Adjectives

Learn the :

 Definition of Adjective In English In ThaiFunctions of Adjective In English In ThaiRules in using AdjectivesFormulas

Objectives:

• To restore knowledge from past learning’s about adjectives as a part of speech in the English grammar.

• To define adjective in Thai linguistics.• To compare and contrast adjectives in English and Thai

perspective.• To learn about the rules in using adjectives in English

and Thai language• To present formulas for better understanding of the

Thai adjectives

Definition of Adjective 

In English, adjective is a part of speech that modifies a noun or a pronoun

In Thai linguistics, adjectives are simply called คำ��วิ�เศษณ์ /kham wi saeht/, which is usually translated as modifier.

Functions of Adjective Three main grammatical functions within sentences in the English language:

• Adjectives as Noun Phrase Modifiers-words and phrases that describe noun or noun phrases.

• Adjectives as Predicative Modifiers- adjectives and adjective phrases that follow a copular or

linking verb such as “be” and “become” and modifies or describes the subject.

• Adjectives as Object Complements- nouns, pronouns, noun phrases, adjectives, and

adjective phrases that directly follow and modify the direct object.

Functions of adjective in Thai 

• attributive functionOr  (Noun Phrase Modifiers)• standalone predicate 

Rules in using Adjectives 

• Noun Phrase Modifier Rule: In noun phrase modifier, the adjective is

placed before the noun it modifies in the sentence.

Examples:• My mother planted purple flowers in her

garden.• The very tiny puppy barked at the cat.• The restaurant served tasteless soup

Predicative Modifier

• Rule: In using predicative modifier just add a copular or linking verb before the adjective.

Examples:• My cat is black and brown.• Your hair is shiny.• I am fond of Thai grammar.

Objective Complements

• Rule: In using objective complements as a modifier, just add adjective or adjective phrases after the direct object of the sentence.

Examples:• The little girl wanted her room bright pink.• Catholics consider saints holy.• The jury judged the defendant guilty.

Noun Phrase Modifier (Attributive Modifier)

Rule: The important thing to understand about adjectives is that you should place them after the noun they are describing.

• Examples: Words• bahn yai - big house• bahn lek - small house• mah cha - slow dog• rot yon ray-oh - fast car

Sample Sentences• Dek sa baai yim.English translation: The content child smiles.• Pern lawel port go hok.English translation: The bad friend tell a lie.• Mah cha khao bahn.English translation: The slow dog entered the house.

Predicative modifier• Rule: In Thai, there is no need for additional

verb, copula or linking verb to join an adjective to a noun.

Examples:• Khun sway .English translation: You are beautiful.• Khun Steve bpen kon soong English translation: Mr Steve is a tall person• Khun Somchai bpen kon dtee-a English translation: Mr Somchai is a short person

Degree of Comparison in English

• English has two ways of forming the degrees of comparison

1. an inflectional way involving the use of the bound morphemes -er and -est, and

2. an analytical way involving the use of the free morphemes more and most.

Degree of Comparison

Positive Comparative Superlative

inflectional dark friendly

dark-er friendli-er

dark-est friendli-est

analytical compatible intelligent

more compatible 

more intelligent

most compatible 

most intelligent

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Big Bigger Biggest

Small Smaller Smallest

Little Less Least

Much More most

Good Better Best

Bad Worse Worst

Far Further Furthest

• Thai uses add-on words to form the comparative and the superlative so there are no irregular forms.

The Comparative

• Rule1: The comparative is formed with the add on word gwah.

Example: yai gwah - bigger Sentence: Bahn nee yai gwah bahn nun

• English translation: This house is bigger than that house

• lek gwah - smallerSentence: noo lek gwah mee-ow

• English translation: A mouse is smaller than a cat.

• Rule 2: mah gwah is the equivalent of moreExample: pom chawp bee-a mah gwah lao

English translation: I like beer more than spirits.

• Rule 3: dee gwah is the equivalent of betterbpai gup koon john dee gwah - Go with Mr

John, betterbpai tee nai dee gwah, pooget reu pataya - where is better to go, Phuket or Pattaya

bpai pooget dee gwah - go to Phuket is better

Superlative

• Rule 1: The superlative is formed with the add on words tee soot.

• Example: yai tee soot - biggest Sentence: Phuket pben gaw yai tee soot nai pra-tayt Thailand

• English translation: Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand

• Rule 2: dee tee soot is equivalent of bestExample: pra tayt dee tee soot

• Sentence: pra-tayt thai dee tee soot • English translation: Thailand is the best

country

Last

• To say 'the last' of something, you use the add on words soot tai.

• Example: tee soot tai - last place Sentence: kao mah tee soot tai

• English translation: He came in last place.

Formulas 

• In using noun phrase modifier, the formula is:a. English: adjective+ noun (A+N)b. Thai: noun+ adjective (N+A)• In using predicative modifier, the formula is:a. English: subject + linking verb+ adjective/ adjective

phrases(S+LV+A)b. Thai: subject+ adjective/ adjective phrases (S+A)

a. English:Regular adjective- base form of adjective+er/est

(comparative and superlative respectively)Irregular adjective: add many, better, bestb. ThaiIn comparative: adjective + gwa (represents –er)

adjective + mah gwah (more) adjective + dee gwah (better)

In superlative: adjective + tee soot ( -est )Adjective + dee tee soot (best)

In the degree of comparison: