вторник, 10 декабря 2019 г.

Adjectives - Exam Zone


We use adjectives to describe nouns.



Most adjectives can be used in front of a noun:
We saw a very exciting film last night.
or after a link verb like belook or feel:
That film looks interesting.




When indefinite pronouns — such as something, someone, anybody — are modified by an adjective, the adjective comes after the pronoun:
Anyone capable of doing something horrible to someone nice should be punished.


Forming Adjectives: typical suffixes






  • -able/-ible – adorable, invisible, responsible, uncomfortable
  • -al – educational, gradual, illegal, nocturnal, viral
  • -an – American, Russian, urban
  • -ar – cellular, popular, spectacular, vulgar
  • -ent – intelligent, potent, silent, violent
  • -ful – harmful, powerful, tasteful, thoughtful
  • -ic/-ical – athletic, energetic, magical, scientific
  • -ine – bovine, canine, equine, feminine, masculine
  • -ile – agile, docile, fertile, virile
  • -ive – informative, native, talkative
  • -less – careless, endless, homeless, timeless
  • -ous – cautious, dangerous, enormous, malodorous
  • -some – awesome, handsome, lonesome, wholesome


  • Many adjectives end with -y, -ary and -ate, but they may also be the endings of nouns and verbs.

    Degrees of Adjectives


    The degrees of comparision are known as the positive, the comparative and the superlative.




    Adjectives without degrees of comparison:
             absolute         impossible         principal
             adequate         inevitable         stationary
             chief         irrevocable         sufficient
             complete         main         unanimous
             devoid         manifest         unavoidable
             entire         minor         unbroken
             fatal         paramount         unique
             final         perpetual         universal
             ideal         preferable         whole






  • Collective Adjectives

    When the definite article, the, is combined with an adjective describing a class or group of people, the resulting phrase can act as a noun:
     the poor, the rich, the oppressed, the homeless, the lonely, the unlettered, the unwashed, the gathered. 
    A collective adjective is always plural and requires a plural verb:
    • The rural poor have been ignored by the media.
    • The elderly are beginning to demand their rights.
    • The young at heart are always a joy to be around.

    Compound adjectives

    A compound adjective is formed when two or more  adjectives are joined together to modify the same noun. These terms should be hyphenated. 
    Diana submitted a 6-page document.
    She adopted a two-year-old cat.

    Adjectivesstarting.com  Lists of adjectives (A-Z), Positive Adjectives, Food Adjectives, Adjectives to Describe a Person, Adjectives for Resumes

    Source:Grammar.ccc.commnet.edu