The Adjectives

Read the following sentences:

1. Sana is a clever girl. (Girl of what kind?)

2. I dont like that guy. (which boy?)
3. He gave me five mangoes. (How many mangoes?)
4. There is little time for preparation. (How much time?)

 In the sentence 1, ‘clever’ shows what kind of girl sana is; or, in other words,
‘clever’ describes the girl sana.
 In the sentence 2, ‘that’ points out which boy is meant.
 In the sentence 3, ‘five’ shows how many mangoes he gave.
 In the sentence 4, ‘little’ shows how much time there is for preperation.

Definition:

A word used with a noun to describe or point, the person, animal, place or thing which the
noun names, or to tell the number or quantity, is called an Adjective. An adjective as a word
used with a noun to add something for meaning.

For Example:-

 The lazy boy was punished.

In sentence 1, the adjective lazy is used with the noun boy as an attribute. It is,
therefore said to be used attributively.

 The boy is lazy.

In sentence 2, the adjective lazy is used alongwith the verb is, and forms part of the
predicate. It is, therefore said to be used predicatively.

Kinds of Adjectives:-

Adjectives may be divided into the following classes:

Adjectives of quality (or Descriptive Adjective)

Def: It shows the kind or quality of a person or thing; as,

For Example:-

1. Karachi is a large city.

2. He is an honest man.
3. The foolish crow tried to sing.
Adjectives of quality answer the question: of what kind.

Adjectives of Quantity: - Shows how much of a thing is meant; as,

For example:-

1. I ate some rice.

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 2. He showed much patience.
3. He has little intelligence.
4. We have had enough exercise.
5. He has lost all his wealth.
6. You have no sense.
7. He did not eat any rice.
8. Take great care of your wealth.
9. He claimed his half share of the loud.
10. There has not been sufficient rain this year.
11. The whole sum was expended.

Adjectives of quantity answer the questions: how much?

Adjective of Number (Or Numeral Adjectives)

It shows how many persons or things are meant, of in what order a person or thing stand; as,

For example:-

1. The hand has five fingers.

2. Few cats like cold water.
3. There are no pictures in this book.
4. I have taught you many things.
5. All men must die.
6. Here are some ripe mangoes.
7. Most boys like cricket.
8. There are several mistakes in your exercise.
9. Sunday is the first day of the week.

Adjectives of number answer the question: how many?

There are three Kinds of Numeral Adjectives:

1. Definite Numeral Adjectives

2. Indefinite Numeral Adjectives
3. Distributive Numeral Adjectives

Definite Numeral Adjectives: - which 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 First,
second, third etc., these are called ordinals.

Indefinite Numeral Adjectives: - which do not denote an exact number; as, All, No, Many,
Few, Some, Any, Certain & Several.

Distributive Numeral Adjectives: - which refer to each one of a number;

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For Example:

1. Each boy must take his turn.

2. Pakistan expects every man to do his duty.
3. Every word of it is false.
4. Either pen will do.
5. On either side is a narrow line.
6. Neither accusation is true.

Demonstrative Adjectives: - Point out which person or thing is meant,

For Example:

1. This boy is stronger than Haris.

2. That boy is industrious.
3. These mangoes are sour.
4. Those rascals must be punished.

Demonstrative Adjectives: - answer the questions: 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 question, are called
Interrogative Adjectives; as,

1. What manner of man is he?

2. Which way shall we go?
3. Whose book is this?

 It will be seen that “what” is used in a general sense and which in a selective sense.

4. In the following sentences the words own and very are used as Emphasizing
Adjectives:

1. I saw it with my own eyes.

2. He was beaten at his own game.
3. Mind your own business.
4. He is his own master.
5. That is the very thing we want.

 The word what is sometimes used as Exclamatory Adjective:

1. What genius!
2. What folly!
3. What an idea!
4. What a blessing!
5. What a piece of work is man!

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  This and that are the only adjective which are inflected or changed in form to show
number.

1. This girl sings.

2. These girls sing
3. That boy plays.
4. Those boys play.

This, These indicated something near to the speaker.

That, Those indicated more distant objects.