Unit - 3 : Adjectives and Determiners
Structure
3.0
Objectives
3.1
Introduction
3.2
Definition
3.3
Kinds of Adjectives
3.3.1 Adjectives of quality
3.4
Degrees of Comparison
3.4.1
Comparative degree
3.4.2
Superlative degree
3.5
Comparatives and Superlatives
3.5.2 Comparison: structure
3.6
Determiners
3.6.1
Categories of Determiners
3.7
Differences between
Adjectives and Determiners
3.8
Determiners: Usage
3.9
Summary
3.10 Exercises
3.0 Objectives
In this Unit we shall
give details about
Adjectives. We shall
also describe modern English grammar entity
of Determines and
how they differ
from Adjectives.
3.1
Introduction
Adjectives in English are equivalent of िवशेषण in Hindi. However, Hindi has so far, no exclusive
entity of Determiners.
3.2 Definition
Adjective says something more about a noun. An adjective can take an adverb of degree (intensifier) like too/very. It has comparative and superlative forms
as well.
Adjectives in English
are not affected
by number or gender or case because
they do not have to agree with
the noun they modify.
3.3 Kinds of Adjectives
Adjectives are of
five kinds:
3.3.1
Adjectives of quality
black, white, long, short good, bad, hot, cold
They describe the shape, or size, or colour etc. of a person or thing.
Milk is white.
Today is a cold day. Fire is hot.
Proper adjectives
Indian, American Roman, Elizabethan
These are formed from proper nouns, particularly
from names of geographical places (continents, countries, states). Adjectives
like these describe origin or source:
Indian goods, Japanese toys
3.4 Degrees of Comparison
A significant formal feature
of attributive adjectives is that
they can be graded.
This is known as degrees
of comparison. This
is a property adjectives share
with adverbs.
There are three degrees
of comparison:
i) positive ii) comparative iii) Superlative bold bolder boldest
sweet sweeter sweetest
long longer longest
3.4.1
Comparative degree
i)
An adjective in comparative degree is normally followed by than.
1.
Tom is taller than John.
2.
She is older than him.
3.
This picture
is more beautiful than that one.
ii)
Comparative form + of comparative form + of is used in the construction
the + comparative form + of + the two:
1.
He is the wiser
of the two.
2.
This is the better
of the two.
iii)
Comparative form + to
to
is used with Latin comparatives
1.
He is junior to me.
2.
She is senior to him.
iv)
Preferable + to
to
is used with preferable as well:
1.
Fish is preferable to red meat.
2.
Honey is preferable to sugar.
Note: a) preferable is not
used with more.
not Fish is more preferable to red meat.
b)
than + noun/pronoun (object
form)
In this construction than is a preposition used before a noun/pronoun to express
comparison between two
people or things.
Since than is a preposition here it takes a pronoun in the object
form:
1.
He is taller than me.
2.
He is older than
her.
3.
She is richer than him.
In this construction purists used to insist
that the pronoun
following than must be
in the subject form.
e.g. 'He is taller than I'
This is now considered archaic.
In current English,
the objective form
is preferred in both formal
and informal usage.
c) than +
noun/pronoun (subject form)
In this construction than is a conjunction used
after a comparative adjective/adverb to introduce an adverb clause
of comparison, so than takes
a pronoun in the subject form:
She loves her more than I do (love her).
She is much better rcday
than she was yesterday.
He
earns much more than she (does).
She works harder than he (does) .
3.4.2
Superlative degree
Superlative degree is used in the structure the + superlative + of/in/on. This construction is used to compare more
than two people
or things:
1. This is the best offer of all.
2
This is the oldest
church in India.
3
Everest is the highest
peak on earth. Note: a) In this
construction we can't
use,
all other, any other, anyone else,
anybody else, anything else
not
She is the tallest of any other girls.
b)
of is used with
people or things
and in and on with
place: She is the best of the candidates.
