Language II
Adjectives
An adjective describes a noun.
“It’s a wooden heart.” “The
bear is blue.”
A. Position of adjectives
“The hedgehog is a wonderful creature.” “Their defence is useless in
such a situation.”
adjective + noun link verb +
adjective
= used attributively = used
predicatively
= attributive adjective =
predicative adjective
Some adjectives can be used in one position only!
Used only attributively Used only predicatively
That is sheer madness. The baby is asleep.
She bought his live album. The cook is ill.
Types of adjectives
From noun to adjective: root word & derivative
Noun + suffix: power-ful / noctur-nal / use-less
Prefix + noun: un-happy
Combination – prefix (2) + noun + suffix (1): dis-respect-ful
B. Order of adjectives (OSGASCOMTP)
O = opinion (awful)
S = size (large)
G = general description (quiet)
A = age (new)
1
, S = shape (square)
C = colour (white)
O = origin (Mexican)
M = material (plastic)
T = type (electronic)
P = purpose (walking)
Here’s an example: a huge (S) soft (G) bright (C) red (C) silk (M) cuddly (P) bear.
Attention!
Two adjectives in the same category: a huge soft bright red silk cuddly bear
Less specific comes before more specific
Less factual comes before more factual
Two adjectives in the same category of similar meaning/value: a soft, comfortable
chair
Shorter adjective usually comes first
Use a comma between two adjectives
Multiple colour adjectives: a blue, red and white flag
Two colour adjectives: use ‘and’
More than two colour adjectives: use comma + ‘and’
C. Participles used as adjectives
“I was really exhausted after the match.” “It was and
exhausting journey.”
past participle: a result is expressed present participle: a
cause is expressed
the meaning is passive the
meaning is active
a person = exhausted by something else a thing/a person
= exhausting
Translation of adjectives
It was a tiring journey. = vermoeiend Afterwards I was tired. = vermoeiend
It was a boring class. = vervelend I was bored. = verveeld
Onvoltooid deelwoord Voltooid deelwoord
Present participle Past participle
2
, D. Degrees of comparison
Express (in)equality Positive degree: form –
use – meaning
Expressing equality in St+: as + adjective + as
“Paul is as old as Dave.” – “Angela is as sporty as Paul.”
Expressing difference in St-: as/so + adjective + as
“Paul isn’t as smart as Bob.” – “Zahra isn’t so tall as Angela.”
PITFALL:
Comparative degree: form – use – meaning is zo groot als > is as
Expressing difference between 2 items: tall as
adjective + ‘er’ + ‘than’ ‘more’ +
adjective + ‘than’
“Paul is taller than Dave.” – “Zahra is more intelligent than Bob.”
PITFALL:
than (preposition,
conjunction) ≠ then
(adverb of time)
Superlative degree: form – use – meaning
Expressing the highest degree:
‘the’ + adjective + ‘est’ ‘the’ +
‘most’ + adjective
PITFALL:
“Dave is the laziest boy.” – “Angela is the most popular.”
Pronunciation -est
= /ɪst/
Degrees of comparison: spelling rules
Positive Comparative Superlative
One syllable tall taller tallest
short shorter shortest
smart smarter smartest
General rule adjective + ‘er’ adjective + ‘est’
Adjectives ending in a short vowel + one consonant: double consonant + ‘er’
(C) / ‘est’ (S)
Positive Comparative Superlative
One syllable fat fatter fattest
thin thinner thinnest
Adjectives ending in a short vowel + one consonant: double the consonant +
‘er’ (C) / ‘est’ (S)
3
Adjectives
An adjective describes a noun.
“It’s a wooden heart.” “The
bear is blue.”
A. Position of adjectives
“The hedgehog is a wonderful creature.” “Their defence is useless in
such a situation.”
adjective + noun link verb +
adjective
= used attributively = used
predicatively
= attributive adjective =
predicative adjective
Some adjectives can be used in one position only!
Used only attributively Used only predicatively
That is sheer madness. The baby is asleep.
She bought his live album. The cook is ill.
Types of adjectives
From noun to adjective: root word & derivative
Noun + suffix: power-ful / noctur-nal / use-less
Prefix + noun: un-happy
Combination – prefix (2) + noun + suffix (1): dis-respect-ful
B. Order of adjectives (OSGASCOMTP)
O = opinion (awful)
S = size (large)
G = general description (quiet)
A = age (new)
1
, S = shape (square)
C = colour (white)
O = origin (Mexican)
M = material (plastic)
T = type (electronic)
P = purpose (walking)
Here’s an example: a huge (S) soft (G) bright (C) red (C) silk (M) cuddly (P) bear.
Attention!
Two adjectives in the same category: a huge soft bright red silk cuddly bear
Less specific comes before more specific
Less factual comes before more factual
Two adjectives in the same category of similar meaning/value: a soft, comfortable
chair
Shorter adjective usually comes first
Use a comma between two adjectives
Multiple colour adjectives: a blue, red and white flag
Two colour adjectives: use ‘and’
More than two colour adjectives: use comma + ‘and’
C. Participles used as adjectives
“I was really exhausted after the match.” “It was and
exhausting journey.”
past participle: a result is expressed present participle: a
cause is expressed
the meaning is passive the
meaning is active
a person = exhausted by something else a thing/a person
= exhausting
Translation of adjectives
It was a tiring journey. = vermoeiend Afterwards I was tired. = vermoeiend
It was a boring class. = vervelend I was bored. = verveeld
Onvoltooid deelwoord Voltooid deelwoord
Present participle Past participle
2
, D. Degrees of comparison
Express (in)equality Positive degree: form –
use – meaning
Expressing equality in St+: as + adjective + as
“Paul is as old as Dave.” – “Angela is as sporty as Paul.”
Expressing difference in St-: as/so + adjective + as
“Paul isn’t as smart as Bob.” – “Zahra isn’t so tall as Angela.”
PITFALL:
Comparative degree: form – use – meaning is zo groot als > is as
Expressing difference between 2 items: tall as
adjective + ‘er’ + ‘than’ ‘more’ +
adjective + ‘than’
“Paul is taller than Dave.” – “Zahra is more intelligent than Bob.”
PITFALL:
than (preposition,
conjunction) ≠ then
(adverb of time)
Superlative degree: form – use – meaning
Expressing the highest degree:
‘the’ + adjective + ‘est’ ‘the’ +
‘most’ + adjective
PITFALL:
“Dave is the laziest boy.” – “Angela is the most popular.”
Pronunciation -est
= /ɪst/
Degrees of comparison: spelling rules
Positive Comparative Superlative
One syllable tall taller tallest
short shorter shortest
smart smarter smartest
General rule adjective + ‘er’ adjective + ‘est’
Adjectives ending in a short vowel + one consonant: double consonant + ‘er’
(C) / ‘est’ (S)
Positive Comparative Superlative
One syllable fat fatter fattest
thin thinner thinnest
Adjectives ending in a short vowel + one consonant: double the consonant +
‘er’ (C) / ‘est’ (S)
3
