Types of Adjectives

In this sub-module, we will have a look at the various types of Adjectives, based on their functioning in a sentence.

Adjectives of Quality

Adjectives of Quality (or Descriptive Adjective) - show the kind or quality of noun (i.e. that of a person, place or thing).

Adjectives of Quality answer the question : Of what kind?

E.g. shape, size, colour, mental state, physical state, social status, judicious quality.

She is a graceful lady. (lady of what kind? - graceful)
London is a large city. (city of what kind? - large)
Red carpet was laid for the Prime Minister. (carpet of what kind? - red)

Adjective of quality can end with:

-like (childlike), -ish (childish), -ic (altruistic), -able (amiable), -ous (fabulous), -ful (beautiful), -less (careless), -ory (savory), -ile (servile), -ate (legitimate), -ing (pleasing), -ed (pleased)

Proper Adjectives

Proper Adjectives - These are the Adjectives formed from Proper Nouns.

E.g. Indian tea, African diamonds, Italian mafia, Buddhist monastery, Hindu temple, British rule etc.

They are generally classed with Adjectives of Quality.

Adjectives of Quantity

Adjectives of Quantity - show how much of a noun is.

Adjectives of Quantity answer the question: How much?

E.g. some, all, any, a lot, lots of, much, little, a little, the little, all, enough, ample, whole, sufficient, abundant, great, a great deal of, colossal, enormous, half.

Do you have some sugar?
He displayed much resilience.
There are sufficient funds in the trust to take care of all stray dogs in the locality.

Adjectives of Number

Adjectives of Number (or Numeral Adjectives) - show how many nouns are meant, or in what order nouns stand.

Adjectives of Number answer the question: How many?

E.g. no, all, many, some, most, several, cardinal numbers (two, five etc.), ordinal numbers (first, third etc.).

I have three watches. (three – cardinal adjective)
Monday is the first day of your office. (first – ordinal adjective)
I have learned many things from her.
Most men indulge in unnecessary flirting.

Types of Adjectives of Number

Adjectives of Number are of three kinds:

• Definite Numeral Adjectives

• Indefinite Numeral Adjectives

• Distributive Numeral Adjectives

Definite Numeral Adjectives

Definite Numeral Adjectives denote an exact number.

• Cardinals (or cardinal adjectives) - denote ‘how many’.
  E.g. one, two, three, etc.

• Ordinals (or ordinal adjectives) – denote the ‘order of things’ in a series.
  first, second, third, etc.

Article ‘the’ and Definite Numeral Adjectives

Concept 1

Article ‘the’ is used before Ordinal but not before Cardinal.

The third act of Merchant of Venice is pretty awesome.
Act three revolves around Shylock.

Concept 2

When both Ordinals and Cardinals come together in a sentence, then we place ordinals first and then the cardinals. That is, the order is ‘OC’.

Pattern: The + Ordinal + Cardinal

We will have PT in the two last periods. (incorrect)
We will have PT in the last two periods. (correct)

What have you done on the three first days of your holiday? (incorrect)
What have you done on the first three days of your holiday? (correct)

Indefinite Numeral Adjectives

Indefinite Numeral Adjectives do not denote an exact number.

E.g. all, many, few, some, any, certain, several, sundry.

Distributive Numeral Adjectives

Distributive Numeral Adjectives refer to each one of a noun.

E.g. each, every, either, neither.

Each girl must get her vaccination.
Every Indian should know his Fundamental Duties.
Either explanation can be printed.
Neither solution seems effective.

Relationship between Adjectives of Quantity and Adjectives of Number

Depending on how an adjective has been used in sentence, it may function either as adjective of quantity or adjective of number.

Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative Adjectives point out which person or thing is meant.

Demonstrative Adjectives answer the question: Which ?

E.g. this, that, these, those, such etc. (these are adjectives when they are used with nouns)

This car is mine.
That bike is yours.
These apples are mine.
Those oranges are yours.
I love such gestures.

Concept 1

‘this’ and ‘that’ are the only adjectives which are inflected (i.e. their form is changed) to show number.

• this, these - indicate something(s) near to the speaker.

• that, those - indicate something(s) more distant from the speaker.

This boy seems depressed.
These boys seem depressed.

That boy knows his potential.
Those boys know their potential.

Concept 2

this, that, these or those are:

• demonstrative adjectives, if immediately followed by a noun.
  
  This game is good. (this - demonstrative adjective; game - noun)
  That mic is new. (that - demonstrative adjective; mic - noun)

• demonstrative pronouns, if immediately followed by other parts of speech, e.g. a verb.
  
  This is a good game. (this - demonstrative pronoun)
  That is a new mic. (that - demonstrative pronoun)

Interrogative Adjectives

Interrogative Adjectives are used with nouns to ask questions.

E.g. what, which and whose.

What kind of a software is it?
Which computer language will you use for your new app?
Whose website is this?

Concept

what, which, whose are:

• interrogative adjectives, if immediately followed by a noun.
  What size is your shirt? (what - interrogative adjective; size - noun)

• interrogative pronouns, if immediately followed by other parts of speech, e.g. a verb.
  What is the size of your shirt? (what - interrogative pronoun)

Emphasizing Adjectives

Emphasizing Adjectives are used to emphasize something.

E.g. ‘the same’, own and very.

It is the same ball that we lost yesterday.
He saw the murder with his own eyes.
This is the very necklace I want.

Exclamatory Adjective

Pattern: what + a/an + noun ….!

What an idea!
What a blessing!

Possessive Adjectives

We have already studied Possessive Adjectives in the module on Possessive case of Personal Pronouns.

Here let us see a few more of their properties.

Concept 1

Possessive adjectives comes after ‘All’ and ‘Both’ and not before them.

My all books have got lost. (incorrect)
All my books have got lost. (correct; my – possessive adjective)

Concept 2

In case of the following words, we don’t use possessive adjective.

excuse, pardon, favour, separation, leave, mention, etc.

Did he make my mention? (incorrect)
Did he make a mention of me? (correct)

He can’t stand your separation. (incorrect)
He can’t stand the separation from you. (correct)

Distributive Adjectives

Distributive Adjectives - each, every, either and neither

Concept 1

When used as Adjectives, they are followed by singular nouns. Also, with them we use singular verbs and singular pronouns.

Pattern: each, every, either, neither + singular noun + singular verb and singular pronoun

Each student should submit his assignment. (student – singular noun; his – singular pronoun)
Neither accusation is true. (accusation – singular noun; is – singular verb)

Concept 2

Consider the following pattern:

Pattern: Each/Every + Singular noun + and + each/every + Singular noun + Verb + Pronoun

Here the pronoun will be according to the latter subject.

Each boy and every girl was doing her work. (we used her as the latter subject is girl)

Extra Books and Tools

If you prefer to learn via books, or want some good English Grammar books for reference purposes, you may read this article which enlists some of the books recommended by us.