Adjective
Phrases
An adjective phrase is a group of words
that functions as an adjective in a sentence to describe a noun or pronoun,
providing more information about it.
The phrase's head is an adjective, and it can also include other elements like
adverbs and prepositional phrases.
1. Quantitative adjective phrases:
A quantitative adjective phrase is a phrase
that qualifies a noun or pronoun by providing specific information about its
quantity, amount, extent, or degree. It answers questions like "how much?", "how
many?", or "to what extent?" about the noun or pronoun it
modifies.
Quantitative adjective phrases typically include words like:
- Numbers (e.g., "three",
"five")
- Multiples (e.g., "twice",
"three times")
- Fractions (e.g., "half",
"quarter")
- Percentages (e.g., "25%",
"three-quarters")
- Quantitative adverbs (e.g.,
"almost", "nearly", "exactly")
Examples of quantitative adjective phrases:
- "Exactly three feet long"
- "Twice as many people"
- "Three-quarters full"
- "Almost half of the students"
- "Twenty-five percent more
efficient"
These phrases provide specific quantitative
information about the noun or pronoun they qualify, helping to clarify its
characteristics, extent, or amount.
Examples of quantitative adjective phrases in sentences:
i. - The person standing next to me is exactly five feet tall.
- The quantitative adjective phrase, "exactly five feet tall", qualifies
the noun "person", specifying his height.
ii. - The new machine is three times more efficient than the old one.
- The
quantitative adjective phrase,
"three times more efficient", qualifies the noun "machine",
describing its efficiency.
iii - We received twice as many applicants as expected.
- The
quantitative adjective phrase,
"twice as many", qualifies the noun "applicants",
indicating a specific quantity.
iv. The stadium is three-quarters full for today’s match.
- The
quantitative adjective phrase,
"three-quarters full", qualifies the noun "stadium", describing
its state or condition, specifically the amount of seating capacity that is
occupied.
2. Qualitative adjective phrases:
A qualitative adjective phrase is a phrase that
qualifies a noun or pronoun by providing information about its quality,
characteristics, properties, or attributes. It answers questions like
"what kind?", "how?", or "in what way?" about the
noun or pronoun it qualifies.
Qualitative adjective phrases typically include words like:
- Descriptive adjectives (e.g.,
"beautiful", "delicious", "difficult")
- Evaluative adjectives (e.g.,
"excellent", "poor", "outstanding")
- Adverbs (e.g., "extremely",
"highly", "remarkably")
- Phrases with prepositions (e.g., "with
great care", "in perfect condition")
Examples of qualitative adjective phrases:
- "Extremely delicious" cake (qualifies
the noun "cake", describing its taste)
- "Highly qualified" candidates (qualifies
the noun "candidates", describing their skills)
- Craftsmanship "with great
precision" (qualifies the noun "craftsmanship", describing its
quality)
- A car "in perfect condition" (qualifies
the noun "car", describing its state)
- "Remarkably talented" artists (qualifies
the noun "artists", describing their abilities)
These phrases provide information about the
qualities, characteristics, or properties of the nouns or pronouns they qualify,
helping to create a more detailed and nuanced picture*.
(A nuanced picture refers to a detailed and
subtle representation or description of something, revealing its complexities,
shades of meaning, and intricacies. It's a multifaceted and layered portrayal
that captures the subtleties and variations of the subject, often conveying a
more accurate and realistic image.
In other words, a nuanced picture:
- Shows subtlety and complexity
- Reveals multiple layers or facets
- Conveys subtle differences and shades of
meaning
- Provides a detailed and accurate
representation
- Avoids oversimplification or generalization
For example, a nuanced picture of a person
might highlight their contradictions, paradoxes, and subtleties, rather than
reducing them to a single trait or characteristic.)
Examples of qualitative adjective phrases in sentences:
i. - The
deeply moving speech brought tears to my eyes.
- The
qualitative adjective phrase,
"deeply moving", qualifies the noun "experience", describing
its emotional impact.
ii. -
The book was exceptionally well-written
and engaging.
- The
qualitative adjective phrase, "exceptionally
well-written and engaging", qualifies the noun "book", praising
its writing quality.
iii. The
unbelievably delicious cake was
devoured in minutes.
- The qualitative adjective phrase, "unbelievably delicious", qualifies
the noun "cake", emphasizing its taste.
3. Attributive adjective phrases:
An attributive adjective phrase is a phrase
that modifies a noun or pronoun by providing additional information about its
characteristics, properties, or attributes. It typically appears before the
noun or pronoun it modifies and functions as a single unit to describe or
identify the noun or pronoun.
Attributive adjective phrases usually answer questions
like:
- What kind?
- How many?
- Which one?
