adjective
(noun)
A word that modifies a noun or pronoun.
(noun)
A word that modifies a noun or describes a noun's referent.
Examples of adjective in the following topics:
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Adjectives
- In some situations, two adjectives may be used to describe a noun.
- But other times, the adjectives combine to become one adjective joined by a hyphen.
- Heavy-metal is the compound adjective describing the detector.
- The standard form for using adjectives for comparison is to add -er to the end of an adjective being used to compare two items (brighter, cooler) and -est to the end of an adjective used to compare more than two items (brightest, coolest).
- Sometimes, pronouns can be used as adjectives.
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First and Second Declension
- Most adjectives in -er are declined like sacer.
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Adverbs
- Just as adjectives modify nouns and pronouns, adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
- Many adjectives can be made into adverbs simply by adding -ly to the end.
- ["Of this diet" describes the adjective "tired."]
- Hyphens can be used to combine an adverb and adjective to describe a noun.
- In this situation, the adverb is describing the adjective, and the adjective is describing the noun.
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Third Declension
- But they do not have -ī the Ablative, except when employed as adjectives; when used as participles or as substantives, they have -e; as,—
- a) usually retain the adjective declension; as,—aequālis, contemporary, Abl. aequālī.cōnsulāris, ex-consul, Abl. cōnsulārīSo names of Months; as, Aprīlī, April; Decembrī, December.b) But adjectives used as proper names have -e in the Ablative Singular; as, Celere, Celer; Juvenāle, Juvenal.c) Patrials in -ās, -ātis and -īs, -ītis, when designating places regularly have -ī; as, in Arpīnātī, on the estate at Arpinum, yet -e, when used of persons; as, ab Arpīnāte, by an Arpinatian.
- A very few indeclinable adjectives occur, the chief of which are frūgī, frugal; nēquam, worthless.
- In poetry, adjectives and participles in -ns sometimes form the Gen.
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Introduction to Adjectives and Adverbs
- We need adverbs and adjectives in order to be descriptive in our writing.
- Like adjectives, adverbs can also help add details to your writing.
- Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
- Adverbs can also be used to modify adjectives and other adverbs.
- [The adverb reasonably modifies the adjective early.]
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Formation and Comparison of Adverbs
- Many adjectives ending in -ālis, -āris, -idus, -īlis, -icus, imus, īnus, -ōrus.
- Adverbs are for the most part derived from adjectives, and depend upon them for their comparison.
- A number of adjectives of the First and Second Declensions form an Adverb in -ō, instead of -ē; as,—
- A few adjectives employ the Accusative Singular Neuter as the Positive of the Adverb; as,—
- A few adjectives of the First and Second Declensions form the Positive in -iter; as,—
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Hyphens
- Hyphens are often used to connect adverbs and adjectives when describing a noun.
- Hyphens can be used to combine an adverb and adjective to describe a noun.
- In this situation, the adverb is describing the adjective, and the adjective is describing the noun.
- If the adverb and adjective come after the noun being described, a hyphen is not needed.
- Remember that using hyphens to combine adverbs and adjectives in this way creates a new word.
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Introduction to Inflection
- You also might need to change some adjectives based on the grammatical context of the rest of your sentence.
- For example, if you’re trying to compare how sunny today’s weather is to yesterday’s weather, you would change the adjective “sunny” to “sunnier”: “Today is sunnier than yesterday.”
- Inflecting adverbs is very similar to how you change adjectives.
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Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
- Two common types of modifiers are the adverb (a word that describes an adjective, a verb, or another adverb) and the adjective (a word that describes a noun or pronoun).
- However, though all adjectives and adverbs are modifiers, not all modifiers are adjectives and adverbs.
- Above all, it should always be clear to the reader which word an adjective, adverb, or modifying phrase is describing.
- By paying attention to placement and making sure that if you want to modify a verb you use an adverb instead of an adjective, you will make it much easier for your reader to pick up on your intended meaning.
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Pronouns as Subjects and Objects
- Possessive adjectives show ownership.
- Possessive adjectives are my, your, his, her, its, our, and their.
- For example, when paired with the noun school in a sentence, his becomes a possessive adjective.