Adjectives are most commonly used as premodifiers (e.g., a responsible officer) or postmodifiers of head noun in a noun phrase (an officer responsible). They are also used predicatively (e.g., The officer is responsible) (Babanoğlu, 2015). When adjectives are used as premodifiers, they are called attributive adjectives. This post details the various categories of the attributive adjectives along with their functions. Further, it presents a number of criteria for the identification of the categories and determining where to use which category of attributive adjectives. The mastery of the appropriate use of these categories of adjectives enables the learning writers become experts at discourse level writing.
1. Categories of Attributive Adjectives
The attributive adjectives on the basis of their function in expressions can commonly be put into three categories, i.e. descriptors, identifiers and classifiers. They are known as descriptors (prototypical adjectives) when they express features of the noun like ‘size’, ‘weight’, ‘colour’, ‘age’, ‘chronology’, ‘emotion’, etc. These adjectives are identifiers when they instead of describing nouns, specify, point out, or identify nouns with the help of determiners (e.g., this/that …, which …, my/our/your/their ….). They also stand as classifiers when their role is to delimit a noun’s referent as ‘available resources’, ‘certain outcomes’, etc. This category of adjectives can be put into classes like relational, affiliative and topical adjectives. According to (Biber, et.al., 1999), in academic texts, classifier adjectives are used more frequently as comparted to the descriptors.
2. Functions of Attributive Adjectives
The descriptors stay before head nouns as optional elements that add extra, non-restrictive information to the head noun. The function of identifiers is to narrow down the range of the head noun i.e., they restrict reference of the noun. This they do by indicating a certain referent or a group of referents within the class denoted by the head noun. The classifiers point to a subcategory and thus restrict the semantic range of their respective head nouns (Kullenberg, 2002). Examples of these categories:
a. Descriptors: This old building was constructed a thousand years ago.
b. Identifiers: Barking dogs seldom bite.
c. Classifiers: The patient underwent a thorough medical examination.
The functions of attributive adjectives, i.e. descriptors and classifiers can be identified by noticing their morpho-syntactic behaviour. If adjectives behave as gradable and predicative they are descriptors and if not, they are classifiers. For example:
Table 1
| Gradable & Predicative | Non-Gradable & Non-Predicative |
| a. I travelled by a fast train. b. I travelled by a faster train. c. I travelled by a train. The train was faster. | a. She wore a silky dress. b. *She wore a more silky dress. c. * Her dress was more silky. |
The adjectives that play the role of descriptors can also be identified on the basis of their ability/inability to appear in predicative position. It is to be noted that the adjectives that perform such functions are commonly non-predicating. However, the adjectives that are potentially descriptive can do the predicative role in restrictive relative clauses. On the other hand, if an adjective accepts the prefix non-, it is mostly a classifier (Kullenberg, 2002). For example:
a. Open the door that is unpolished.
b. *Open the door. It is unpolished.
c. We should not carry non-essential items to a hill station.
d. *This artifact is non-ancient.
In example (a), unpolished is a descriptor and in (c), non-essential is a classifier.
The adjectives that play the role of descriptors (these are non-restrictive in nature) can be separated from classifiers or identifiers on the basis that these can be added as an after thought. For example:
a. This is a rash action.
b. This is an action that (I may add) is rash. When a descriptor is added as an afterthought, as in example (b), no syntactic, semantic, or communicative consequences arise.
Some eliciting questions can help us in distinguishing the functions of adjectives, i.e., description, identification, and classification (Warren, 1984a).
Table 2
| Adj Categories | Eliciting Questions | Supporting Answers |
| i. Descriptors | a. What is the area like? b. What are the trees like? | a. The area is like desert. b. The trees are like umbrellas. |
| ii. Identifiers | a. Which part of the body is injured? b. How much of the forest was burnt? | a. The hind part of the head is injured. b. Half of the forest was burnt. |
| iii. Classifiers | a. What kind of music do you like? b. What type of blood this patient requires? | a. I like pop-music. b. This patient requires O+ blood. |
Description of nouns can be given by inherently central adjectives. On the other hand, identification and classification can be carried out by inherently central as well as peripheral adjectives. For example:
Table 3
| Description | Identification | Classification |
| a. This is an old building. b. This building is old. (Centrally inherent adj) | a. I purchased a wooden table. (Centrally inherent adj) b. This is the main fault. (Periphral adj) | a. We cannot appreciate these wild ideas. (Centrally inherent adj) b. Now countries have to depend upon atomic energy. (Periphral adj) |
In addition to the three functions (i.e., classification, identification, and description) mentioned above, adjectives can perform another function. This fourth function is called stipulation. This sort of adjectives is used to establish conditions, set boundaries or define specific requirements. For example:
a. Establishing conditions: All the employees must meet stipulated deadline.
