Lecture 11 Adjectives and Adjective Phrase

Lecture 11Lecture 11Adjectives and Adjective Adjectives and Adjective

PhrasePhrase Objectives: Objectives: 1. Classification of adjectives1. Classification of adjectives 2. Function of the adjectives2. Function of the adjectives 3. 3. Position of the adjectivesPosition of the adjectives 44. . Gradable and non-gradable adjectivesGradable and non-gradable adjectives 5. Phrases with comparative degree5. Phrases with comparative degree Adverbial of degree in comparisonAdverbial of degree in comparison

1. Classification of adjectives1. Classification of adjectivesClassification of adjectivesClassification of adjectives

1) In terms of word-formation1) In terms of word-formation: One-word and compou: One-word and compound adj.-s nd adj.-s

2) In terms of syntactic function2) In terms of syntactic function: central and peripher: central and peripheral adj.-s al adj.-s

3) Semantically meaning3) Semantically meaning: dynamic and stative adj-s : dynamic and stative adj-s

4) Morphologically meaning4) Morphologically meaning: gradable and non-grada: gradable and non-gradable adj.-s ble adj.-s

5)Compound adjectives.5)Compound adjectives.

1) One-word and compound 1) One-word and compound adjectivesadjectives

. A one-word adjective may consist of only one free morpheme, such as big, small, good, bad, cold, etc.; it may also consist of a free morpheme as root plus a prefix or a suffix or both, such as unkind, useless, unlikely, voiceless, unbelievable, etc.


Compound adjectives are formed in Compound adjectives are formed in different ways.different ways.

They may be "adjective + adjective", e.They may be "adjective + adjective", e.g.g.

bitter-sweet, deaf-mutebitter-sweet, deaf-mute Adjective/adverb + -ing participle, e.

g. good-looking, hard-working, etc


adjective/adverb + -ed participle, e.g. well-meant noun + adjective, e.g. duty-free, grass-green

2) Central and peripheral 2) Central and peripheral adjectivesadjectives

(1) Most adjectives can be used both (1) Most adjectives can be used both as modifier in a noun phrase and as as modifier in a noun phrase and as subject/object complement. These subject/object complement. These adjectives are called central adjectives are called central adjectives. In the following three adjectives. In the following three examples green is a central examples green is a central adjective, functioning as modifier of adjective, functioning as modifier of nouns, subject complement and nouns, subject complement and object complement respectivelyobject complement respectively


--Green apples are sour. (modifier in a noun phrase)

--Those apples are green. (subject complement)

-- They have painted the door green. (object complement)


(2) peripheral adjectives(2) peripheral adjectives

Peripheral adjectives refer to the few Peripheral adjectives refer to the few which can not satisfy both requiremenwhich can not satisfy both requirements. Some peripheral adjectives can only ts. Some peripheral adjectives can only act as pre-modifier, e.gact as pre-modifier, e.g

chief, main, principal, utter, sheer, etc


other peripheral adjectives can only act as complement

afloat, afraid, asleep, alone, alive, etc.

3) Dynamic and stative adjective3) Dynamic and stative adjectivess

(1) Stative adjectives such as tall, short, big, small, beautiful,

pretty, describe the static characteristics of animate or inanimate objects, and most adjectives are static adjectives

3) Dynamic and stative adjectives3) Dynamic and stative adjectives

(2) Dynamic adjectives(2) Dynamic adjectives such as such as ambitious, careful, generous, ambitious, careful, generous,

helpful, patient, witty, politehelpful, patient, witty, polite, describe , describe the dynamic properties of people or ththe dynamic properties of people or things.ings.Dynamic adjectives are different in use Dynamic adjectives are different in use from stative adjectives.from stative adjectives.

3) Dynamic and stative adjectiv3) Dynamic and stative adjectiveses

Dynamic adjectives can go with progressive aspect of the verb be, while stative adjectives cannot, e.g.

• She is being tall/ beautiful/ pretty.

• She is being helpful/careful/polite/patient

2. Function of the adjectives 2. Function of the adjectives

1) Adjectives can act as object-complements 1) Adjectives can act as object-complements and adverbials.and adverbials.

e.g. I painted the door e.g. I painted the door green.green. (Object- complement) (Object- complement)

I found the film I found the film instructiveinstructive. (Object- . (Object- complement)complement)

a) a) Very hungryVery hungry, they began to search for food. , they began to search for food. (Adverbial)(Adverbial)


--Afraid of the dark,--Afraid of the dark, the child pulled the quilt over the child pulled the quilt over his head. (Adverbial) his head. (Adverbial)

--Unable to find words to express themselves--Unable to find words to express themselves, they , they silently grasped our hands.silently grasped our hands.

-- The manager approached us -- The manager approached us full of apologiesfull of apologies. . (Adverbial) (Adverbial)

2. Function of the adjectives 2. Function of the adjectives (2(2) ) Besides modifiers, object complements and Besides modifiers, object complements and

adverbials, adjectives can also be used as sadverbials, adjectives can also be used as subject –complementsubject –complements

afraid; alike (afraid; alike ( 相似的相似的 ); alive; alone; asha); alive; alone; ashamed; asleep; awake(med; asleep; awake( 醒着的醒着的 ); aware; co); aware; content; fond; glad; sorry; sure; well.ntent; fond; glad; sorry; sure; well.


