The adjective Semantic Classification
adjectives
qualitative relative
(denote properties of the substance (describe properties of substances
directly) through relations to materials,
e.g. great, simple, places, time or to some actions)
magnificent, etc. e.g. wooden, metal, Hungarian. monthly, initial, etc.
Structural Classification
adjectives
simple derivative compound
new, fresh, musical, messy, colour-blind.
green careless well-known
*TASK 73. Sort out the adjectives given in the box below into the three columns according to their structure.
fresh wonderful intelligent fluent next shy
dark-blue snobbish top-secret cloudless raven-black dark
unique conservative newly-wedded efficient proud simple
green confusing ready-made enjoyable greedy bluish
big worn-out nasty tax-free nice clean
Simple |
Derivative |
Compound |
|
|
|
**TASK 74. Study the most typical adjective endings (suffixes) and supply 3 examples for each of the ones given in the table below.
Ending (suffix) |
Examples |
-able |
changeable, |
-ible |
legible, |
-ic |
heroic |
-ish |
girlish, |
-ive |
expensive, |
-ful |
careful |
-less |
careless, |
-ous |
dangerous, |
-y |
dirty, |
-ant |
elegant, |
-en |
wooden, |
-al |
medical, |
Degrees of comparison of adjectives
There are three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative and superlative.
The degrees can be formed in three ways: analytically, synthetically, irregularly.
Degrees of comparison are formed synthetically by adding the inflexion –er, -est to monosyllabic and some disyllabic adjectives,
e.g. sad - sadder - the saddest: slow - slower - the slowest
Disyllabic adjectives that form the degrees of comparison synthetically can be grouped in the following categories:
adjectives that end in –er; -le, -ow, -some, -y
e.g. clever – cleverer – the cleverest
simple – simpler - the simplest
yellow – yellower – the yellowest
handsome – handsomer – the handsomest
friendly – friendlier –the friendliest
adjectives that have the stress on the second syllable
e.g. polite – politer – the politest
complete –completer – the completest
some commonly used adjectives like
e.g. common, cruel, wicked, horrid, quiet, stupid, pleasant
Degrees of comparison are formed analytically by adding more, and the most to polisyllabic adjectives,
e.g. curious – more -curious - the most curious;
Irregular formation (traditional exceptions),
good- better - the best
bad - worse - the worst
far -father/further - the farthest/furthest
old - older/elder - the oldest/eldest
little - less - the least
near - nearer - the nearest/next
many/much - more -the most
late - later - the latest/last