FORM
AND FUNCTION OF ADJECTIVES
Rules:
- Adjectives are invariable: They do not change their form depending on the gender or number of the noun. A hot potato Some hot potatoes
-
To emphasise or strengthen the meaning of an adjective
use 'very' or 'really':
A
very
hot
potato Some
really
hot
potatoes.
Adverbs modify, or tell us more about other words, usually verbs:Examples
- The bus moved slowly.
- The bears ate greedily.
Sometimes they tell us more about adjectives:Examples
- You look absolutely fabulous!
They can also modify other adverbs:Examples
- She played the violin extremely well.
- You're speaking too quietly.
Position of adjectives
a) Usually in front of a noun: A beautiful girl.
b) After verbs like "to be", "to seem" , "to look", "to taste":
Examples
- The girl is beautiful
- You look tired
- This meat tastes funny.
d) After the noun with the adjectives involved, present, concerned:Examples
- The Princess Royal
- The President elect
- a court martial
Examples
- I want to see the people involved/concerned (= the people who have something to do with the matter)
- Here is a list of the people present (= the people who were in the building or at the meeting)
Be careful! When these adjectives are used before the noun they have a different meaning:
- An involved discussion = detailed, complex
- A concerned father = worried, anxious
- The present situation = current, happening now