What Is An Adjective?

What Is An Adjective?



An adjective modifies a noun
or a pronoun
by describing, identifying, or quantifying words. An adjective usually precedes
the noun or the pronoun which it modifies.
In the following examples, the highlighted words are
adjectives:
The truck-shaped balloon floated over the treetops.
Mrs. Morrison papered her kitchen walls with
hideous wall paper.
The small boat foundered on the wine dark
sea.
The coal mines are dark and
dank.
Many stores have already begun to play
irritating Christmas music.
A battered music box sat on the
mahogany sideboard.
The back room was filled with large,
yellow rain boots.
An adjective can be modified by an adverb,
or by a phrase
or clause
functioning as an adverb. In the sentence
My husband knits intricately patterned mittens.
for example, the adverb "intricately" modifies the adjective "patterned."
Some nouns, many pronouns, and many participle
phrases can also act as adjectives. In the sentence
Eleanor listened to the muffled sounds of the radio
hidden under her pillow.
for example, both highlighted adjectives are past
participles.
Grammarians also consider articles
("the," "a," "an") to be adjectives.
Possessive Adjectives


A possessive adjective
("my," "your," "his," "her," "its," "our," "their") is similar or identical to a
possessive
pronoun; however, it is used as an adjective and modifies a noun or a noun
phrase, as in the following sentences:
I can't complete my assignment because I don't have the
textbook.
In this sentence, the possessive adjective "my" modifies "assignment" and the
noun phrase "my assignment" functions as an object.
Note that the possessive pronoun form "mine" is not used to modify a noun or
noun phrase.
What is your phone number.
Here the possessive adjective "your" is used to modify the noun phrase "phone
number"; the entire noun phrase "your phone number" is a subject
complement. Note that the possessive pronoun form "yours" is not used to
modify a noun or a noun phrase.
The bakery sold his favourite type of bread.
In this example, the possessive adjective "his" modifies the noun phrase
"favourite type of bread" and the entire noun phrase "his favourite type of
bread" is the direct
object of the verb
"sold."
After many years, she returned to her homeland.
Here the possessive adjective "her" modifies the noun "homeland" and the noun
phrase "her homeland" is the object of the preposition
"to." Note also that the form "hers" is not used to modify nouns or noun
phrases.
We have lost our way in this wood.
In this sentence, the possessive adjective "our" modifies "way" and the noun
phrase "our way" is the direct object of the compound
verb "have lost". Note that the possessive pronoun form "ours" is not used
to modify nouns or noun phrases.
In many fairy tales, children are neglected by their
parents.
Here the possessive adjective "their" modifies "parents" and the noun phrase
"their parents" is the object of the preposition "by." Note that the possessive
pronoun form "theirs" is not used to modify nouns or noun phrases.
The cat chased its ball down the stairs and into the
backyard.
In this sentence, the possessive adjective "its" modifies "ball" and the noun
phrase "its ball" is the object of the verb "chased." Note that "its" is the
possessive adjective and "it's" is a contraction
for "it is."
Demonstrative Adjectives


The demonstrative
adjectives "this," "these," "that," "those," and "what" are
identical to the demonstrative
pronouns, but are used as adjectives to modify nouns or noun phrases, as in
the following sentences:
When the librarian tripped over that cord, she dropped a
pile of books.
In this sentence, the demonstrative adjective "that" modifies the noun "cord"
and the noun phrase "that cord" is the object of the preposition "over."
This apartment needs to be fumigated.
Here "this" modifies "apartment" and the noun phrase "this apartment" is the
subject
of the sentence.
Even though my friend preferred those plates, I bought
these.
In the subordinate
clause, "those" modifies "plates" and the noun phrase "those plates" is the
object of the verb "preferred." In the independent
clause, "these" is the direct object of the verb "bought."
Note that the relationship between a demonstrative adjective and a
demonstrative pronoun is similar to the relationship between a possessive
adjective and a possessive pronoun, or to that between a interrogative adjective
and an interrogative
pronoun.
Interrogative Adjectives


An interrogative
adjective ("which" or "what") is like an interrogative pronoun,
except that it modifies a noun or noun phrase rather than standing on its own
(see also demonstrative adjectives and possessive adjectives):
Which plants should be watered twice a week?
Like other adjectives, "which" can be used to modify a noun or a noun phrase.
In this example, "which" modifies "plants" and the noun phrase "which paints" is
the subject of the compound verb "should be watered":
What book are you reading?
In this sentence, "what" modifies "book" and the noun phrase "what book" is
the direct object of the compound verb "are reading."
Indefinite Adjectives


An indefinite adjective
is similar to an indefinite
pronoun, except that it modifies a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase, as in the
following sentences:
Many people believe that corporations are under-taxed.
The indefinite adjective "many" modifies the noun "people" and the noun
phrase "many people" is the subject of the sentence.
I will send you any mail that arrives after you have moved to Sudbury.

The indefinite adjective "any" modifies the noun "mail" and the noun phrase
"any mail" is the direct object of the compound verb "will send."
They found a few goldfish floating belly up in the swan pound.
In this example the indefinite adjective modifies the noun "goldfish" and the
noun phrase is the direct object of the verb "found":
The title of Kelly's favourite game is "All dogs go to heaven."
Here the indefinite pronoun "all" modifies "dogs" and the full title is a
subject complement.