Adjectives

Definition of Adjectives

Adjectives are describing words. Large, grey and friendly are all examples of adjectives. In the examples below, these adjectives are used to describe an elephant.

Examples:

- Large elephant
- Grey elephant
- Friendly elephant

Adjectives Modify Nouns

The word elephant is a noun. Adjectives are added to nouns to state what kind, what colour, which one or how many. Adjectives are said to modify nouns and are necessary to make the meanings of sentences clearer or more exact.

Examples:

- Follow the yellow cab.
(In this example, the adjective 'yellow' modifies the noun 'cab'.)

- Craig caught another large bass.
(In this example, the adjective 'large' modifies the noun 'bass'.)

- It is the girl with the pale face again.

- The principal words should be in bold.
(Beware of the adjective 'principal' - see right)

- The rusty nail he stood on was the cause of the infection.

- Please put the old documents in the shredder.

- There is an essential matter we need to discuss.

- Peter guessed the right number.

Adjectives Modify Pronouns

Although less common, adjectives can also modify pronouns.

Examples:

- It is a blue one.
(In this example, the adjective 'blue' modifies the pronoun 'one'.)

- Only a brave few have received a recommendation.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ADJECTIVES

Adjectives are describing words. However, there are many other words that are classified as adjectives, some of which do not fall easily under this description.

PERSONAL TITLES

Personal titles such Mr, Mrs, Auntie, Uncle, Dr and Lord are classified as adjectives when they are attached to a name.

- The day after tomorrow, you can visit Auntie Pauline and Uncle Joe.
- The lecture on Friday will be presented by Dr Ingols and Prof. Munro.

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES

Possessive adjectives are used to show possession. They are my, your, his, her, its, our and their.

THE ARTICLES

The words a, an and the are known as articles and are classified as adjectives too. 'A' and 'an' are called the indefinite articles, as they do not indicate a specific noun; whereas, 'the' is called the definite article, because it does point to a specific noun.

- A cup (< any cup)
- The cup (< a specific cup)

DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES

Demonstrative adjectives are used to demonstrate or indicate specific things. This, that, these and those are all demonstrative adjectives.
- If I hear that parrot again, I will call the RSPCA.
('That' is a demonstrative adjective. It refers to a specific parrot.)
- Medals will only be given to those runners who complete the marathon in less than 8 hours.
('Those' is a demonstrative adjective. It refers to specific people.)

INDEFINITE ADJECTIVES

Unlike demonstrative adjectives, which indicate specific items, indefinite adjectives do not point out specific things. They are formed from indefinite pronouns. The most common indefinite adjectives are no, any, many, few and several.
- The chief has heard many people make the same promise.
(The indefinite adjective 'many' modifies the noun 'people'.)
- According to a council spokesman, there are no wallabies left in Derbyshire.
However, over the past few months, many walkers have reported seeing
several adults with young.
(The indefinite adjectives in this example are no, few, many and several.)

NUMBERS

Numbers are classified as adjectives too.
- Four dolphins stayed with the boat until dawn.
(The adjective 'four' modifies the noun 'dolphins'.)
- All we could muster was 9 cans of beans.
(The adjective '9' modifies the noun 'cans'.)

Source:

http://www.grammar-monster.com/lessons/adjectives.htm

Exercise Softskill English

Exercise 21: Conditional Sentences

Supply the correct form of the verb in parentheses for each of the following sentences. Review the formulas if you have trouble.

1. Henry talks to his dog as if it understood him.

2. If they had left the house earlier, they would not have been so late getting to the airport that they could not check their baggage.

3. If I finish the dress before Saturday, I will give it to my sister for her birthday.

4. If I had seen the movie, I would tell you about it last night.

5. Had Bob not interfered in his sister’s matiral problems, there would have been peace between them.

6. He would give you the money if he had it.

7. I wish they stopped making so much noise so that I could concentrate.

8. She would call you immediately if she needed help.

9. Had they arrived at the sale early, they would have found a better selection.

10. We hope that you enjoyed the party last night.

11. If you have enough time, please paint the chair before you leave.

12. We could go for a drive if today were Saturday.

13. If she wins the prize, it will be because she writes very well.

14. Mike wished that the editors had permited him to copy some of their material.

15. Joel wishes that he had spent his vacation on the Gulf Coast next year.

16. I will accept if they invite me to the party.

17. If your mother buys that car for you, will you be happy?

18. If he had decided earlier, he could have left on the afternoon flight.

19. Had we known your address, we would have written you a letter.

20. If the roofer doesn’t come soon, the rain will leak inside.

21. Because Rose did so poorly on the exam, she wishes that she had studied harder last night.

22. My dog always wakes me up if he hears strange noises.

23. If you see Mary today, please ask her to call me.

24. If he gets the raise, it will be because he does a good job.

25. The teacher will not accept our work if we turn it in late.

26. Mrs. Wood always talks to her tenth-grade students as though they were adults.

27. If he had left already, he would have called us.

28. If they had known him, they would have talked to him.

29. He would understand it if you explained it to him more slowly.

30. I could understand the French teacher if she spoke more slowly.

Exercise 22: Used To

Supply the simple form or (verb + ing) as required in the following sentences.

