Unit 4

Adjectives and adverbs

 Adjectives

I. Definition: a word/or part of speech

belonging to open class items which
generally denote
- quality: good, hot, little, young, fat, etc.;
- colour: black, white, etc. or
- shape: square, round....
- .....
II. Syntactic features: 4

1, Freely occur in an attributive position, i.e. function as pre-

modifier to a noun :
- Attributive position:
determiners adjectives nouns
some attractive places
several more clever pupils
attributive
- Sometimes, can be postpositive attribute (post-modifier):
There’s nothing new, but something important.
I have a house larger than yours.
 2, Freely occur in predicative position, i.e. function as: Cs &
Co:
The man seemed old.
They painted the door blue.
3, Can be pre-modified by intensifiers : very, quite, rather,..
The children are very happy.
This is so difficult.
4, Can take comparative and superlative forms:
The children are happier now.
They are the happiest people.
 Syntactic functions of Adjective

Modifiers

Pre modifiers some attractive girls

Post modifiers the stars visible

Object Complement They painted the door red.

Subject Complement He looks tired.

Head of noun phras e the rich/the poor ...

Supplementative Adj. Cl. Nervous, the man opened the letter.

IV. Sub-classification of adjectives

1, According to syntactic functions:

- Central adjectives can function both attributively and
predicatively.
a hungry man  The man is hungry.
- Attributive adjectives can be attributive (=modifier) only:
The political situation...
My former friend...
He’s an out and out scoundrel/ an utter fool / a mere boy.
- Predicative adjectives can be predicative (=complement)
only.
He’s afraid to do it.
Cs
The doctor made the patient well.
S V Od Co
2, According to Semantic functions

a. Stative/ dynamic:
- Stative adjectives: It’s a male cat.
- Dynamic adjectives: It’s an old blue jacket.
b. Gradable/non-gradable adjectives:
- Gradable adjectives: can be modified by intensifiers and
include comparison:
very young, so plain
useful - more useful - most useful
- Non-gradable adjective: principally technical adjectives
and adjectives denoting provenance
atomic, British - wonderful, fantastic, perfect

IV, Comparison of adjs: self-study

Ex: 68, 69, 70, 74, 75
 Adverbs

I, Definition: a part of speech belonging to open class

items, often used as:
- adverbials: They’re waiting outside.
He spoke to me about it briefly.
- modifiers: That was a very funny film.
She has a really beautiful face.

II. Characteristics of adverbs:

- Have the derivational suffix –ly:
briefly, really, beautifully, historically
- Be adverbials and modifiers of adjective/ adverb:
He spoke briefly about it.
 Synta ct ic function o f Adv erb

As adverbials

Adjunct They are waiting outside

Disjunct Frankly, he is honest

Conjunct They tried, however, they failed

As modifiers

of adjective It's extremely good

of Adverb He play very well

of prepositional phrase The nail went right through the wall

of determiner About a week is enough for this job

of noun phrase He told such a funny story

As complement of preposition Since then he has not seen her
IV. Correspondence between adj and adv:

1. Equivalent instruction:
He answered the question very well.
~ He gave a very good answer to the question.
It is badly decided.
~ It is a bad decision.
He spoke to John sharply.
~ He spoke to John in a sharp manner.
2. Other regular correspondences:
He loved her deeply. ~ his deep love for her
He writes legibly. ~ his legible writing
a beautiful dancer ~ a dancer who is beautiful
~ a person who dances beautifully
real idiot ~ He is really an idiot
V, Form of adjectives: self -study
VI, Comparison of adv: self-study

Ex: 67, 77, 78