He
is the richest man in the village.
c)
the is obligatory before
the superlative form
of the adjective.
1.
January is the coldest month.
2.
This is the safest way.
3.
Philosophy is the most
difficult subject to learn.
d)
However, most is used in the
following without a definite article. Here it
is not a superlative; the meaning is that of the intensifier very.
Rashid
is most unhappy. (meaning, very unhappy)
This
is a most interesting story. (meaning, very interesting)
ii) one of the +
superlative + plural noun
This construction, too, is used to compare more than two people or things:
1.
Kalidasa is one of the greatest poets.
2.
jaisalmer is one of the hottest
places in summer. Note: a) A plural
noun is always
used after the superlative:
One of the brightest objects. One of the cheapest bags.
3.5 Comparatives and Superlatives
Formatiom
i)
Adjective+er/est
Adjective of one syallable adder
in the comparative form and est in superlative form:
Positive Tall
comparative taller
superlative tallest
Long Short Sweet
ii) Adjective+r/st
longer shorter sweeter
longest shortest sweetest
One syllable adjectives ending in e add r in the comparative form
and st in the superlative form:
Possotove Fine
Brave wise
iii)
Double
Consonant +er\est Possotove
Big
Fat Hot Sad Glads Silm thin
iv) i + er/est
comparative finer
braver wiser
comparative bigger
fatter hotter sadder gladder slimmer thinner
superlative finest
bravest wisest
superlative biggest
fattest hottest saddest gladdest slimmest thinnest
If a one-
syllable adjective ends in consonant + y, y is changed
into i when
er/ est is added:
positive comparative
easy easier
dry drier
holy holier
funny funnier
happy happier
But
vowel + y is not changed into i:
gay gayer gayest
v) Irregular forms
positive bad
good well little much many far
far old
old
comparative worse
better better less more many more farther further elder
older
superlative worst
best best least most most farthest furthest eldest
(of people only) oldest
(of people and things)
vi) Adjectives of more than two syllables form their comparative/superlative by adding more to the comparative form
and most in the superlative:
|
positive |
comparative |
superlative |
|
beautiful |
more beautiful |
most beautiful |
|
intelligent |
more intelligent |
most intelligent |
|
important |
more important |
most important |
3.5.2
Comparison: structure
Positive degree
i)
With the
positive degree as +adjective +as is used
in the affirmative:
1.
He is as gentle
as a lamb.
2.
Virtue is as important as money.
3.
She is as tall as him.
This construction indicates equality between two
people or things. Note: Some of the
idiomatic comparisons are:
as black as coal/ pitch as brave as a lion
as bright as silver
as busy as a bee
as clear as crystal/day
as cunning as a fox
as
cold as ice
as dry as dust/ bone as easy as ABC
as firm as a rock as fresh as a daisy
as gentle as a lamb as green as grass
as black as coal/pitch as happy as a lark as brave as a lion
as hot as fire
as bright as silver as light as a feather as busy as a bee as proud
as a peacock
as clear as crystal/day as quiet as a mouse as cunning as a fox as red
as blood
as cold as ice as sharp as a needle/razor as dryas dust/bone as smooth as velvet
as
easy as ABC as stupid
as an ass
as firm as a rock as sure as death
as fresh as a daisy
as tough as leather
as gentle as a lamb
as white as snow
as green as grass as weak as a kitten
ii) as ... as construction can
be replaced by like in certain contexts:
1.
She is as gentle
as a lamb. i.e. She is gentle
like a lamb.
2.
He is as tall
as me. i.e. He is tall like
me. Note: a) as + noun/pronoun (object form)
In as ...
as the first
as is an adverb used
before adjectives or adverbs and the second as a preposition. In this
construction as ... as means
'to the same extent' and expresses comparison between two people. Since the second as is a
preposition it takes a pronoun in the object
form:
1.
She is as old as him.
2.
