THE ADJECTIVE

The Adjective is a part of speech which expresses qualities/characteristics of

names, that is beings/objects/phenomena/states/abstractions/actions. It generally
determines nouns (attribute adjectives) or accompanies a linking verb (predicative
adjectives). Its most important function is that of attribute.
POSITION OF ADJECTIVES
As an attribute, the adjective usually appears in pre-position (it is a
premodifier):
an old man
the red roof of the tall building
an exciting adventure
Rarely, the attribute adjective can be a postmodifier, in collocations (set
combinations of words):
heir apparent/presumptive (moştenitor de moment)
attorney general (procurer general)
in the United States: Attorney General (aprox. Ministrul Justiţiei)
postmaster general (şeful poştelor)
secretary general
court martial
notary public (AmE)
In some cases, the adjective changes meaning, depending on its position:
the men present (oamenii de faţă/prezenţi)
the present time (timpul prezent) – in opposition to the past and the future
an involved question (o întrebare încurcată/complicată)
the people involved (cei implicaţi)
a proper meal (o masă cum se cuvine/adevărată)
the question proper (întrebarea propriu-zisă)
proof positive (dovadă certă)
a positive answer (un răspuns afirmativ)
a concerned mother (o mamă îngrijorată)
the people concerned (cei în discuţie/cei interesaţi)
a responsible person (o persoană cu simţul răspunderii)
the person responsible (persoana vinovată)

SIMPLE AND COMPOUND ADJECTIVES

Simple Adjectives are adjectives made up of one word only, be it primary
word or derived word:
good true
blue dreadful
 contemptible Byronic
unselfish Milanese
friendly Parisian
interesting
Compound Adjectives are adjectives made up of two or more than two
words and sometimes they can be formed both as compounds and as derivatives:
fair-minded
second-classy
head-achey
two-thirtyish
There are several means of compounding adjectives:
1. ADJECTIVE + NOUN + -ed
blue/black/green/gray-eyed
(the green-eyed monster = gelozia)
fair/dark/brown/black/red/white-haired
cross-eyed = saşiu
keen-eyed = cu ochi pătrunzători
short-sighted = miop
clear-sighted = lucid, clarvăzător
kind-hearted = bun la suflet, mărinimos
open-hearted
good-hearted
light-hearted = cu sufletul uşor
cold-hearted
black-hearted
fair-minded = obiectiv, corect
open-minded
broad-minded
narrow-minded
absent-minded = distrat
long-legged = cu picioare lungi
left-handed
broad/narrow-shouldered
white/pale/red/rosy-faced
round/square/long-faced
short-tempered = ţâfnos,
ill/bad-tempered = susceptibil
good-tempered = cumsecade
good-humoured = bine-dispus
ill/bad-humoured
humour = 1. umor; 2. umoare, stare de spirit
bare-footed = desculţ
 bare-handed
red-handed
to catch smb red-handed = a prinde în flagrant delict/asupra
faptului/cu mâţa-n sac
bare-headed
thick-headed
deep-rooted = adânc-înrădăcinat
middle-aged
cold-blooded
2. ADJECTIVE + PRESENT PARTICIPLE
good/bad/odd-looking
pleasant/nice/odd/bad-smelling
easy-going = uşor abordabil
soft-speaking
loud-speaking
long-standing = îndelungat
3. ADJECTIVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
hard/soft-boiled
deep-frozen = congelat
pleasant/soft-spoken
new-born
Adjectives formed with Old Past Participles also enter this category:
clean-shaven
fresh-shaven
heavy-laden
ill-gotten
deep-sunken
deep-sunken eyes = ochi înfundaţi în orbite
deep-sunken cheeks = obraji scofâlciţi
4. ADJECTIVE + NOUN
fresh/salt-water (fish)
last-minute (decision/arrangements)
everyday (occurrence)
first-hand (information)
second-hand (car)
high-speed (car)
high/low-calorie (food)
long-distance (call)
5. NUMERAL + NOUN + -ed
four-sided
three-cornered
two-faced (= cu două feţe, duplicitar, ipocrit)
 five-starred
one-legged
three-wheeled
6. ADJECTIVE + (and) + ADJECTIVE
light/dark-blue
dark-green
deep-red
blue-gray
bitter-sweet
deaf-mute (BUT: deaf-and-dumb) = surdomut
Swedish-American
Christian-Democratic
blue-and-white
black-and-white
a black-and-white movie/picture/photo
a black-and-white way of thinking
deaf-and-dumb (surdomut)
high and mighty (=atotputernic)
sick and tired (= sătul până peste cap)
7. ADVERB + PRESENT PARTICIPLE
well-meaning
hard-working
far-reaching = care bate departe
fast-flowing
fast-moving
fast-thinking
ever-lasting = peren, veşnic
never-ending
8. ADVERB + PAST PARTICIPLE
just-married
newly-wed
well-done
well-made
well-known
long-discussed
ready-made
ready-made clothes = haine de gata
above-mentioned
well-bred = bine-crescut
far-fetched = tras de păr, exagerat
clear-cut = clar, net
9. ADVERB + ADJECTIVE
ever-green
downright (= direct, clar, pe loc)
a downright answer
overdue = cu termenul depăşit, întârziat
over-all
wide-open
widespread = larg răspândit
10. ADVERB/PREPOSITION + NOUN
indoor
outdoor
overnight (stay)
overweight = supraponderal
underweight
online
offline
11. ADVERB + NOUN + -ed
underprivileged
undersized
oversized
understaffed
12. NOUN + NOUN + -ed
gold-hearted
heart/kidney/ring/flower-shaped
feather-brained
pig-headed
pot-bellied = burduhănos

