2. Adjectives

An Adjective qualifies a noun or a pronoun. Adjectives are divided into six different kinds :

A. Proper Adjectives

Proper Adjectives are derived from proper nouns.

Examples :
a. Chinese soldiers fought bravely.

b.We are studying the English language.

In (a) the word " Chinese " is a proper adjective because it is derived from the proper noun " China "
In (b) the word " English " is a proper adjective because it is derived from the proper noun " England ".

Note : Every proper adjective should begin with a capital letter.

B. Descriptive Adjectives

Descriptive Adjectives qualify a noun by adding some quality or state to it.

Examples :
a. A brave soldier killed the enemy. ( quality )

b. There are some sick soldiers in the hospital. ( state )

c. Quantitative Adjectives


Quantitative Adjectives indicate how much of a thing is meant.

He has much rice.
He has little rice.
He has no rice.
He has some rice.
He has not any rice.
He has enough rice.
He has sufficient rice.
He sold all the rice.

D. Numeral Adjectives

Numeral Adjectives express number.

Numeral Adjectives are subdivided into (a) Definite and (b) Indefinite

a) Definite Numeral Adjectives denote some exact number. Those which show how many things there are are called Cardinals; Those which show in what order things stand are called Ordinals.

 - Cardinals : one, two three, etc.

 - Ordinals : first, second, third, etc.

b) Indefinite Numeral Adjectives do not denote any exact number.
Examples :

All men are mortal.
Some men died young
No men were present.
Many men are poor.
Few men are rich.
More men came today than yesterday.
Most men must work for their living.
Several men came.
Sunday men went away.

E. Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative Adjectives show which thing is meant.

This house is mine.
That house is your.

These adjective sare also subdivided into Definite and Indefinite :

  a) Definite demonstrative Adjectives point out some particular objects.

He is in the house.
This book is mine.
That pen is yours.
These books are mine.
Those pens are yours.
I cannot do such a thing as that.
This is the same story as I heard the other day.

  b) Indefinite Demonstrative Adjectives do not point out any particular object.

He has an horse.
He has not any brother.
He saw me one day in the theater.
A certain man came here.
Some man came here.
Give me any other box.
I have another box.
Other men would not do so.

F. Distributive Adjectives

Distributive Adjectives point out that the objects named are to be taken separately. There are only four distributive adjectives.
Examples : 

I will give a book to each scholar in this class.
Every person in the room was astonished.
You may have either book.
You may have neither book.