![]() CATEGORIES: BiologyChemistryConstructionCultureEcologyEconomyElectronicsFinanceGeographyHistoryInformaticsLawMathematicsMechanicsMedicineOtherPedagogyPhilosophyPhysicsPolicyPsychologySociologySportTourism |
Formation of Adjectives§ 2.Many adjectives are formed from other parts of speech by -able:comfortable, preferable, reliable -ive: attractive, expensive, talkative In English there is also a large number of adjectives ending in e.g. His answer was (very) surprising. Such adjectives are former ing-forms which have become ad- jectivized, i.e. they have, partly or completely, lost their verbal e.g. Mike made an interesting report. I should say it was the mostinteresting film of the year. He felt (very) disappointedwhen nobody answered his call. Sometimes it is the context that helps to understand whether I don't like her. (adj.) Cf. She is calculating. Don t disturb her. (verb) to find her at home, (adj.) They were relieved by the officer on duty, (verb) Sometimes the difference between the adjective and the verbal e.g. His words were alarminghis parents. Similarly, the verbal force is explicit for the participle when a e.g. The black man was offended by the policeman. (For more of this see "Verbs", §§ 227, 245). Classification of Adjectives § 3. The actual application of adjectives is often, explicitly or I. As has been said in § 1, most adjectives can be used both at- Besides, there are adjectives that can be used only attributively. To this group belong: 1) intensifying adjectives: a) emphasizers (giving a general heightening effect): a clear b) amplifiers (denoting a high or extreme degree): a complete c) downtoners (having a lowering effect): a slight misun-
2) restrictive adjectives (which restrict the reference to the 3) adjectives related to adverbial expressions: a former friend 4) adjectives formed from nouns: a criminal lawyer, an atomic Adjectives that can be used only predicatively are fewer in {un)well; ablaze, afloat, afraid, aghast, alight, alike, alive, alone, II. Adjectives are generally stative (see also "Verbs", § 2). dynamic adjectives differ in some ways, e.g. the link-verb to be in e.g. He is being careful. She is being vulgar. Be careful! Don't be vulgar! Stative adjectives do not admit of such forms (e.g. *He is be- To the group of dynamic adjectives belong: adorable, am- e.g. I'm sure Nick will understand that it's only for his own good that you're being so unkind. In those days a woman did not contradict a man's opinion III. Adjectives are also distinguished as gradable and non- be modified by adverbs of degree and themselves change for de- e.g. Your niece is so (very, extremely, too) young. The positive form Is the plain stem of an adjective (e.g. There are two methods of forming the comparative and the su- The first method is used for: a) monosyllabic adjectives, e.g. new — newer — newest bright — brighter — brightest b) disyllabic adjectives ending in -er, ow, -y, or -le, e.g. clever — cleverer — cleverest narrow — narrower — narrowest c) disyllabic adjectives with the stress on the second syllable, e.g. polite — politer — politest complete — completer — completest d) a few frequently used disyllabic adjectives, e.g. common — commoner — commonest The following spelling rules should be observed in forming the a) adjectives ending in -y preceded by a consonant, change the -y e.g. heavy — heavier — heaviest But adjectives ending in -y preceded by a vowel, remain un- b) monosyllabic adjectives with a short vowel double their fi- e.g. big ~ bigger — biggest thin — thinner — thinnest But monosyllabic adjectives ending in a double consonant, re- e.g. thick — thicker — thickest c) adjectives with a mute -e at the end, add only -r and -st, The second method is used for: a) most disyllabic adjectives, e.g. careful — more careful — most careful b) adjectives of more than two syllables, e.g. personal — more personal — most personal c) adjectives formed from participles and ing-forms, e.g. tired — more tired —- most tired interesting — more interesting — most interesting d) adjectives used only predicatively, e.g. afraid — more afraid The superlative degree of predicative adjectives in (d) is hard-ly ever used in English. Note. Care should be taken to remember that most when used before an adjec- e.g. He was a most interesting man. A few adjectives have irregular forms for the degrees of com- good — better — best further — furthest (for time and distance) late — later — latest (for time) old — older — oldest (for age) elder — eldest (for seniority rather than age; used only attrib- Non-gradable adjectives, on account of their meaning, do not The comparative degree is used when there are two objects, people. He found the work easier than he had expected. The superlative degree is used when an object, an action or a me the greatest picture of modern times. expressed: a) comparison of equality (as ... as), e.g. The boy was as sly as a monkey. When he had left Paris, it was as cold as in winter there. b) comparison of inequality (not so ... as, not as ... as), You are not as nice as people think. c) comparison of superiority (...-er than, -est of/in/ever), e.g. He looked younger than his years. "You're much more interested in my dresses than my dress- To my mind the most interesting thing in art is the personal- d) comparison of inferiority (less ... than), e) comparison of parallel increase or decrease (the... the, ...-er as), e.g. The longer I think of his proposal the less I like it. § 5. Note the following set phrases which contain the cora- a) a change for the better (for the worse) — ïåðåìåíà ê ëó÷- b) so much the better (the worse) — òåì ëó÷øå (õóæå), e.g. If he will help us, so much the better. If he doesn't work, so much the worse for him. c) to be the worse for — äåëàòü ÷òî-òî åùå õóæå, åùå áîëüøå, d) none the worse for — õóæå íå ñòàíåò (íå ñòàëî) îò ..., e.g. You'll be non the worse for having her to help you. e) if the worst comes to the worst — â õóäøåì ñëó÷àå, e.g. If the worst comes to the worst, I can always go back home to my parents. f) to go from bad to worse — ñòàíîâèòüñÿ âñå õóæå è õóæå, h) at (the) best — â ëó÷øåì ñëó÷àå, e.g. She cannot get away from her home for long. At (the) best Date: 2016-01-03; view: 996
|