They often include words like:
- Descriptive adjectives (e.g.,
"happy", "blue", "big")
- Quantitative adjectives (e.g.,
"three", "few", "many")
- Demonstrative adjectives (e.g.,
"this", "that", "these")
- Possessive adjectives (e.g., "my",
"her", "their")
Examples of attributive adjective phrases:
- "The happy child" (qualifies the
noun "child", describing its emotional state)
- "The three big boxes" (qualifies
the noun "boxes", describing their size and quantity)
- "This beautiful dress" (qualifies
the noun "dress", describing its appearance)
- "Her favorite book" (qualifies the
noun "book", describing its relationship to her)
Attributive adjective phrases help to create
more specific and detailed descriptions of the nouns or pronouns they modify,
making it easier to identify or understand their characteristics.
i. - The face with a bright smile caught my attention.
- The attributive adjective phrase, "with a bright smile" qualifies the
noun "face", describing its appearance.
ii. - The room was in a state of chaos after the party.
- The attributive adjective phrase, “in a state of chaos”, qualifies the noun
"room",
describing its condition.
iii. The speaker with a foreign accent confused the listeners.
- The attributive adjective phrase, "with a strong accent", qualifies the
noun "speaker", describing his pronunciation.
4. Predicate adjective phrases:
A predicative adjective phrase is a phrase that
follows a linking verb (such as "be", "seem",
"appear", or "become") and modifies the subject of the
sentence by providing more information about its state, condition, or
characteristics. It typically answers questions like:
- What is it like?
- How is it?
- What has it become?
Predicative adjective phrases usually include
words like:
- Descriptive adjectives (e.g.,
"happy", "tired", "exciting")
- Quantitative adjectives (e.g.,
"three", "many", "few")
- Evaluative adjectives (e.g.,
"good", "bad", "excellent")
Examples of predicative adjective phrases:
- "She is extremely happy." (qualifies
the subject "she", describing her emotional state)
- "The cake became too sweet." (qualifies
the subject "cake", describing its taste)
- "He seems very tired." (qualifies
the subject "he", describing his physical state)
- "The movie was incredibly
exciting." (qualifies the subject "movie", describing its
quality)
Predicative adjective phrases help to create
more detailed and nuanced descriptions of the subject's state, condition, or
characteristics, providing additional information about its properties or
attributes.
i. -
She was utterly exhausted after
working all night.
The predicate adjective phrase, "utterly exhausted", qualifies
the subject "she", describing her state.
ii. - He
was completely satisfied with the
results.
The predicate
adjective phrase, - "completely
satisfied”, qualifies the subject "he", describing his feeling.
5. Participial adjective phrases:
A participial adjective phrase is a phrase that
qualifies a noun or pronoun by using a participle (a verb form ending in -ing
or -ed) to describe its characteristics, state, or condition. It typically
answers questions like:
- What is it doing?
- What is happening to it?
- What has happened to it?
Participial adjective phrases usually include
words like:
- Present participles (e.g.,
"running", "dancing", "singing")
- Past participles (e.g., "written",
"broken", "cooked")
Examples of participial adjective phrases:
- "The running water" (qualifies the
noun "water", describing its state)
- "The broken toy" (qualifies the
noun "toy", describing its condition)
- "The singing bird" (qualifies the
noun "bird", describing its action)
- "The cooked meal" (qualifies the
noun "meal", describing its state)
Participial adjective phrases help to create
more vivid and dynamic descriptions of the noun or pronoun they modify,
providing information about its actions, state, or condition.
Note: Participial adjective phrases can be
either active (using present participles) or passive (using past participles).
Examples of participial adjective phrases in sentences:
i. - Singing sweet melodies, the bird filled
the air with joy.
The participial adjective phrase, "singing
sweet melodies”, qualifies the noun "bird", describing its action.
ii. - Shining brightly, the stars guided us
through the night.
The participial adjective phrase, "shining
brightly”, qualifies the noun "stars", describing their bright
appearance.
iii. Completely
exhausted after the marathon, she took rest.
The participial adjective phrase, "Completely
exhausted", qualifies the subject "she", describing her state.
6. Infinitive adjective phrases:
An infinitive adjective phrase is a phrase that
modifies a noun or pronoun by using an infinitive verb form (starting with
"to" + base form of the verb) to describe its purpose, potential, or
characteristics. It typically answers questions like:
- What is it for?
- What can it do?
- What is its purpose?
Infinitive adjective phrases usually include
words like:
- Infinitive verbs (e.g., "to run",
"to write", "to understand")
Examples of infinitive adjective phrases:
- "A book to read" (modifies the noun
"book", describing its purpose)
- "A person to trust" (modifies the
noun "person", describing their characteristics)
- "A problem to solve" (modifies the
noun "problem", describing its nature)
- "A language to learn" (modifies the
noun "language", describing its potential)
Infinitive adjective phrases help to create
more specific and detailed descriptions of the noun or pronoun they modify, providing
information about its purpose, potential, or characteristics.
Note: Infinitive adjective phrases often have a
sense of possibility, potential, or intention, and can be used to describe what
something is capable of or meant to do.
i. - The instructions were easy to understand.
The Infinitive adjective phrase, “easy to understand", qualifies
the noun "instructions", describing their clarity.
ii. - The word was difficult to pronounce for non-native speakers.