He is not as generous as me.
b)
as + noun/pronoun (subject form)
When as ... as means 'to the same extent',
the first as is an adverb and the second
as a conjunction because it functions as a clause
introducer.
Since the second as is a
conjunction, it takes a pronoun in the subject form:
1.
She works as hard as he (does).
2.
I ran as fast as I could.
3.
He is not as innocent as he looks.
4.
He loves her as much I (do).
3.6 Determiners
A
determiner signals the coming of a noun in a sentence.
3.6.1
Determiners fall into the following
categories:
A.
articles a, an, the
B.
possessives
my, our, your, his, her, their, its
C.
demonstratives
this, that, these, those
These are used to point out people or things. This car is red. That girl is tall.
D.
distributives
each, every, either, neither
They refer to each member of a class separately:
I have met seven girls. Each girl is smart/Every girl is smart.
E.
number expressions
another, many, several, some, any, no, few, enough,
a number of, a lot
of, lots of, plenty of, some of, many of, one, two, three
... (cardinal numbers)
F.
quantifiers
much" some, no, any, little, enough,
a lot of, lots of, plenty of, much of, some of
G.
interrogatives
what, which
They combine with nouns to form interrogative
expressions used in questions: What
colour is the sky?
Which girl is the tallest?
3.7 Differences between
Adjectives and Determiners
i)
The form
of adjectives can change, tall taller tallest
Determiners, on the other hand, have an invariant
form. a boy, the gi rl
ii)
An adjective can be used before
a noun, or as a complement to 'to be'. But
determiner comes only before a noun.
adjective
determiner
A good book. This book is good. almy/every book
iii)
More than one adjective can be used
to modify a noun, but more than onedeterminer is not allowed
in a noun phrase.
She is a tall, beautiful girl. (but not, an every
book.)
iv)
A determiner always comes before
an adjective, not after it. a red pen
her new hat
3.8 Determiners: Usage
Derminers of
number/quantity
A. Some and any
i) some is used with affirmative verbs:
1.
I have got some
milk. (not, any milk)
2.
He has got some
good friends. (not,
any friends)
ii) any is used with negative
verbs:
3.
I haven't got any
gold. (not some
gold)
4.
She hasn't
got any dogs.
(not some dogs) Note: any
is used with
negative adverbs as well:
hardly, scarcely, barely,
never,
neither, nor, seldom, too
1.
He has hardly any money.
2.
She has never written
any poems.
3.
He is too poor
to buy any gold rings.
4.
They seldom
go for any function.
But enough takes some, because it is positive in
meaning: She is rich enough to buy some
gold rings.
iii)
any is used after
if or whether and expressions of doubt:
1.
Ring me up if you need
any help. (not
some)
2.
I don't think you
will have any difficulty here.
(not some)
3.
asked her if/whether she had any money with her. (not
some)
iv)
Either some or any can be used in ordinary questions:
1.
Have you got some ink?
2.
Have you got any ink?
A question
like this is indifferent to the response, so the reply
can be either
positive (yes) or negative (no):
1.
Will you
buy some fish?
Yes, I will.
No, I won't.
2.
Have you
got any milk?
Yes, I have.
No, I haven't.
v)
A question expressing request
takes some:
Could you give me some milk, please? (not any milk)
vi)
A question
expecting a positive
response takes some: Have you got some
eggs? Yes, I have.
vii)
In an
affirmative sentence any means 'no matter who/which/what', i.e., 'no one in particular':
1.
Any option is feasible.
2.
You may call on me any day you like.
viii)
some can be used
with a singular countable noun
that is vague
or unknown: Some gentleman is waiting to see you.
ix)
some can be used before
definite numbers to mean 'approximately' or 'about':
There are some twenty people at the gate.
x)
some can be used before a noun to mean considerable number or amount
or extent:
1.
That is some help/relief/satisfaction.
2.
He is really some poet/singer.