Sure, sorry, glad, fond, alive, etc. alone somSure, sorry, glad, fond, alive, etc. alone sometimes can be used as modifier.etimes can be used as modifier.

e.g. They didn’t have e.g. They didn’t have sure sure money supply. money supply.

He is He is in a sorry state of mind.in a sorry state of mind.

GladGlad news delights everyone. news delights everyone. 。。

2. Function of the adjectives 2. Function of the adjectives HisHis fond fond dream of going abroad can never codream of going abroad can never co

me true. me true.

他的出国美梦永远也实现不了。他的出国美梦永远也实现不了。

[a fond mother/ a[a fond mother/ a fond fond look (loving and kind; b look (loving and kind; be fond of )]e fond of )]

He is the only single He is the only single alivealive in our village. in our village.

Man Man alonealone can speak. can speak.

3. Position of the adjectives3. Position of the adjectives

1) As post modifiers 1) As post modifiers

(1) When modifying the indefinite pronouns, they (1) When modifying the indefinite pronouns, they act as post modifier (when the head word is soact as post modifier (when the head word is some, any no-compound) eg:me, any no-compound) eg:

something important; nothing something important; nothing wrong.wrong.

-- He remembered everything -- He remembered everything strange clearlystrange clearly. .


2) When the adj-s ending in –ible/-able m2) When the adj-s ending in –ible/-able modify the nouns with superlative adj-s odify the nouns with superlative adj-s as post modifier as post modifier

e.g. e.g. --This is the tallest tower--This is the tallest tower imaginable imaginable. . --She is the most beautiful girl--She is the most beautiful girl imaginable imaginable..

--They tried every means --They tried every means imaginable. imaginable.

3. Position of the adjectives 3. Position of the adjectives 3) Possible can be put after or before the noun; 3) Possible can be put after or before the noun;

when present, absent, alone, alive, else, when present, absent, alone, alive, else, there, here as modifier should be post there, here as modifier should be post modifier.modifier.

e.g. e.g.

--He gave some money to --He gave some money to all the people presentall the people present. .

--Those --Those absent from class yesterdayabsent from class yesterday please please stand up.stand up.

3. Position of the 3. Position of the adjectivesadjectives

2) Pre-modifying and post-modifying 2) Pre-modifying and post-modifying adjectivesadjectives

(1) When two or more pre-modifying (1) When two or more pre-modifying adjectives co-occur on the same level, adjectives co-occur on the same level, they are usually coordinated in the they are usually coordinated in the normal order of shorter members normal order of shorter members preceding the longer.preceding the longer.

e.g. She is e.g. She is a tall, strong and beautifula tall, strong and beautiful girl. girl. He is He is a learned, virtuous and much-a learned, virtuous and much-

lovedloved teacher. teacher.


(2) Put the adj. which has the close (2) Put the adj. which has the close relation with the noun at the nearest relation with the noun at the nearest place of the noun.place of the noun.

e.g.e.g.

-- She bought -- She bought a long green cotton armya long green cotton army overcoat. overcoat.

--He likes his--He likes his long red sicklong red sick shirt very shirt very much. much.

3. Position of the 3. Position of the adjectivesadjectives

e.g. all these e.g. all these big and red Japanesebig and red Japanese apples apples

the the first important academicfirst important academic meeting meeting

the the first two fine Chinesefirst two fine Chinese students students

that that fine old and tall red fine old and tall red dilapidateddilapidated brickbrick house house

4. 4. Gradable and non-gradable Gradable and non-gradable adjectivesadjectives

不规则的形容词和副词的比较级和最高级不规则的形容词和副词的比较级和最高级

4) Gradable and non-gradable 4) Gradable and non-gradable adjectivesadjectives

(1) (1) Gradable adjectives Most adjectives are gradable adjectiv

es. The gradability can be manifested through the forms of comparison, e.g.

short shorter shortest 　 beautiful more beautiful so beautif

ul


The gradability can also be manifested through modification by intensifiers, e.g.

very short, so beautiful, extremely kind

All dynamic and most stative adjectives are gradable adjectives


Some other adjectives, such as perfect, excellent, extreme, married, dead, etc. are also non-gradable because their lexical meaning have already denoted a high or extreme degree


2) Non-gradable adjectives2) Non-gradable adjectives The few non-gradable adjectives incluThe few non-gradable adjectives inclu

de some denominal adjective that dende some denominal adjective that denote classification or provenance, e.gote classification or provenance, e.g


1) Similarity comparison : one is 1) Similarity comparison : one is the same ……as the other.the same ……as the other.

e.g.: She is as beautiful as her mother is.e.g.: She is as beautiful as her mother is.

She has as many books as he has.She has as many books as he has.

