What is an adjective?
Definition:
An adjective is a word which modifies the meaning of a noun or pronoun.
Or
An adjective is a word that adds precision to a noun by expressing its quality, quantity, number and degree.
Example: The speech was impressive.
In the above sentence the word impressive describes the quality of the speech. So it is an adjective.
This picture is beautiful.
Here the word beautiful describes the beauty of the picture
It is a used pen.
Here the word used describes the pen,weather it is old or new.
The door was broken.
Here the word broken describes the disqualify of the door
The story was interesting.
Here the word interesting describes the story whether it was interesting or boring
The seats were empty .
Here the word empty describes the state of the seats
They brought three books.
Here the word three describes the number of the books( how many books )
Formation of Adjectives
In the English language there are many ways to form an adjective.
Adjectives are formed through morphological and syntactic processes that expand expressive and descriptive power.
1. Formation from Nouns
Adjectives derived from nouns express relation, quality, or possession.
Strength ________ strong
Beauty__________ beautiful
Hope_____________hopeful
2. Formation from Verbs
These adjectives indicate action, result, or capability.
Create_______ creative
Please ________ pleasant
Use ____________used
Breake _________broken
3. Formation by Suffixation
Suffixes convert base words into adjectives with distinct meanings.
Common suffixes: -ful, -less, -able, -ous, -ive, -al, -ic
Care _______ careless
Access ______ accessible
Help_________helful
Harm_______harmless
Capable, previous, active,national,generic
Tragic, etc
4. Formation from Past Participles
Many adjectives are formed from past participles of verbs, usually ending in -ed, -en, or irregular forms. These adjectives describe a state, condition, or completed action, not an ongoing one.
Examples:
A broken window
Used furniture
Written permission
Lost opportunities
Exposed skin
Note: When past participles function as adjectives, they do not act as verbs; rather, they describe the resultant condition of a noun.
5. Formation from Proper Nouns
These adjectives denote origin, nationality, or cultural identity.
Africa → African
Islam → Islamic
Asia______Asian
Iran______Iranian
Spain______Spainish
6. Compound Adjectives
Compound adjectives express complex or combined qualities.
Well-educated
Short-sighted
Kinds of Adjectives
Adjective of Quality
Adjective of Quantity
Adjective of Number
Demonstrative Adjective
Distributive Adjective
Interrogative Adjective
Possessive Adjective
Proper Adjective
Emphasizing Adjective
Exclamatory Adjective
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