TYPES OF ADJECTIVES

TYPES OF ADJECTIVES

1. Descriptive Adjectives:

   • A descriptive adjective is a word which describes nouns and pronouns. Most of the adjectives belong in this type. These adjectives provide information and attribute to the nouns/pronouns they modify or describe. Descriptive adjectives are also called qualitative adjectives. Participles are also included in this type of adjective when they modify a noun.
     • I have a fast car. (The word ‘fast’ is describing an attribute of the car)
       • Attributive Adjectives:
         • In English grammar, an attributive adjective is an adjective that usually comes before the noun it modifies without a linking verb. Contrast with a predicative adjective. Attributive adjectives are direct modifiers of nominals.
           • "Hush-a-by, Don't you cry Go to sleep, little baby. When you wake you shall find All the pretty little horses."(Traditional American lullaby, perhaps of African-American origin)
       • Predicate Adjective:
         • Let’s define “predicate adjective.” The simplest predicate adjective definition is that it describes or modifies the subject of a sentence. This type of modifying word appears after the subject of the sentence, which is normally a noun or pronoun. The describing word will also connect to a sentence with a linking verb.
           • Your shoe smells brand new.

2. Limiting Adjectives

   • A limiting adjective defines the noun rather than describes it. Most of the time we think of adjectives as describing or adding detail to a noun. Limiting adjectives help to limit a noun. The first types of limiting adjectives are called articles. The words 'the,' 'a,' and 'an' are limiting adjectives because they tell us that the speaker or writer is referring to a specific thing. Take a look at this sentence; 'We adopted the dog just yesterday, and he already owns the couch.' The phrase 'the dog' contains a limiting adjective in the form of the word 'the.' We know that the author is referring to a specific dog since it helps describe our noun, 'dog.' 'A' and 'an' work in the exact same way; they limit the noun so that we know which specific noun is being discussed.
     • The two teams have met every season since 1932
       • Definite and Indefinite Articles:
         • The definite article (the) is used before a noun to indicate that the identity of the noun is known to the reader. The indefinite article (a, an) is used before a noun that is general or when its identity is not known. There are certain situations in which a noun takes no article.
           • Definite article: The (before a singular our plural nouns) Indefinite Article: A (before a singular noun beginning with a consonant sound

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