Note: Any is not possible in place of some in any of the cases from
viii-x.
a)
not any/no any
no any is never used
instead of not any.
She
hasn't got any rings. (not
no any rings).
b)
no/not any
No or not any can be used
after have, but have got usually takes
not any, not no:
He
hasn't got any friends. (not He has got no friends.)
c)
some/any/no +nouti
They can be used as adjectives of number and as adjectives of quantity. So they
can be used with a countable or an uncountable noun. With countable nouns, the form is plural:
1.
She has some friends.
2.
He doesn't need any money.
3.
They did not sell any calendars.
4.
She has no toys.
But the noun is in the singular
form when not any/no means
'not even one/not a single':
1.
He has no telephone
(not even one car)
2.
She has no umbrella. (not even one umbrella)
3.
He hasn't got any house. (not even one house.)
So the choice of a singular or plural noun
depends on the meaning of no/any i.e., 'not some/not one'.
8. No and none
i)
no behaves like a determiner but
none doesn't, so we can
use no + noun but not none + noun:
1.
He has no gold.
(not none gold)
2.
This chair
has no arms. (not none arms)
ii)
no «noun can be used to express contrast/the opposite:
1.
He is no scholar.
(He is not a scholar)
2.
She is no beauty.
(She is not beautiful)
Notice
that in this construction the noun does
not take alan: He is no a leader.
iii)
no + good
In this
construction good is treated as a noun
because by origin
it is a noun meaning advantage; so no is used as determiner.
It's
no good repenting now.
C. All and both
i)
These are predeterminers and
are therefore followed
by a determiner.
1.
All the boys are playing.
2.
Both these cars are white.
3.
All his friends deserted
him.
D.
Another/other
i) another is always
used with a singular noun:
1.
Tell me another story.
2.
He is now engaged
to another girl.
ii)
Other meaning
'the second of the two' takes a singular noun: The other
bank of this river is very dirty.
ii)
other or the other
can take a singular or plural noun:
1.
I will talk to you some other time.
2.
John is intelligent but the other boys are dull.
Note: another is not used with an or the because it is a determiner:
1.
I would like another
cup of tea. (not, an another)
2.
This pen is broken. Give
me another please. (not an another/the another one)
E.
Much and many
i) much is used
before singular uncountable nouns to denote
quantity:
1.
He hasn't got much courage. (not, many)
2.
I haven't got much
time. (not, many)
ii) many is used
before plural countable nouns to denote
number:
1.
I haven't got many passes. (not,
much)
2.
She hasn't got many 'options. (not, much)
iii)
much and many are used with how to ask questions:
1.
How many dogs have you got?
2.
How much coffee do you want?
iv)
much and
many are usually
used in negative and interrogative sentences:
1.
There isn't
much squash in this bottle.
2.
There aren't many girls in my class.
3.
Was much money wasted
over the project?
4.
Were many
men hurt in the firing?
v)
many modifying an object in affirmative sentences is preferably replaced
by these determiners.
a number of, a lot of, lots of, plenty of
1.
She bought a number
of combs.
2.
He has got a lot of shoes.
3.
She has bought plenty
of vegetables.
vi)
much modifying an object in an affirmative sentence is usually
replaced by these determiners.
a lot of, plenty of, a large
quantity of, a good deal
of, a great deal of
We have had a lot of rain
this year. He has plenty
ofleisure.
vii)
much and many are
used in affirmative sentences when they
are modified by so as/too/how.
so many boys so much noise
|
as many |
questions |
as much |
gold |
|
too many |
problems |
too much |
pain |
|
how
many |
teachers |
how-much |
butter |
Talking about the past causes him too much pain.
viii)
many an/a takes a singular countable noun: Many a tree has been cut down.
Many an egg is rotten.
In common speech,
however, many alan
is rarely used.
A lot of/plenty of is used instead.
Plenty of trees have been cut down.
F.