2) Inferiority comparison : one of 2) Inferiority comparison : one of the two is not the same……asthe two is not the same……as

e.g.: She is not so/as healthy as other e.g.: She is not so/as healthy as other girls. girls.


3) Superlative degree: 3) Superlative degree: comparison made among more comparison made among more than three thingsthan three things

e.g.: This is the best poem e.g.: This is the best poem I’ve ever I’ve ever readread. (scope of comparison). (scope of comparison)

He is the cleverest student in our He is the cleverest student in our class.class.

5. Phrases with comparative degree 5. Phrases with comparative degree

2. Phrases with 2. Phrases with more thanmore than

1) more than1) more than 不止于；不只是不止于；不只是 2)2) no more…… than….no more…… than…. 仅仅；和…… 一仅仅；和…… 一

样不样不3)3) not more……than…..not more……than….. : : 至多，不超过；至多，不超过；

一方不及（另一方）一方不及（另一方）


e.g.: He is e.g.: He is no more thanno more than a manager. a manager. Tom is Tom is not more diligentnot more diligent than you. than you. （（ TT

om is not as diligent as youom is not as diligent as you ））

Tom is Tom is no more diligentno more diligent than you. than you.


I have I have not more thannot more than ten yuan in my p ten yuan in my pocket. ocket.

I have I have no more thanno more than ten yuan in my p ten yuan in my pocket. ocket.

4) no less than: not a smaller amount of 4) no less than: not a smaller amount of sth thansth than 多达；不少于多达；不少于

e.g.: He has e.g.: He has no less thanno less than 500 books 500 books


He won He won no less thanno less than 500 yuan in the l 500 yuan in the lottery.ottery.

Our soldiers fought with Our soldiers fought with no daring thano daring thann skill. She is skill. She is no less active thanno less active than she u she used to be. (She is as active as she used sed to be. (She is as active as she used to be )to be )


5) no less……than…… 5) no less……than…… 和…和… .... 一样一样e.g.: He is e.g.: He is no less busy thanno less busy than I. I. 他和我一样他和我一样

忙。忙。

6) none other than 6) none other than 正是正是e.g.: The person was e.g.: The person was none other thannone other than you. you.

那人正是你。那人正是你。


7) more…… than……7) more…… than…… ：： to a greater extento a greater extent, in a greater degreet, in a greater degree 更多地更多地 ; ; 更大地更大地 ; ; 与其说……倒不如说…… 与其说……倒不如说…… ; ; 主要指同一人的主要指同一人的不同方面作比较不同方面作比较

（（ There is a comparison made for the saThere is a comparison made for the same person in his different aspectsme person in his different aspects ））

5. Phrases with comparative degree5. Phrases with comparative degree

He is He is more an elder brother thanmore an elder brother than a teacher to a teacher to me. me.

与其说他是老师，不如说他是兄长。与其说他是老师，不如说他是兄长。

He is He is more diligent thanmore diligent than clever. clever. 与其说他诚实，与其说他诚实，不如说他机智。不如说他机智。

He is He is more kind thanmore kind than honest. honest.

This house is This house is more modern thanmore modern than any other hou any other house.se.


She is She is more beautiful than any girlmore beautiful than any girl in the school. (×)in the school. (×)

She is She is more beautiful than any more beautiful than any other girlother girl in the school. (√) in the school. (√)

She is She is more beautiful than other more beautiful than other girlsgirls in the school. (√) in the school. (√)


I’m I’m taller than any other boytaller than any other boy in your in your classclass. (×). (×)

I’m I’m taller than any boy in your classtaller than any boy in your class. . (√)(√)

I’m I’m taller than any other boy in my taller than any other boy in my classclass. (√). (√)

6. Adverbial of degree in comparison6. Adverbial of degree in comparison

1) by far; much; far; a great deal; still; ev1) by far; much; far; a great deal; still; even; yet, etc +comparative degreeen; yet, etc +comparative degree

e.g.e.g. ：： His English is His English is by farby far better than hers. better than hers.

Health isHealth is much much more important than wealth. more important than wealth.

She isShe is far far more beautiful than her brother. more beautiful than her brother.

I’m I’m two yearstwo years older than he older than he. .

6. Adverbial of degree in comparison 6. Adverbial of degree in comparison

Good fame is Good fame is a great deala great deal more valuable more valuable than money.than money.

He isHe is still/much/even/yet still/much/even/yet cleverer than h cleverer than his elder brother.is elder brother.

I’m I’m a littlea little taller than he. taller than he.

They earn They earn a lota lot more money than we. more money than we.


2) Multiplication2) Multiplication ：： e.g.: I’ve reade.g.: I’ve read twice twice as many books th as many books th

is as I did last year. is as I did last year. 今年读的书是去年的两倍今年读的书是去年的两倍 // 多一倍）多一倍）

The grain output this year isThe grain output this year is twice twice hihigher than last year. gher than last year.


This year’s output increases This year’s output increases 75 percent75 percent higher than that of last year. higher than that of last year.

今年的产量比去年的增长了今年的产量比去年的增长了 7575 ％。％。

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Lecture 11 Adjectives and Adjective Phrase