Adjective

THE ADJECTIVE

 Read the following sentences :-
Sita is a clever girl. (Girl of what kind1?)
I don't like that boy, (Which boy ?)
He gave me five mangoes. (How many mangoes?)
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.

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:-
The lazy boy was punished.
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 may be divided into the following classes:-

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

(Adjectives formed from Proper Nouns (e.g., French wines, Turkish tobacco, Indian tea, etc.) are sometimes called Proper Adjectives. They are generally classed with Adjectives of Quality) language.

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,


The hand has five fingers.
Few cats like cold water.
There are no pictures in this book.
I have taught you many things.
All men must die.
Here are 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 (or Numeral Adjectives) are of three kinds:-

(i) 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. See 74]

Indefinite Numeral Adjectives, which do not denote an exact number; as, All, no; many, few; some, any; certain, several, sundry.

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 duty. 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. -- Some boys are clever.
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 toask 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.]



Exercise in Grammar

Pick out all the Adjectives in the following sentences, and say to which class each of them belongs:-

The ship sustained heavy damage.
I have called several times.
Every dog has his day.
A live ass is better than a dead lion,
Every man has his duties.
Say the same thing twice over.
Several persons were present at the time,
He is a man of few words.
Neither party is quite in the right.
What time is if?
Which pen do you prefer?
The way was long, the wind was cold, the minstrel was infirm and old.
He comes here every day.
I have not seen him for several days.
There should not be much talk and little work.
Abdul won the second prize.
The child fell down from a great height.
He was absent last week.
He died a glorious death.
A small leak may sink a great ship.
Good wine needs no bush.
I like the little pedlar who has a crooked nose.
King Francis was a hearty King and loved a royal sport.
In the furrowed land the toilsome patient oxen stand.
My uncle lives in the next house.
Some dreams are like reality.
A cross child is not liked.
It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good.

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 (§ 74) this and that are the only Adjectives which are inflected or changed in form to show number.

This girl sings. These girls sing. That boy plays. Those boys play.

This, these indicate something near to the speaker.
That, those indicate more distant objects.

Formation of Adjectives

(i) Many Adjectives are formed from Nouns.

Noun -- Adjective

Boy -- boyish Fool -- foolish Dirt -- dirty Storm -- stormy
Care -- careful
Pardon -- pardonable
Play -- playful
Laugh -- laughable
Hope -- hopeful
Outrage -- outrageous
Venture -- venturesome
Courage -- courageous
Trouble -- troublesome
Glory -- glorious
Shame -- shameless
Envy -- envious
Sense -- senseless
Man -- manly
Silk -- silken
King -- kingly
Gold -- golden
Gift -- gifted

(ii) Some Adjectives are formed from Verbs.

Verb -- Adjective

Tire -- tireless
Cease -- ceaseless
Talk -- talkative
Move -- moveable
(iii) Some Adjectives are formed from other Adjectives.

Adjective -- Adjective

Tragic -- tragical
Black -- blackish
Whole -- wholesome
White -- whitish
Three -- threefold
Sick -- sickly

Exercise in Composition

Supply suitable Adjectives:-
The town stood a --- siege.
The --- prize was won by a Hindu.
The --- woman lives in a wretched hut.
This is a very --- matter.
The battle of Waterloo ended in a --- victory.
Suddenly there arose a --- storm.
It is a --- lie.
The --- tidings were a heavy blow to the old man.
Here is a rupee: pay the fare and keep the --- money.
His reading is of a very --- range.
The injured man wants --- advice.
You cannot have it --- ways.
India expects --- man to do his duty.
The --- bird catches the worm.
Have you any --- reason to give?
---anxiety has undermined his health.
There were riots in --- places.
An --- man will not reason calmly.
He stands --- feet in his stockings.
Nelson won for himself --- fame.
I have no --- cash.
He always walks with a --- step.
--- errors are not easily corrected.
Every cloud has a --- lining.
He was a man of --- ambition.
He was listened to in --- silence.

Exercise in Composition

Form Adjectives from the following Nouns:
[Attach each Adjective to a suitable noun.]

Ease, pity, time, heaven, health, wealth, love, hill, need, green, room, cost.
pain, doubt, wonder, peace, child, prince, mountain, ridicule, picture, labour, wood, pomp, artist, progress, slave, contempt, tempest, sense, quarrel, I thought, hope, friend.

Exercise in Composition

Use each of the following Adjectives in a sentence:
[Models.- A soft answer turneth away wrath.
His polite manners have endeared him to all.
Swimming is a healthy exercise.

A certain man fell among thieves.]

Happy, sad, industrious, lazy, big, small, soft, harsh, hard, polite, rude, wise, foolish, rich, poor, young, new, old, long, short, quick, slow, strong, weak, handsome, ugly, clever, dull, kind, cruel, healthy, dutiful, distant, certain.

Exercise in Composition

Use a suitable Adjective with each of the following Nouns :
[Models.- A violent storm.
A long siege.
A decisive victory.
A populous city.
A devoted husband.

Storm, siege, sleep, victory, advice, blow, silence, hands, water, servant, flower, city, artist, dealer, voice, husband, subject, child, king, dog.

Exercise in Composition

Use as many suitable Adjectives as you can with each of the following Nouns: [Models. - A narrow street, a wide street, a crooked street, a dirty street A clean street. A deliberate lie, a black lie, a white lie.] Fortune, man, news, storm, health, noveh progress, room, incident.

Exercise in Composition

Write down the Adjectives opposite in meaning to the following:-

Courageous, many, wild, hot, lean, heavy, costly, barren, beautiful, patient, honest, civilized, careful, strong, experienced, slow, friendly, cruel, soft.