The Infinitive adjective phrase, "difficult
to pronounce”, qualifies the noun "word", describing its complexity.
iii. The ancient text was difficult to translate.
The
Infinitive adjective phrase, "difficult to translate", qualifies the
noun "text", describing its complexity.
7. Prepositional adjective phrases:
A prepositional adjective phrase is a phrase
that modifies a noun or pronoun by using a preposition (such as "in",
"on", "at", "with", etc.) followed by an
adjective or a noun to describe its characteristics, state, or condition. It
typically answers questions like:
- Where is it?
- When is it?
- How is it related?
Prepositional adjective phrases usually include
words like:
- Prepositions (e.g., "in",
"on", "at", "with", "under")
- Adjectives (e.g., "happy",
"tall", "blue")
- Nouns (e.g., "love",
"harmony", "chaos")
Examples of prepositional adjective phrases:
- "In perfect harmony" (modifies the
noun "choir", describing their performance)
- "With great care" (modifies the
noun "craftsmanship", describing its quality)
- "Under immense pressure" (modifies
the noun "team", describing their situation)
- "On high alert" (modifies the noun
"security", describing their state)
Prepositional adjective phrases help to create
more detailed and nuanced descriptions of the noun or pronoun they modify,
providing information about its relationships, state, or condition.
Note: Prepositional adjective phrases can also
be used to describe location, time, manner, or other relationships between the
noun or pronoun and other entities.
i. The
craftsmanship with great precision
impressed the judges.
The prepositional adjective phrase, "with
great precision", qualifies the noun "craftsmanship", describing
its quality.
ii. The team worked with an enviable sincerity to achieve their goal.
The prepositional adjective phrase, “with an
enviable sincerity”, qualifies the noun “team”, describing their quality.
iii. The choir sang in perfect harmony.
The prepositional adjective phrase, "in
perfect harmony", qualifies the noun "choir", describing their
performance.
8. Absolute adjective phrases:
An absolute adjective phrase is a phrase that
modifies an entire sentence, clause, or noun, rather than just a single noun or
pronoun. It provides additional information about the circumstances, conditions,
or state of being, often setting the tone or context for the sentence.
Absolute adjective phrases typically:
- Begin with words like "with",
"in", "by", "at", or "under"
- Follow a noun or pronoun, but modify the
entire sentence or clause
- Provide supplementary information about the
situation, often describing:
-
Manner (e.g., "With great enthusiasm")
-
Time (e.g., "At exactly 5 o'clock")
-
Place (e.g., "In the midst of chaos")
-
Condition (e.g., "Under immense pressure")
-
Circumstance (e.g., "With all due respect")
Examples of absolute adjective phrases:
- "With all due respect, I disagree."
(modifies the sentence, showing the speaker's tone)
- "In perfect harmony, the choir
sang." (modifies the sentence, describing the choir's performance)
- "Under the light of the full moon, the
ceremony took place." (modifies the sentence, setting the scene)
Absolute adjective phrases help create more
nuanced and detailed descriptions, providing context and atmosphere to the
sentence or clause they modify.
These phrases modify entire sentences or
clauses, rather than just nouns or pronouns. They often begin with words like
"with", "in", or "by".
Example: "With all due respect, I
disagree."
1. Appositive
adjective phrases: T
An appositive adjective phrase is a phrase that
renames or redefines a noun or pronoun, providing additional information about
its characteristics, identity, or nature. It is typically set off by commas and
follows the noun or pronoun it modifies.
Appositive adjective phrases:
- Rename or reidentify the noun or pronoun
- Provide additional information about the noun
or pronoun's characteristics, identity, or nature
- Typically follow the noun or pronoun they
modify
- Are set off by commas
- Can be essential (necessary for
understanding) or nonessential (providing additional information)
Examples of appositive adjective phrases:
- "My brother, a doctor, helped me with my
injury." (Here, "a doctor" is an appositive adjective phrase renaming
"brother".)
- "The city, a bustling metropolis, never
sleeps." (Here, "a bustling metropolis" is an appositive
adjective phrase redefining "city".)
- "The artist, known for her vibrant
paintings, won the award." (Here, "known for her vibrant paintings"
is an appositive adjective phrase providing additional information about
"artist".)
Appositive adjective phrases help create more
detailed and specific descriptions, providing additional context and
information about the noun or pronoun they modify.
Note: Appositive adjective phrases can be
distinguished from other types of adjective phrases by their ability to rename
or reidentify the noun or pronoun, rather than simply describing its qualities
or attributes.These phrases provide additional information about a noun or
pronoun, often renaming or redefining it.
Example: "My brother, a doctor, helped me
with my injury." A coordinate adjective phrase is a phrase that
contains two or more adjectives of equal importance, joined by a conjunction
(usually "and" or "or"), to modify a single noun or
pronoun. Each adjective in the phrase describes the noun or pronoun separately,
and they could stand alone as separate adjectives.
Coordinate adjective phrases:
A coordinate adjective phrase is a phrase that
contains two or more adjectives of equal importance, joined by a conjunction
(usually "and" or "or"), to modify a single noun or
pronoun. