ADJECTIVE

An adjective modifies (qualifies or limits the meaning of ) a noun or a pronoun. It

answers the questions, What kind? Which one(s)? How many? How much?
 Carrie read an interesting story. ( What kind of story?)
 The recent article has that information. ( Which article?)
 Kent owns those surfboards. ( Which surfboards?)
 Wendy paid fifty dollars for the jacket. ( How many dollars?)
 Much space was devoted to her artwork. ( How much space?)

An adjective can come before or after the noun or pronoun it describes:

 Older cards are found on the table. ( Which cards?)
 Tall players and intelligent coaches were interviewed by the interested
reporter.
( Which players? Which coaches? Which reporter?)
 Tired and hungry , the campers reached the lodge. ( What kind of campers?)
 The campers, tired and hungry , reached the lodge. ( What kind of campers?)

Here are the clues to help us identify adjective easily in TOEFL question:
a. Suffixes that form Adjective
-ful (beautiful, useful)
-less (speechless, powerless)
-al (industrial, political)
-ive (creative, attractive)
-ble (comfortable, valuable)
-ous (dangerous, famous)
-ar (circular, rectangular)
-ern : southern, western
-ish (childish, selfish)
-y (healthy, salty)
-ant/-ent (different, significant)
-ic (Islamic, historic)
-an (Brazilian, European)
-ese (Chinese, Japanese)
-en (wooden, golden, woolen)
-noun+ly: friendly, manly, costly

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b. Participial Adjective
Adjective may also be derived from Present Participle (Ving) and past participle (V3).
 Present Participle Adjective (Ving)
Ex: a washing machine, Ex: the confusing lesson
Adj N Adj N
 Past Participle Adjective (V3)
Ex: a limited edition Ex: a written document
Adj N Adj N

How to use adjective:

1. After Linking Verb
- Tobe -Appear - become
- Smell -Taste - sound - remain
- Look - feel - stay
- Seem - turn - grow
Example:
She looks beautiful
The cake smells good
2. Before Noun ( describing noun)

Adjective + Noun

Example:
Bungee Jumping is a dangerous sport.
Internet is a source of useful information.
3. Adjective + Noun √
Averb + Noun X
Example:
A beautiful girl √
A beautifully girl X

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SAMPLES FROM TOEFL
1. This area is not suitable for farming because the soil is not …
a. fertility c. fertile
b. fertilize d. fertilizer

2. The building seems … since the owner left it a few years ago.
a. abandoned c. abandonment
b. abandon d. abandoning

3. The air turned … when the wind blew.

a. cold c. colds
b. coldly d. coldest

4. The factory management received many letters from the … customer complimenting them on
their new products.
a. satisfied c. satisfied
b. satisfying d. satisfyingly

5. Modern art is on display at the Guggenheim Museum, a building with an unusually design.
A B C D

6. Video artist combine many different ways of using video equipment both to
A B
create and to record various types of expression artistic.
C D

7. Ethnology, usually considered a branch of cultural anthropology, is often defined as the

A B
scientifically study of the origin and functioning of humans and their culture.
C D

8. The convention national of a United States political party nominates candidates

A B
for the presidency and vice presidency of the country and issues a declaration of
C
policy.
D

9. Steam turbines are used to provide energy for most generators electric and ship
A B C
propellers.
D
10. An attempt by government, business, or educationally institutions to remedy the
A B
past effect of discrimination against minority groups is referred to as ‘affirmative action’.
C D
11. Used for making pottery, clay has two characteristics distinctive: it can be molded and it can be
A B
baked to form a brittle but otherwise durable material.
C D
12. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries reserve varying portions
A B
of their nationally land, sea, and air forces as NATO forces.
C

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