Christoph at 21:20, 5 September 2006

2006-09-05T21:20:10Z

Christoph at 21:04, 5 September 2006

2006-09-05T21:04:27Z

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An '''adjective''' is a [[:Category:Grammar|part of speech]] which modifies a noun, usually describing it or making its meaning more specific.

Example: green grass (the adjective "green" describes the noun "grass")

There are three kinds of adjectives known as the positive, comparative, and superlative forms, as in green, greener, greenest.

Adjectives can be grouped into seven categories:
# nouns as adjectives
# adjectives that modify an object
# numbers as adjectives
# pronouns and articles as adjectives
# multiple adjectives
# compound adjectives
# adjectives used as nouns

== Nouns as adjectives ==
A noun can be used to qualify (or describe) another noun, as in goose feathers, in which case there are no comparative or superlative forms such as "gooser" or "goosest."

Some nouns can be made into an adjective by adding an ending such as -ish, -like, -ly, -y, -en, -al, -ar, -ory.

Examples:
He spoke in a childish manner.
My, what a womanly figure you have.
His teeth were yellowish in color.
He was sitting at a wooden desk.
He works at the Postal Office.
What a spectacular show!
Our program is going through a transitory period.

Often, the endings -en and -al will be dropped, and the noun form will be used by itself, as in oak table, wool shirt, and, coast line.

== Adjectives that modify an object ==
Adjectives such as like and worth may be used to modify objects.

Examples:
Stale bread tastes like Styrofoam.
Your textbook is worth one dollar.

Sometimes prepositions like "of" and "with" are used to form adjectives.

Examples:
She is fearful of dogs.
Sometimes parents can be impatient with you.

== Numbers as adjectives ==
Any words related to number are considered adjectives, including "two," "twenty," "few," "many," "dozen," "third," and so on.

== Pronouns and articles as adjectives ==
[[Pronoun]]s such as "this," "that," and "those" used to modify a noun are called demonstrative adjectives.

Possessive pronouns such as "my," "your," and "his" used to modify a noun are called possessive adjectives.

Articles such as "a," "an," and "the" are also adjectives.

== Multiple adjectives ==
When using more than one adjective to modify a noun, the adjectives may be separated by a conjunction or by commas.

Examples:
Your teeth are strong and beautiful.
You have strong, beautiful teeth.

== Compound adjectives ==
Nouns and adjectives may be combined to modify another noun, in which case the word can be hyphenated (although the hyphen is often a matter of personal preference).

Examples:
He is a warm-hearted fellow.
I can be empty-headed sometimes.

Past participles of verbs can also be used as adjectives, such as native born, foreign made, soft spoken, warmly dressed, well behaved, and so on.

== Adjectives used as nouns ==
It is possible to use an adjective as a noun by simply using the adjective as the subject and omitting the noun it modifies. Usually, adjectives used as nouns refer to a specific quality shared by a group (the pleasant) or a specific human characteristic shared by a group of people (the wise).

Example:
We moderns are to the ancients what the poor are to the rich.

== External links ==
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjective Wikipedia article on '''adjective''']

[[Category:Grammar]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 An '''adjective''' is a [[:Category:Grammar|part of speech]] which modifies a noun, usually describing it or making its meaning more specific.
-Example: green grass (the adjective "green" describes the noun "grass")
+{{ExampleBox|50%|#ffffaa|left|Example|
 There are three kinds of adjectives known as the positive, comparative, and superlative forms, as in green, greener, greenest.
@@ Line 19: / Line 20: @@
 Some nouns can be made into an adjective by adding an ending such as -ish, -like, -ly, -y, -en, -al, -ar, -ory.
-    Examples:
+{{ExampleBox|50%|#ffffaa|left|Examples|
-    He spoke in a childish manner.
+* He spoke in a childish manner.
-    My, what a womanly figure you have.
+* My, what a womanly figure you have.
-    His teeth were yellowish in color.
+* His teeth were yellowish in color.
-    He was sitting at a wooden desk.
+* He was sitting at a wooden desk.
-    He works at the Postal Office.
+* He works at the Postal Office.
-    What a spectacular show!
+* What a spectacular show!
-    Our program is going through a transitory period.
+* Our program is going through a transitory period.}}
 Often, the endings -en and -al will be dropped, and the noun form will be used by itself, as in oak table, wool shirt, and, coast line.
 == Adjectives that modify an object ==
-Adjectives such as like and worth may be used to modify objects.
+Adjectives such as ''like'' and ''worth'' may be used to modify objects.
-    Examples:
+{{ExampleBox|50%|#ffffaa|left|Examples|
-    Stale bread tastes like Styrofoam.
+* Stale bread tastes ''like'' Styrofoam.
-    Your textbook is worth one dollar.
+* Your textbook is ''worth'' one dollar.}}
 Sometimes prepositions like "of" and "with" are used to form adjectives.
-    Examples:
+{{ExampleBox|50%|#ffffaa|left|Examples|
-    She is fearful of dogs.
+* She is fearful ''of'' dogs.
-    Sometimes parents can be impatient with you.
+* Sometimes parents can be impatient ''with'' you.}}
 == Numbers as adjectives ==
@@ Line 56: / Line 57: @@
 When using more than one adjective to modify a noun, the adjectives may be separated by a conjunction or by commas.
-    Examples:
+{{ExampleBox|50%|#ffffaa|left|Examples|
-    Your teeth are strong and beautiful.
+* Your teeth are strong and beautiful.
-    You have strong, beautiful teeth.
+* You have strong, beautiful teeth.}}
 == Compound adjectives ==
 Nouns and adjectives may be combined to modify another noun, in which case the word can be hyphenated (although the hyphen is often a matter of personal preference).
-    Examples:
+{{ExampleBox|50%|#ffffaa|left|Examples|
-    He is a warm-hearted fellow.
+* He is a ''warm-hearted'' fellow.
-    I can be empty-headed sometimes.
+* I can be ''empty-headed'' sometimes.}}
 Past participles of verbs can also be used as adjectives, such as native born, foreign made, soft spoken, warmly dressed, well behaved, and so on.
@@ Line 72: / Line 73: @@
 It is possible to use an adjective as a noun by simply using the adjective as the subject and omitting the noun it modifies. Usually, adjectives used as nouns refer to a specific quality shared by a group (the pleasant) or a specific human characteristic shared by a group of people (the wise).
-    Example:
+{{ExampleBox|50%|#ffffaa|left|Example|
-    We moderns are to the ancients what the poor are to the rich.
+* We moderns are to the ancients what the poor are to the rich.}}
 == External links ==

Adjective - Revision history

Christoph at 21:20, 5 September 2006

Christoph at 21:04, 5 September 2006