It is a part of speech It is a part of speech which modifies the which modifies the noun. noun.

Qualities (large, modern, quiet). Qualities (large, modern, quiet). Physical and emotional states (cold, happy, busy, friendly). Physical and emotional states (cold, happy, busy, friendly). Origin (American, Asian). Origin (American, Asian). Opinions (excellent, fantastic, cool). Opinions (excellent, fantastic, cool). Frequency (weekly, daily, regular). Frequency (weekly, daily, regular). Adjectives can express: Adjectives can express:

According to the morphological composition According to the morphological composition adjectives can be Simple (young) Derived (rainy) Compound (well-known)

All adjectives fall into two groups: Qualitative adjectives – denote properties of a substance directly (great, calm, gold, beautiful). Qualitative adjectives – denote properties of a substance directly (great, calm, gold, beautiful). Relative adjectives – describe properties of a substance through relation to material ( wooden ), to place ( European ), to time ( ancient ). Relative adjectives – describe properties of a substance through relation to material ( wooden ), to place ( European ), to time ( ancient ).

When two or more adjectives come before a noun, the usual order is: Value-Size-Age-Shape-Colour-Origin- Material-Opinion-Temperature a pretty little wooden house (value+size+material) a beautiful old red London bus (value+age+colour+origin) But! a big bad wolf, a big fat cow ( big+value)

Adjectives are used in the sentence in the functions of an attribute or of a predicative.

The degrees of comparison of adjectives: the comparative the superlative These degrees are formed in different ways: the synthetic, analytic, suppletive.

The synthetic degrees of comparison are formed by adding the inflexion –er, -est (fine – finer - the finest ) to the adjectives having one or two syllables.

The analytic degrees are formed by means of more or most (difficult – more difficult – the most difficult).

The suppletive way: some other words are used to build up the forms. Good – better – the best. Good – better – the best. Bad – worse – the worst. Bad – worse – the worst. Little – less – the least. Little – less – the least. Many/much – more – the most. Many/much – more – the most.

The following adjectives have double degrees of comparison: / farther – the farthest / farther – the farthest Far - further – the furthest Far - further – the furthest / older – the oldest / older – the oldest Old – elder – the eldest ( family relations) Old – elder – the eldest ( family relations) / the nearest / the nearest Near – nearer – next (time), the next (order) Near – nearer – next (time), the next (order) / later – the latest / later – the latest Late – the later (former) – last (time), the last Late – the later (former) – last (time), the last (order) (order)

Absolute adjectives: Absolute adjectives: middle,dead,immaculate,pregnant,supreme, middle,dead,immaculate,pregnant,supreme, left, empty,perfect, round, wooden, medical, full, left, empty,perfect, round, wooden, medical, full, perpendicular,square, unique. perpendicular,square, unique. The flowers are nearly dead from the cold. The flowers are nearly dead from the cold.

Substantivization of Adjectives. Sometimes adjectives become substantivized. In this case they have the functions of nouns in the sentence and are always preceded by the definite article. Substantivized adjectives may have two meanings: 1) They may indicate a class of persons in a general sense (e.g. the poor = poor people, the dead = dead people, etc.) Such adjectives are plural in meaning and take a plural verb. e.g. The old receive pensions. 1) They may indicate a class of persons in a general sense (e.g. the poor = poor people, the dead = dead people, etc.) Such adjectives are plural in meaning and take a plural verb. e.g. The old receive pensions. The young are always romantic, arent they? The blind are taught trades in special schools. 2) Substantivized adjectives may also indicate an abstract notion. Then they are singular in meaning and take a singular verb. e.g. The good in him overweighs the bad. 2) Substantivized adjectives may also indicate an abstract notion. Then they are singular in meaning and take a singular verb. e.g. The good in him overweighs the bad. My mother never lost her taste for extravagant.

Syntactic Functions of Adjectives Adjectives may serve in the sentence as: 1) an attribute e.g. Do you see the small green boat, which has such an odd shape? The lights of the farm blazed out in the windy darkness. Adjectives used as attributes usually immediately precede the noun. 2) a predicative e.g. Her smile was almost professional. He looked mature, sober and calm. 3) part of a compound verbal predicate e.g. He stood silent, with his back turned to the window. She lay motionless, as if she were asleep. 4) an objective predicative e.g. I thought him very intelligent. She wore her hair short. 5) a subjective predicative e.g. The door was closed tight. Her hair was dyed blonde.

It should be noted that most adjectives can be used both attributively and predicatively, but some, among them those beginning with a-, can be used only as predicatives (e.g. afraid, asleep, along, alive, awake, ashamed and also content, sorry, well, ill, due, etc.) A few adjectives can be used only as attributes (e.g. outer, major, minor, only, whole, former, latter and some others)

Position of Adjectives. 1. Most adjectives can be used in a noun group, after determiners and numbers if there are any, in front of the noun. e.g. He had a beautiful smile. 1. Most adjectives can be used in a noun group, after determiners and numbers if there are any, in front of the noun. e.g. He had a beautiful smile. She bought a loaf of white bread. There was no clear evidence. 2. Most adjectives can also be used after a link verb such as be, become, or feel. e.g. I'm cold. 2. Most adjectives can also be used after a link verb such as be, become, or feel. e.g. I'm cold. I felt angry. Nobody seemed amused.

3. Some adjectives are normally used only after a link verb. |afraid |asleep |due |ready |unable | |alive |aware |glad |sorry |well | |alone |content |ill |sure | | For example, we can say She was glad, but you do not talk about a glad woman. I wanted to be alone. We were getting ready for bed. I'm not quite sure. He didn't know whether to feel glad or sorry. 4. Some adjectives are normally used only in front of a noun. |eastern | |existing |neighbouring | |northern |atomic |indoor |occasional | |southern |countless |introductory |outdoor | |western |digital |maximum | | For example, we talk about an atomic bomb, but we do not say The bomb was atomic. He sent countless letters to the newspapers. This book includes a good introductory chapter on forests.

5. When we use an adjective to emphasize a strong feeling or opinion, it always comes in front of a noun. 5. When we use an adjective to emphasize a strong feeling or opinion, it always comes in front of a noun. |absolute outright |pure |true | |complete |perfect |real |utter | |entire |positive |total | Some of it was absolute rubbish. He made me feel like a complete idiot. 6. Some adjectives that describe size or age can come after a noun group consisting of a number or determiner and a noun that indicates the unit of measurement. |deep |long |tall |wide | |high |old |thick | He was about six feet tall. The water was several metres deep. The baby is nine months old. Note that you do not say two pounds heavy, you say two pounds in weight.

7. A few adjectives are used alone after a noun. |designate |elect |galore |incarnate | She was now the president elect. There are empty houses galore. 8. A few adjectives have a different meaning depending on whether they come in front of or after a noun. |concerned |involved |present |proper |responsible | For example, the concerned mother means a mother who is worried, but the mother concerned means the mother who has been mentioned. It's one of those incredibly involved stories. The people involved are all doctors. I'm worried about the present situation. Of the 18 people present, I knew only one. Her parents were trying to act in a responsible manner. We do not know the person responsible for his death.

Adjectives with prepositions. 1. When we use an adjective after a link verb, we can often use the adjective on its own or followed by a prepositional phrase. e.g. He was afraid. 1. When we use an adjective after a link verb, we can often use the adjective on its own or followed by a prepositional phrase. e.g. He was afraid. He was afraid of his enemies. 2. Some adjectives cannot be used alone after a link verb. If they are followed by a prepositional phrase, it must have a particular preposition: 2. Some adjectives cannot be used alone after a link verb. If they are followed by a prepositional phrase, it must have a particular preposition: |aware of |unaware of |fond of | |accustomed to |unaccustomed to |used to | e.g. I've always been terribly fond of you. He is unaccustomed to the heat.

3. Some adjectives can be used alone, or followed by a particular preposition. used alone, or with of to specify the cause of a feeling 3. Some adjectives can be used alone, or followed by a particular preposition. used alone, or with of to specify the cause of a feeling |afraid |critical |jealous |suspicious | |ashamed |envious |proud |terrified | |convinced |frightened |scared |tired | They may feel jealous of your success. I was terrified of her. used alone, or with of to specify the person who has a quality |brave |good |polite |thoughtful | |careless |intelligent |sensible |unkind | |clever |kind |silly |unreasonable | |generous |nice |stupid |wrong | That was clever of you! I turned the job down, which was stupid of me. used alone or with to, usually referring to: |similarity: close equal identical | |related similar | |marriage: married engaged | |loyalty: dedicated devoted loyal | |rank: junior senior |

e.g. My problems are very similar to yours. He was dedicated to his job. used alone, or followed by 'with' to specify the cause of a feeling |bored |displeased |impatient |pleased | |content |dissatisfied |impressed |satisfied | e.g. I could never be bored with football. He was pleased with her. used alone or with at, usually referring to: |strong reactions: amazed astonished shocked surprised| |ability: bad excellent good hopeless useless | e.g. He was shocked at the hatred they had shown. She had always been good at languages. used alone, or with for to specify the person or thing that quality relates to |common |essential |possible |unusual | |difficult |important |unnecessary |usual | |easy |necessary | e.g. It's difficult for young people on their own. It was unusual for them to go away at the weekend.

4. Some adjectives can be used alone, or used with different prepositions. used alone, with an impersonal subject and of and the subject of the action, or with a personal subject and to and the object of the action 4. Some adjectives can be used alone, or used with different prepositions. used alone, with an impersonal subject and of and the subject of the action, or with a personal subject and to and the object of the action |cruel |good |nasty |rude | |friendly |kind |nice |unfriendly | |generous |mean |polite |unkind | e.g. It was rude of him to leave so suddenly. She was rude to him for no reason. o used alone, with about to specify a thing or with to specify a person |angry |delighted |fed up |happy | |annoyed |disappointed |furious |upset | e.g. She was still angry about the result. They're getting pretty fed up with him.