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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Kinds of Adjective

Adjective may be divided into the following classes:-


These Adjectives show the kind or quality of a person or thing; as,

* Kolkata is a large city.
* He is an honest man.
* The foolish old crow tried to sing.
* This is a grammar of the English language.

[Adjectives formed from Proper Nouns (e.g. French wines, Turkish tobacco, Indian tea etc.) are sometimes called Proper Adjectives. They are generally classed with Adjectives of Quality.]

Adjectives of Quality answer the question: Of what kind?


These Adjectives show how much of a thing is meant; as,

* I ate some rice.
* He showed much patience.
* He has little intelligence.
* We have had enough exercise.
* He has lost all his wealth.
* You have no sense.
* He didn’t eat any rice.
* The great care of your health.
* He claimed his half share of the body.
* There has not been sufficient rain this year.
* The whole sum was expended.

Adjectives of Quantity answer the question: How much?


These Adjectives show how many persons or things are meant, or in what order a person or thing stands; as,

* The hand has five fingers.
* Few cat’s like cold water.
* There are no pictures in this book.
* I have taught you many things.
* All men must die.
* Here are some ripe mangoes.
* Most boys like cricket.
* There are several mistakes in your exercise.
* Sunday is the first day of the week.

Adjectives of Number answer the question: How many?

Adjectives of Number (or Numeral Adjectives) are of three kinds:-


Definite Numeral Adjectives denote an exact number; as,

* One, two, three etc. (These are called Cardinals)
*  First, second, third etc. (These are called Ordinals)

[A Cardinal denotes how many, and an Ordinal the order of things in a series. It will be seen that Ordinals really do the work of Demonstrative Adjectives.]


Indefinite Numeral Adjectives do not denote an exact number; as,

* All, no, many, few, any, certain, several, sundry.


Distributive Numeral Adjectives refer to each one of a number; as,

* Each boy must take his turn.
* India expects every man to do his duty.
* Every word of it is false.
* Either pen will do.
* On either side is a narrow lane.
* Neither accusation is true.

The same Adjective may be classed as of quantity of Number, according to its use.

Adjectives of Quantity
Adjectives of Number
I ate some rice.
Some boys are clever.
He has lost all his wealth.
All men must die.
You have no sense.
There are no pictures in his book.
He did not eat any rice.
Are there any mango trees in his garden?
I have enough sugar.
There are not enough spoons.


Demonstrative Adjectives point out which person or thing is meant; as,

* This boy is stronger than Hari.
* That boy is industrious.
* These mangoes are sour.
* Those rascals must be punished.
* Yonder fort once belonged to Shivaji.
* Don’t be in such hurry.
* I hate such things.

Demonstrative Adjectives answer the question: Which?

[It will be noticed that this and that are used with Singular nouns and these and those with Plural Nouns.]

What, which and whose, when they are used with nouns to ask questions, are called Interrogative Adjectives; as,

* What manner of man is he?
* Which way shall we go?
* Whose book is this?

[It will be seen that what is used in a general sense and which in a selective sense.]


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