13. NOUN + PRESENT PARTICIPLE

heart-rending (= sfâşietor, foarte emoţionant)
heart-breaking
peace-loving
peace-making
breathtaking
life-giving
self-deluding
law-abiding = care respectă legea
sleep-walking
God-fearing
brain-washing

14. NOUN + PAST PARTICIPLE

 dog-tired = foarte obosit
leather-bound
man-made
hand-made
air-conditioned
an air-conditioned room (BUT: an air-conditioning appliance)
airborne = aeropurtat
shoulder-borne
heartfelt (= resimţit profund/din inimă)
suntanned = bronzat
thunderstruck = trăznit
town-bred
country-bred
weather-beaten (= marcat de intemperii, ars de soare şi de vânt)
self-made = autodidact
self-taught
frost-bitten = degerat
God-forsaken = uitat de Dumnezeu
We can also include in this category adjectives formed with Old Past
participles:
awe-stricken
panic/horror/terror-stricken
poverty-stricken
bed-ridden = ţintuit la pat
15. NOUN + ADJECTIVE
brand-new = nou-nouţ
knee-deep
sound-proof = izolat fonic
water-proof = închis ermetic, impermeabil
duty-free
pollution-free
carsick
seasick
airsick
homesick
ice-cold
crystal-clear
snow-white
Gospel-true = foarte adevărat
ruby-red
bottle-green = verde închis
ocean-green
 navy-blue = bleumarin
baby-blue
jet/pitch-black
ash-blonde
16. PAST PARTICIPLE + ADVERB (adjectives derived from phrasal verbs)
grown-up (= adult, matur)
left-over (= lăsat, rămas, care nu mai e bun)
brought-up (= educat)
talked-about
sought-after
made-up (= inventat; fardat)
run-down (= foarte obosit, în stare foarte proastă)
built-in (cupboard) (= construit în perete)
fed-up (= sătul până-n gât)
cast-off (= aruncat, care nu mai e bun)
mixed-up (= confuz)
patched-up (= peticit)
worn out (= epuizat, foarte obosit)
thrown away
built-up (= unde se află construcţii)
dressed-up (= împopoţonat)
stuck-up (= cu nasul pe sus, înfumurat)

17. ADVERB + PAST PARTICIPLE

inborn (= înnăscut)
inlaid (= încrustat)
inlaid with mother-of-pearl (încrustat cu sidef)
outspoken (= sincer, care vorbeşte pe şleau)
overgrown (= crescut prea mult)
overcrowded (= supraaglomerat)
overdressed (= împopoţonat)
overpaid
underpaid
underfed (= subnutrit)
underdeveloped
underestimated
foreseen (= previzibil)

18. ADVERB + PRESENT PARTICIPLE

incoming (= în pregătire, care vine; iminent)
ongoing (= în curs de desfăşurare)
outstanding (= remarcabil)
 OLD PAST PARTICIPLES
There are some adjectives in English, which used to be Past Participles in
Old English, so they were verbal structures. In Modern English, they ceased to be
verbs and cannot be used in structures in which Past Participles usually occur.
* He has drunken too much.
He has drunk too much.
* She was stricken by her husband.
She was struck by her husband.
These words are adjectives only, which have an important restriction: they
cannot be used predicatively, with linking verbs, but they can be used attributively:
* He is/seems/looks drunken.
He is/seems/looks drunk.
The drunken man staggered out of the pub.
Here is a list of these adjectives:
drunken (to drink, drank, drunk) = băut, ameţit
a drunken argument/brawl (o ceartă de beţivi/la beţie)
drunken fury
drunken sleep
drunken laughter
drunken voices
drunken singing
(Adv. drunkenly; N. drunkenness)
sunken (to sink, sank, sunk) = scufundat; lăsat; înfundat; scofâlcit
a sunken ship (un vas scufundat)
sunken eyes (ochi înfundaţi în orbite)
sunken cheeks (obraji scofâlciţi)
stricken (to strike, struck, struck) = lovit; rănit; afectat; cuprins (de)
stricken with fever/cancer/malaria/measles
stricken by poverty (or: poverty-stricken)
a stricken look (o privire rănită)
stricken eyes
grief-stricken (= cuprins de mâhnire)
panic/terror/horror-stricken (= cuprins de panică/teroare/oroare)
awe-stricken (= cuprins de teamă şi veneraţie)
conscience-stricken (= cuprins de remuşcări)
ridden (to rid, rid, rid – to get rid of)
bed-ridden (= ţintuit la pat)
guilt-ridden (= cuprins de remuşcări)
vice-ridden (= dominat de vicii)
laden (to load, loaded, loaded) = încărcat
trees laden with apples
 a lorry laden with supplies
a fully laden basket
heavy-laden (= foarte încărcat)
laden with grief/guilt/remorse
molten (to melt, melted, melted) = topit
molten metal/lead/lava
molten fury
gotten (to get, got, got) = obţinut, căpătat
ill-gotten = obţinut pe căi necinstite
(ill-gotten money/funds/fortune/gains)
shaven (to shave, shaved, shaved) = ras, bărbierit
clean-shaven
fresh-shaven
a shaven head
proven (to prove, proved, proved) = a dovedi
not guilty until proven [prezumţia de nevinovăţie]
a well-proven theory
a lawyer of proven shrewdness
shrunken (to shrink, shrank, shrunk) = micşorat, scorojit, chircit
an old shrunken tree
the shrunken body of an old woman
smb’s shrunken appearance
wrought (to work, worked, worked) = prelucrat în metal
wrought iron (fier forjat)
overwrought (to overwork, overworked, overworked) = surmenat, cu nervii
întinşi
to be overwrought (a fi surmenat)
in an overwrought state
A-ADJECTIVES
A-Adjectives are a category of adjectives, which come from Old English,
where they were made up of two words: the preposition an (= in a state of) and a
noun.
an fire [OE] = on fire, (in the state of) burning
→ afire = on fire, burning
These adjectives can function only predicatively, not attributively:
* the alive man
the living man
the man is alive
Occasionally, A-Adjectives can be used as attributes, but only if they have an
adverbial determiner (when they are premodified by an adverb):
the barely alive man
 the half asleep child
a somewhat afraid clerk
a fully awake man
a really alive face
a barely afloat company
a very ashamed girl
Some of these adjectives can be premodified by very and by comparison:
very much afraid
more ashamed
less alike
Some of the A-Adjectives can be adverbs too, others are only adverbs, still
others adverbs and prepositions.
ablaze (adj., adv.) = arzând, care arde vâlvătaie; strălucitor, foarte surescitat
The building was ablaze.
Her face was ablaze with anger.
adrift (adj., adv.) = în derivă
The boat is adrift in the middle of the storm.
afire = în flăcări, arzând; foarte interesat
The house was afire.
The news set everybody afire.
aflame = în flăcări, arzând; strălucitor, puternic luminat
The warehouse was aflame when the firemen came.
His face was aflame with passion.
The autumn wood is aflame with colour.
afloat = în stare de plutire, plutind; în circulaţie
The ship was barely afloat.
The company managed to stay afloat after the crash of the market.
There was a strange rumour afloat. It had been set by DCR.
afoot = în pregătire, în desfăşurare
There was a plan afoot to improve the roads.
afraid (of) = care se teme, înspăimântat; (conversational formula) I’m afraid
He was afraid of nothing but spiders.
I am afraid of losing my job.
She was completely unafraid.
I’m afraid you can’t see him right now.
agape = cu gura deschisă/căscată
Don’t stand agape!
aghast = şocat
He stood aghast at the terrible sight.
aground (adj., adv.) = eşuat
The ship was fast aground.
The fishing boat had run aground very near the shore.
ajar = întredeschis (d. uşi/ferestre)
The door was slightly ajar.
akin (to) = înrudit (cu)
Pity is often akin to love, Shakespeare said.
alight = arzând, luminat; foarte strălucitor; voios, radios
All the windows were alight.
His face was alight with happiness.
alike (adj., adv.) = la fel, asemănător; totuna, indiferent
The two sisters were very much alike.
All music is alike to him.
alive = în viaţă, viu; (to) conştient (de); (with) foşgăind, mişunând
He is the greatest scientist alive.
We are all alive to her faults.
The lake was alive with fish.
The street was alive with noise and movement,
alone (adj., adv.) = singur; doar
He was alone in the big hall.
He alone knew the danger.
amiss (adj., adv.) = în neregulă
There was something seriously amiss with him.
A haircut won’t come amiss.
ashamed (of) = ruşinat (de)
The little boy was very much ahamed.
You are totally unashamed of your own deeds.
asleep = adormit
When we came home, he was fast asleep.
awake = treaz; (to) conştient (de)
When I entered her room she was wide awake.
He was awake to every occasion.
aware (of) = conştient (de)
Are you aware of the consequences?
Ant. unaware
N (un)awareness
Adv. unawares = pe nepregătite, pe neaşteptate
What happened took us unawares.
I was caught unawares by her remark.
Some of these words are adverbs and prepositions:
aback across
aboard afresh
above again
abroad against
 ahead ashore
along aside
aloud atop
anew away
apart awhile
around
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