Few and little
i)
few denotes number. Plural
countable nouns are used with
few, a few, and
the few:
I
have few hopes in life
The children played
for a few minutes. They sold
the few dogs
that they had.
ii)
little denotes
quantity, so singular uncountable nouns are used with
little, a little,
and the little:
She has little
confidence in herself. All I ask for is a little
help from you. I
have spent the little money
I had.
iii)
few and little are used in a negative
sense because they mean 'not any'
He has few friends. (i.e., no friends)
He has little money. (i.e., no money)
a few and
a little are positive, they
mean some: He has a few friends.
(i.e., some friends)
He has a little money. (i.e., some
money)
v) the few
means 'not many,
but all that
are there', the little means
'not much, but all that is there'.
I have already
read the few books that
I have. (not
a few) He has spent
the little money
he had. (not
a little)
the few/the little
+ noun is usually followed by :l relative clause. The few
statues (that) he bought are
damaged.
She has sold the few horses (that)
she used to keep.
G.
Distributives each and every
i) each is used for two or more people/things.
ii) every is used for more than two people/things. Every
is not used of only two.
I saw two movies last
week. Each of them had a murder
plot. (not every movie)
There are six electronics shops
in this street.
Each shop is selling radios
at a discount. (not every
shop)
Note: emphatic each
each is made emphatic by using each and every:
Each and every vote is valuable.
But neither every
nor each and
every can be used when
the reference is to
only two people or things.
iii)
Both each and every
take a singular countable noun, not an uncountable
noun:
Each city in India is famous for its variety.
(not, cities) Every ritual has
a meaning. (not,
rituals)
iv)
Every can be used
with plural expressions indicating 'intervals in time and space':
every three hours,
every few kilometers He has to take
medicine every four
hours.
She was stopped every two kilometers by her fans. (each is not possible here).
v)
each + of can function as a predeterminer, every + of cannot Each of the boys/them has a bag.
not, Every of the boys/them has a hat.
H.
Either and neither
i) either means one of the two:
You can take either half of this apple.
ii) neither means 'not
one nor the other of the two':
There are two reports about
the accident. Neither
report is true. Thus both either and neither are used for only two people or things.
iii)
When the
number is greater than two, either/neither is replaced by any: I have
six copies of the novel.
You can take
any copy you
like.
I can't spare any copies of the
novel.
iv)
either and neither take a singular
countable noun: either side, neither report.
Note: a) either
and both
Either means 'both/each of the two'
when the existence of the one
implies the existence of the other,
i.e. when two things are complementary to each
other:
'
either
side of a road (both
sides) either bank of a river
(both banks)
I.
Demonstratives
In English an adjective has
the same form
for both singular
and plural nouns but
demonstratives show agreement of number between a demonstrative adjective
and its noun:
i) this/that takes a singular noun,
these/those takes a plural noun.
This car is brown. These cars are blue. That girl is tall. Those girls are tall.
Note:
these or those
kind of or sort of is permissible only in colloquial style: I don't
like these kind of movies.
J. Possessives
Possessives are like
adjectives in that
they can come in a prenominal (i.e. before a noun)
position and also in the complement position
of be. But unlike adjectives, possessives have distinct
forms in these two positions.
We may refer to these two uses of possessives as
a)
the
determiner use This is my book. and
b)
the
predicative use. This book is mine.
not,
This is mine house.
ii)
A (determiner) possessive is made emphatic
by using own/very
own after it:
This is my own car.
That is her very own house.
iii)
A possessive + noun denoting the part of one's body or dress/clothing is preferably replaced by the + noun:
1.
I hit him on his head.
(I hit him on the head.)
2.
He caught her by her hair.
(He caught her by the hair.)
3.
I caught him by his collar.
(I caught him
by the collar.)
K. Interrogatives
i) What is used
to ask general
questions about colour/shape/size etc.:
1.
What colour
is the sky?
2.
What size (of shoes)
do you want?
