and things: adjectives, numbers,
and other modifiers
Introduction
2.1 In the previous chapter the use of nouns, pronouns, and determiners to name and identify people and things was explained. This chapter explains ways of giving more information about the people and things that have already been named or identified.
One way of giving more information within a noun phrase about people or things is by the use of an adjective, such as small, political, or blue. Adjectives can be used as modifiers of a noun or after linking verbs. They are explained in paragraphs 2.2 to 2.168.
Sometimes, nouns, rather than adjectives, are used to modify the noun. This is explained in paragraphs 2.169 to 2.174.
There are other groups of words that are used before a noun phrase to give more information about people and things. They are linked to the noun phrase by of. These include certain indefinite determiners such as many of and some of (explained in paragraphs 2.176 to 2.193), and other expressions that are used for describing a part or amount of something, such as a piece of and a bottle of (explained in paragraphs 2.194 to 2.207).
Numbers and fractions are also used to indicate the amount of people or things you are talking about. Numbers are explained in paragraphs 2.208 to 2.239 and fractions are explained in paragraphs 2.240 to 2.249.
The other way of giving more information within a noun phrase about people or things is by using a qualifier, that is, giving extra information in the form of a phrase or a clause after the noun to expand its meaning. This is explained in paragraphs 2.272 to 2.302.
Describing people and things: adjectives
2.2 When you want to give more information about something than you can give by using a noun alone, you can use an adjective to identify it or describe it in more detail.
…a new idea.
…new ideas.
…new creative ideas.
Ideas are important.
…to suggest that new ideas are useful.
main points about adjectives
2.3 The most important things to notice about an adjective in English are
2.4 The form of an adjective does not change: you use the same form for singular and plural and for subject and object.
We were looking for a good place to camp.
The next good place was forty-five miles further on.
Good places to fish were hard to find.
We found hardly any good places.
structure
2.5 Adjectives are nearly always used in connection with a noun or pronoun to give information about the person, thing, or group that is being referred to. When this information is not the main purpose of a statement, adjectives are placed in front of a noun, as in hot coffee.
The use of adjectives in a noun phrase is explained in paragraph 2.19.
2.6 Sometimes, however, the main purpose of a statement is to give the information expressed by an adjective. When this happens, adjectives are placed after a linking verb such as be or become, as in I am cold and He became ill. The use of adjectives after a linking verb is explained in paragraphs 3.122 to 3.137.
types of adjective
2.7 There is a large group of adjectives that identify qualities that someone or something has. This group includes words such as happy and intelligent. These are called qualitative adjectives.
Qualitative adjectives are explained in paragraphs 2.22 to 2.25.
2.8 There is another large group of adjectives that identify someone or something as a member of a class. This group includes words such as financial and intellectual. These are called classifying adjectives.
Classifying adjectives are explained in paragraphs 2.26 to 2.28.
Some adjectives are both qualitative and classifying. These are explained in paragraph 2.29.
2.9 There is a small group of adjectives that identify the colour of something. This group includes words like blue and green. They are called colour adjectives.
Colour adjectives are explained in paragraphs 2.30 to 2.35.
2.10 Another small group of adjectives are used to emphasize your feelings about the person or thing you are talking about. These adjectives are called emphasizing adjectives, and they include adjectives such as complete, absolute, and utter.
Emphasizing adjectives are explained in paragraphs 2.36 to 2.39.
2.11 There is a small group of adjectives that are used in a very similar way to determiners (see paragraphs 1.162 to 1.251) to make the reference more precise.
These are called postdeterminers because their place in a noun phrase is immediately after the determiner, if there is one, and before any other adjectives.
Postdeterminers are explained in paragraph 2.40.
structural restrictions
2.12 Most adjectives can be used either before the noun or after a linking verb. However, there are some that can be used only in one position or the other. This is explained in paragraphs 2.41 to 2.53.
2.13 There are a few adjectives that can be used immediately after the noun. They are explained in paragraphs 2.58 to 2.62.
order of adjectives
2.14 When two or more adjectives are used in a structure, they usually occur in a particular order. This is explained in paragraphs 2.54 to 2.57.
-ing and -ed adjectives
2.15 There are a large number of English adjectives ending in -ing, many of which are related to the -ing participle of a verb. In this grammar they are called -ing adjectives.
There are also a large number of English adjectives ending in -ed, many of which are related to the -ed participle of a verb. In this grammar they are called -ed adjectives.
-ing adjectives are explained in paragraphs 2.63 to 2.76. -ed adjectives are explained in paragraphs 2.77 to 2.93.
compound adjectives
2.16 Compound adjectives are made up of two or more words, usually written with hyphens between them.
Compound adjectives are explained in paragraphs 2.94 to 2.102.