An adjective is a word which adds something to the meaning of a noun, helping to describe, quantify, or identify nouns and pronouns in a sentence.
What Are the Two Uses of Adjectives?
Adjectives serve different structural functions depending on where they are placed in relation to the noun they modify. Understanding these uses helps clarify Adjectives in everyday sentence patterns.
Attributive Adjectives
Adjectives are said to be used attributive when they are placed close to and before the noun which they qualify (Noun); as, a good boy, a red ball, an angry person. An adjective so used is called an Epithet.
A few adjectives, such as, former, olden, etc., can be used only attributively: He is a former teacher of this school. This practice prevailed in olden times.
Predicative Adjectives
Adjectives are said to be used predicative when they express what is declared of some person or thing, and come after the verb; as,
The boy is good. The ball is red.
There are a few Adjectives, such as, alone, asleep, afraid, alike, aloof, alive, ashamed, awake, aware, content, etc., which can be used only predicatively. Thus, we can write only:
He is alone. She is asleep. I am content, etc.
How Are Adjectives Classified?
Adjectives may be generally arranged under the following groups:
1. Proper Adjectives
Derived from some Proper Nouns; as Indian, British, Vedic, Islamic.
2. Qualitative Adjectives
Describing the quality or state of a thing:
- He is an honest boy.
- Help the poor man.
- The brave man faced the angry crowd.
- This is a large city.
- The foolish old crow tried to sing.
3. Quantitative or Numeral Adjectives
Denoting quantity or number:
Give me some sugar. There were many men there. There is little water in the bottle. Any man can do this. He is the first boy of the class. I saw a few men there. Give me two rupees only. All men are mortal. This is his third attempt. He took little care of the thing. He took great pains to do the work. The whole village came out to see him. This is a single storied house.
4. Distributive Adjectives
Each, every, either, neither:
- Each boy was fully prepared.
- Give a paisa to every beggar.
- Either pen will do.
- He will join neither side.
5. Demonstrative Adjectives
This, that, such, same:
- I know this (or that) man.
- Such examples are rare.
- This is the same thing as that.
6. Interrogative Adjectives
Which, whose, and what, when they are used with nouns to ask questions:
Which boy did it? What book do you want? Whose pen is this?
[What is used in a general sense, but which requires a particular person or thing to be pointed out from a group.]
7. Emphasising Adjectives
Own, very:
This is my own house. I am the master of my own time. I did it with my own hand.
This is the very thing I want. That is the very boy I spoke of.
What Are the Degrees of Comparison of Adjectives?
Most Adjectives of Quality, and four Adjectives of Number and Quantity (much, little, many, few) have degrees of comparison.
There are three degrees of comparison:
| Degree | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| The Positive degree | The simplest form of the adjective | tall, beautiful |
| The Comparative degree | The form used when a comparison is made between two persons or things | He is taller than you. It is more beautiful than that. |
| The Superlative degree | The form used when more than two things, or sets of things, are compared | He is the tallest boy in the class. She is the most beautiful of all. |
Key Takeaways
- Adjectives modify, describe, or quantify nouns and pronouns.
- They can function attributively (before nouns) or predicatively (after verbs).
- Adjectives are classified into seven main groups: Proper, Qualitative, Quantitative/Numeral, Distributive, Demonstrative, Interrogative, and Emphasising.
- Most qualitative adjectives and selected quantitative/numeral adjectives feature three degrees of comparison: Positive, Comparative, and Superlative.
Quick Practice
Test your understanding of adjectives by dropping your responses in the comments section below:
- Identify whether the adjective in the sentence "She is asleep" is used attributively or predicatively.
- Write the comparative and superlative forms of the adjective "tall".
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an adjective in English grammar?
An adjective is a word that adds something to the meaning of a noun, providing extra details about its quality, quantity, number, or specific traits.
What are the three degrees of comparison?
The three degrees of comparison are the Positive degree, the Comparative degree, and the Superlative degree.