1. I was used to eating (eat) at noon when I started school.

2. He used to eat (eat) dinner at five o’clock.

3. When I was young, I used to swim (swim) every day.

4. He used to like (like) her, but he doesn’t anymore.

5. Don’t worry. Some day you will get used to speaking (speak) English.

6. Alvaro can’t get used to studying (study).

7. He used to dance (dance) every night, but now he studies.

8. Adam is used to sleeping (sleep) late on weekends.

9. Chieko is used to eating (eat) American food now.

10. She finally got used to eating (eat) our food.

Exercise 26: Adjectives and Adverbs

Circle the correct form in parentheses.

1. Rita plays the violin (well).

2. That is an (intense) novel.

3. The sun is shining (brightly).

4. The girls speak (fluent) French.

5. The boys speak Spanish (fluently).

6. The table has a (smooth) surface.

7. We must figure our income tax returns (accurately).

8. We don’t like to drink (bitter) tea.

9. The plane will arrive (soon).

10. He had an accident because he was driving too (fast).

Exercise 27: Linking (Copulative) Verbs

Circle the correct form in parentheses.

1. Your cold sounds (terrible).

2. The pianist plays very (well).

3. The food in the restaurant always tastes (good).

4. The campers remained (calm) despite the thunderstorm.

5. They became (sick) after eating the contaminated food.

6. Professor Calandra looked (quickly) at the students’ sketches.

7. Paco was working (diligently) on the project.

8. Paul protested (vehemently) about the new proposals.

9. Our neighbors appeared (relaxed) after their vacation.

10. The music sounded too (noisy) to be classical.

Exercise 28: Comparisons

Supply the correct form of the adjectives and adverbs in parentheses. Let as and than be your clues. Add any other words that may be necessary.

1. John and his friends left as soon as the professor had finished his lecture.

2. His job is more important than his friend’s.

3. He plays the guitar as well as Andres Seovia.

4. A new house is much more expensive than an older one.

5. Last week was as hot as this week.

6. Martha is more talented than her cousin.

7. Bill’s descriptions are more colorful than his wife’s.

8. Nobody is happier than Maria Elena.

9. The boys felt worse than the girls about losing the game.

10. A greyhound runs faster than a Chihuahua.

Exercise 29: Comparisons

Supply than, as, or from in each of the following sentences.

1. The Empire State Building is taller than the Statue of Liberty.

2. California is farther from New York than Pennsylvania.

3. Hi assignment is different from mine.

4. Louie reads more quickly than his sisters.

5. No animal is so big as King Kong.

6. Than report is less impressive than the government's.

7. Sam wears the same shirt as his teammates.

8. Dave paints much more realistically than his professor.

9. The twins have less money at the end of the month than they have at the beginning.

10. Her sports car is different from Nancy's.

Exercise 30: Comparisons

Select the correct form in parentheses in the following sentences.

1. Of the four dresses, i like the red one (better).

2. Phil is the (happiest) person we know.

3. Pat's car is (faster) than Dan's.

4. This is the (creamiest) ice cream i have had in long time.

5. This poster is (more colorful) than the one in the hall.

6. Does Fred feel (better) today than he did yesterday?

7. This vegetable soup tastes very (good).

8. While trying to balance the baskets on her head, the woman walk (more awkwardly) than her daughter.

9. Jane is the (least) athletic of all the woman.

10. My cat is the (prettier) of the two.

11. This summary is (the best) of the pair.

12. Your heritage is different (from) mine.

13. This painting is (less impressive) than the one in the other gallery.

14. The colder the weather gets, (the sicker) I feel.

15. No sooner had he received the letter (than) he called Maria.

16. A mink coat costs (twice more than) a sable coat.

17. Jim has a (few) opportunities to play tennis as I.

18. That recipe calls for (much) more sugar than mine does.

19. The museum is the (farthest) away of the three buildings.

20. George Washington is (more famous) than John Jay.