adjective

ADJECTIVES

Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns or pronouns, providing additional information about their qualities, quantities, or characteristics. The analysis of adjectives can be approached from both a morphological and syntactic perspective. 

For example:

The smart student studies Mathematics hard.

They also come after linking verbs.

For example:

I feel happy.

MORPHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

From a morphological perspective, adjectives can be analyzed based on their structure and formation:

• Simple Adjectives

Adjectives that consist of a single morpheme, meaning they are not derived from other words.

Examples:

"Tall","Happy","Bright"

• Derived Adjectives

Adjectives formed by adding prefixes or suffixes to other words (often nouns or verbs).

Examples:

With Suffixes:

-ful: "Joyful" (from "joy")

-less: "Fearless" (from "fear")

-ish: "Childish" (from "child")

With Prefixes:

Un-: "Unhappy" (from "happy")

In-: "Insecure" (from "secure")

Dis-: "Disloyal" (from "loyal")

• Compound Adjectives

Adjectives formed by combining two or more words, often hyphenated, to function as a single adjective.

Examples:

Hyphenated Compounds:

"Well-known" (from "well" + "known")

"Cold-hearted" (from "cold" + "hearted")

"Old-fashioned" (from "old" + "fashioned")

Closed Compounds:

"Heartbreaking" (from "heart" + "breaking")

SYNTACTIC PERSPECTIVE

From a syntactic perspective, adjectives are analyzed based on their position and role within a sentence. There are several types based on their syntactic function:

1. Attributive adjective
2. Predicative adjective

Attributive adjective

Attributive adjective is an adjective  usually coming or occurring before the noun.

For example:

the beautiful lady

- Beautiful here is an attributive adjective adjective. it occurs before noun, lady.

 

attributive adjectives that usually occurs on this position are limiting and descriptive adjectives:

• Limiting Adjectives

1. Article: A, An, and The (A book, An apple, the students)
2. Demonstrative: That..., this..., those...., these.... (That book, those books, this book, these books)
3. Possessive:My...., Your..., our ..., their..., John's.... etc (My book, Your apple, John's students.
4. Indefinite: Some..., Every..., Few..., etc (Some books, Every student, Few students)
5. Number: one..., two..., first..., second... etc (one student, two students, first student, second student)
6. Interrogative: What....., which...., whose... (what book, which book, whose book)

• Descriptive Adjectives

1. Character: Good, Patient, rude etc (A rude boy)
2. Quality: Smart, Stupid, etc (A smart boy)
3. Size: Big, Small etc (The big car)
4. Age: Old, Young etc (An old man)
5. Temperature: Hot, Cold etc (hot coffee)
6. Shape: Round, Square etc ( the round table)
7. Color: Blue, Red etc (The blue car)
8. Taste: Bitter, Salty etc (salty tofu)  

Predicative adjective

Predicative adjective is an adjective that usually comes after a linking verb rather than before a noun. Another term for a predicative adjective is a subjective complement.

for example:

the lady is beautiful.

- Beautiful here is an predicative adjective adjective. it is as subjective complement

Adjectives that usually functioned as predicative adjectives are:

• Character: Good, Patient, rude etc (She is rude.)
• Quality: Smart, Stupid, etc (The boy looks smart.)
• Size: Big, Small etc ( The car is very big.)
• Age: Old, Young etc ( the boy looks old.)
• Temperature: Hot, Cold etc ( The coffee is very hot.)
• Shape: Round, Square etc ( The world is round.)
• Color: Blue, Red etc (The car is blue.)
• Taste: Bitter, Salty etc (the tofu tastes salty.)

SUMMARY

• Morphology Perspective: 

Adjectives can be simple, derived, or compound, depending on their formation.

• Syntax Perspective: 

Adjectives function as attributive, predicative, postpositive, comparative, superlative, or intensifying elements within sentences, depending on their position and role.

Understanding adjectives from both morphological and syntactic perspectives provides a comprehensive view of how they are formed and how they function within sentences.

Berbagi :