Various scholars have enlisted the types of adjectives. Jitpranee, (2017) identified ten types of grammar-based adjectives which include descriptive, proper, quantitative, numeral, demonstrative, possessive, distributive, emphasizing, exclamatory, and relative. Whereas, Dixon (1982) has listed seven semantics-based categories of adjectives. The first is titled as dimension related adjectives, e.g., large, small, narrow, etc. The second is physical property based, e.g., heavy, sweet, smooth, rough, etc. The third is colour based, e.g., green, black, red, etc. The fourth is human propensity-based adjectives, such as, cunning, generous, proud, etc. The fifth is age-based adjectives, e.g., old, young, new, etc. The sixth is value based, such as, excellent, perfect, pure, etc. The seventh on is speed based, e.g., slow, quick, fast, etc.
On the basis of the views of Khamying, 2007, Ukpabi (2014) and other scholars, thirteen types of adjectives have been presented. The description and respective functions of these adjectives have also been highlighted. The knowledge and proficiency in using these adjective types can prove a great resource in verbal and written communication.
1. Quantitative Adjectives
The quantitative adjectives modify material nouns through quantifying them, e.g. enough time, much food, few people, some milk, little sugar, three guests, etc., (Khamying, 2007). These adjectives are also known as numerative and indicative of quantity definitely or indefinitely. The most apparent form of these adjectives is comparative (with pre-modifier ‘more’ or inflection ‘-er’) or superlative (with pre-modifier ‘most’ or inflection ‘-est’) (Quirk et al., 1985 in Jitpranee, 2017). For example:
a. Ashraf takes a long walk in the evening.
b. Today, Ashraf’s walk was longer than the walk he takes in week days
c. Today’s walk was the longest of the walks Ashraf took during this month.
2. Qualitative Adjectives
The qualitative adjectives describe the quality of nouns or nominals (i.e., noun like expressions), e.g. soft reminder, hard facts, big gain, small area, bright future, dark room, etc.
3. Descriptive Adjectives
These adjectives play two roles in describing nouns (e.g. people, animals, places and concepts).
They may associate some positive or negative status to nouns or indicate some inherent quality of nouns, e.g., resourceful person, complex theory, golden watch, etc. For example, they do this by indicating their size/shape (tall, short, round), texture (silky, rough, leathery), odor/taste (sweet, vinegar, fruity) and appearance (shiny, floral, reddish). These adjectives commonly pre-modify their head nouns. For example:
a. I saw a tall boy.
b. He wore a silky dress.
c. The room was full of fruity smell.
4. Proper Adjectives
Proper adjectives originate from proper nouns and modify their head nouns in terms of their nationality (Khamying, 2007). For example:
a. He is an expert of Chinese language
b. Eastern culture favors collectivism in society.
5. Numeral Adjectives
Numeral adjectives show number of the head nouns, e.g. five, many, first, second, etc. Further, this sort of quantification can be there in three formats. First, there are cardinal numbers (two brothers, seven days, etc.); second, ordinal numbers (fifth generation, twentieth century, etc.); and multiplicative numbers (double price, triple talent, etc.). The Cardinal Numberadjectives modify head nouns for particular details in exact quantification. When nouns are to be modified in terms of their exact quantity details, the numeral adjectives are used (Khamying, 2007). For example:
a. This electric vehicle has three wheels.
b. He is the third prime minister of the current term.
c. In the current match, no player reached the double figure.
6. Demonstrative Adjectives
The demonstrative adjectives (this, that, these, those) indicate whether the head noun is singular or plural (e.g., that proposal, these mountains, etc.). These adjectives also show the distance (near or far) of the entity about which something is being mentioned, (e.g., this building, that tree, etc.). These adjectives modify the head noun in singular or plural form. And also, whether the noun is close or distant i.e., present in the physical or textual context (Jitpranee, 2017). In popular science reports, the writers use these adjectives to modify their expressions in a meaningful way (Parkinson and Adendorff, 2004). For example:
a. We can ask that taxi driver to help us commute to our office.
b. He has written a number of books during the last ten years. These books have transferred a singificant knowledge to the new generation.
7. Interrogative Adjectives
The interrogative adjectives (e.g., what …, which …) modify their head nouns in a questioning form. Interrogative adjectives are not many in number. Mostly, they are what and which that stay before nouns. For example:
a. Which word of these two is appropriate?
b. What result can come out of this strategy?
8. Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives (e.g., my, our, your, his, her, their) express possession of a noun when this is possessed by someone. These adjectives point out possession of a quality or entity, e.g. my car, his idea, mine, theirs, etc. (Jitpranee, 2017). For example:
a. I will visit your house tomorrow.
b. This book is mine.
c. These schemes are theirs.
The science writers use possessive adjectives, when they report their new knowledge claims based on the findings of their studies (Parkinson and Adendorff, 2004).
9. Distributive Adjectives
Commonly used distributive adjectives are: little, a little, few, a few, each, many, some, every, either, neither. The function of these adjectives is to modify their head noun by placing or separating it into separate parts, e.g., every citizen is worried…; each student received…; they can take either path; etc. Sometimes, the number or quantity of entities present in some context is not definite. In such cases, the writers put distributive adjectives before the nouns they intend to mention. For example:
a. Every floor of this building has been updated.
b. You can take either route to the city center.
c. Each student’s learning style is attended to in this class.
It is important to note the difference between few and a few as well as little and a little. Few and a few are used when the entities are countable. Few is used when the number of the entities in focus is too small and on the other hand a few is used when the number is a bit reasonable. In case of little and a little, the quantity of some entity is in focus. A little means the quantity is though small, yet is enough for a timely purpose. On the other, little indicates that the quantity is too small to be used for some purpose. For example:
a. We can make tea though there is a little sugar in the pot.
b. Tea cannot be made because tea leaves are little.
a. Many patients suffered on Sunday because there were few doctors in the hospital.
b. Many patients had to wait for long because in the evening there were a few doctors in the hospital.
10. Emphasizing Adjectives
Emphasizing adjectives modify head nouns by highlighting them, e.g., my own house, the very car, an utter disappointment, an absolute failure, etc. (Khamying, 2007). For example.
a. This is your own fault.
b. This is the very car I was looking for.
c. His plan was a total failure.
11. Exclamatory Adjectives
These adjectives are in the form of interjection words and modify their respective head nouns. These express strong emotion, surprise, or admiration about the head noun. When these are put before nouns, the nouns become modified (Khamying, 2007). For example:
a. What a lovely scene!
b. How amazing this shot!
Adjectives as exclamations can also express strong feelings by staying as exclamations, e.g., fantastic, great, wonderful, etc.
12. Relative Adjectives
Relative adjectives modify their head nouns as well as combine preceding and succeeding clauses (Khamying, 2007). For example:
a. Extend what support you can.
b. At this restaurant, you can enjoy whatever food you like.
13. Nominalized Adjectives
When a class or group of people are to be represented, adjectives can take ‘the’ before them and stay as head of a noun phrase.
a. The poor should be saved from adversities.
b. The gracious are favourites of fate.
In examples (a) and (b), the poor and the gracious act as noun phrases meaning ‘the poor people’ and ‘the gracious people’ respectively.
In this post thirteen types of adjectives have been dealt with. Some of these adjectives indicate quantity and quality of their head nouns. Others mark the number, singularity/plurality, or distance of their head nouns. Still others indicate the partition or division of their head nouns. The other types express strong emotions, modification of the nouns, and how nouns emerge from them. These adjective types and their respective roles help writers to express their concepts in an impactful manner.
Sources Cited
Dixon, R. M. W. (1982). Where have all the adjectives gone?, and other essays in semantics and syntax. Berlin: Mouton.
Khamying. S. (2007). Advance English Grammar for High Learners. Bangkok: V.J. Printing.
Jitpranee, J. (2017). A Study of Adjective Types and Functions in Popular Science Articles. International Journal of Linguistics, Vol. 9, No. 2, 57-69.
Parkinson, J., & Adendorff, R. (2004). The use of popular science articles in teaching scientific literacy. English for Specific Purposes, 23(4), 379–396.
Quirk et al., (1985). in Jitpranee, (2017). A Study of Adjective Types and Functions in Popular Science Articles. International Journal of Linguistics, Vol. 9, No. 2, 57-69.
Ukpabi, B. O. (2014). Adjectives and Vagueness. A seminar on Adjectives and vagueness presented in partial fulfilment for the requirement of the course: Semantics (EST 802.2)