Note: a) what + age/length/height etc. is normally
expressed by how + adjective:
1.
What age is she?
= Howald is she?
2.
What height
are you? = How tall are you?
b) But what + colour/shape/size can't be replaced by how:
1.
What colour is gold?
2.
What shape is this table?
3.9 Summary
Now you have a clear-cut concept of the terms Adjectives and Determines.
3.10
Unit End Question
I.
Choose the rig t alternative:
1.
This girl is the wisest all. (of/than)
2.
He is the of the two. (stronger/strongest)
3.
He is junior me but senior
her. (to/than- to/than)
4.
This is the temple
in India. (oldest/eldest)
5.
He is richer than . (anyone
else/any)
6.
This route is of all. (the most shortest/shortest)
7.
This pen is than that. (more
cheaper/cheaper)
8.
Chicken is preferable red meat. (to/than)
9.
He is duller than
. (all other boys/all boys)
10.
The climate of Delhi
is better than
. (London/that of London)
11.
I am feeling very
. (hungry/hungrily)
12.
It is getting . (colder and
colder/cold and cold)
II.
Choose the correct one from the pairs given
and put a v', as shown in example (1):
1.
a) It is nonsense sheer.
b) It is sheer nonsense. V
2.
a) Could you give me some sugar, please?
b) Could you give me any sugar, please?
3.
a) He is going
to buy an another car.
b) He is going to buy another car.
4.
a) She is too poor to give me some money.
b) She is too poor to give me any money.
5.
a) My hair is shorter than Mary.
b) My hair is shorter than Mary's.
6.
a) I would rather
resign than flatter
my boss.
b) I would rather resign than to flatter my boss.
7.
a) All these women
are fond of gossip.
b) These all women are fond of gossip.
8.
a) My elder brother
always gives me toffee.
b) My older
brother always gives
me toffee.
9.
a) This book is unique.
b) This book is the most unique.
10.
a) It is not so easy to cook as to eat.
b)
It is not so easy to cook as eat.
11.
a) She is elder
than her brother.
b) She is older than her brother.
12.
a) I am fairly
better today.
b) I am rather better today.
III.
Fill in the blanks
choosing the right
word:
1.
Tom is than John. (elder, older)
2.
This cloth is to that. (better, superior)
3.
There are girls than
boys here. (less,
fewer)
4.
This is the tree in the forest. (oldest,
eldest)
5.
Which is the of the three
sons? (wiser, wisest)
6.
Which is , March or May? (hotter, hottest)
7.
This is best book in the market. (very
the, the very)
8.
I saw her ago. (few days,
a few days)
9.
He is rich as her. (so, as)
10.
He is older than . (me, I)
11.
She is as tall as . (he, him)
12.
This flower smells . (sweet, sweetly)
IV.
Put a V against
the correct phrase:
"'.
a) neither girl
2.
a) a few money
b)
neither girls
b) a little money
3.
a) not some pens b) not
any pens
a)
much easier b) more easier
:>. a) richer than all men b) richer than all other men
6.
a) quite impossible b)
more impossible
a)
preferable to b)
preferable than
8.
a) so old as him b) as old as him
9. a) more
important and b) more and more important more important
Correct
the sentences, if necessary:
1.
I have read a few books I had.
2.
Tell me if you have some doubt.
3.
He hit her on her head.
4.
She is wiser than anybody here.
5.
He has hardly some money.
6.
His all sheep are white.
7 Milk is more preferable to fish.
8.
He is taller than the two.
9.
She is comparatively better
today.
10.
either courses
of action are safe.
1.
Lakshmi is wiser than braver.
2.
Preetha has got no any sister.
3. There are less
tables than chairs
here. 4 He is the dullest of all other
boys.
5 This book is the much best of all.
6. I would
prefer to die than to live in disgrace.
7 My car
is much more
cheaper than you.
8. She has spent little money she had.
