Tireless |
|
Talk |
Talkative |
|
Move |
Movable |
|
Cease |
Ceaseless |
(iii)
some adjectives are formed from other adjectives.
|
Adjective |
Adjective |
|
Whole |
Wholesome |
|
Tragic |
Tragical |
|
Three |
Threefold |
|
Black |
Blackish |
|
White |
Whitish |
|
Sick |
Sickly |
REFER SOME NOTES
Comments
Post a Comment