b. Setting boundaries: 20-A is a restrictive rule regarding working hours.
c. Defining specific requirements: Six feet height is a mandatory condition of employment.
3. Adjectives with two Functions Simultaneously
Some adjectives can perform the function of classification and identification at the same time. On the other side, some adjectives are there that can classify as well as describe the nouns (Kullenberg, 2002). For example:
Table 4
| Example Expressions | Conceptual Function | Communicative Function | |
| 1 | Which market do you want to visit? The timber market. | Classification | Identification |
| 2 | I saw timber market in the north of the town. | Classification | Description |
| 3 | We need timber for the doors of our new house. | Classification | Stipulation |
4. Attributive Adjectives’ Function in Discourse
There are two level at which adjectives function in discourse. These levels are conceptual level and communicative level. When attributive adjectives function at conceptual level they help generate a conceptual structure in the mind of the audience. This function is not affected by speech situations. On the other side, communication function is associated with the communicative purpose of the speaker as certain adjectives are selected in certain situations. As a result, speech situation is the major factor on which adjectives’ communicative functions depend. These functions can take on various forms such as elaboration, classification, description and identification.
Classification is a conceptual function as it arouses a certain type of a concept in the addressee’s mind. When a classifier stays before a noun, it brings one particular type of person, object, concept, etc. into focus. On the other hand, when adjectives are used for the purpose of elaboration, description or identification, it is the speaker who selects these adjectives so that an information can be added to something (person, object, concept, etc.) or a particular referent can be identified. Still there is another function of adjectives, i.e., stipulation. For this function, an adjective is used to indicate the level, condition, etc., of some object so that the utterance can be applied to it. On the whole, it can be said that attributive adjectives may perform four functions. Three of these functions are communicative (i.e., elaboration, description or identification) and one is conceptual function (classification) (Kullenberg, 2002).
5. Conceptual and Communicative Functions of Adjectives
Conceptual functions of adjectives are inherent in words, i.e. these functions are performed by words with consistence. Therefore, conceptual functions stay unaffected by speech occasion. On the other hand, communicative functions are executed on the basis of the speaker’s intention in a particular occasion and speech context (Kullenberg, 2002). For example:
a. Which computer do you like best? The Dell computer.
b. We saw a Dell computer at the shop yesterday.
c. We need a Dell computer for our business.
The conceptual function of Dell in all the examples is classification. On the other hand, the communicative function in example (a) is identification, in (b) it is description and in (c) it is stipulation.
In sum, attributive adjectives pre-modify head nouns in noun phrases. Keeping in view their functions, these adjectives can be put into three categories, i.e., descriptors, identifiers and classifiers. The use of classifiers is more frequent in academic writing. The attributive adjectives have also a significant function in discourse. This is so because for the communicative purpose various categories of adjective are selected keeping in view the requirement of a situation. In some situations, these are used for elaboration, in others for description or identification. These adjectives have conceptual function where these are used for the purpose of classification. On the whole, these adjectives are great resource for academic writers in their meaning realization.
Sources Cited
- Babanoğlu, M. P. (2015). A Corpus-Based Study on the Use of Adjectives in Academic Vocabulary by Academic Authors. The Second International Conference on Teaching English for Specific Purposes
- Biber, D., et al. (1999). Longman grammar of spoken and written English. Edinburgh: Pearson Education Ltd.
- Kullenberg, H. (2002).Functions of Attributive Adjectives in English. Engelska,vol, 02
- Warren, B. (1984a). Classifying Adjectives, Gothenburg: Acta Universitatis Gothoburgensis
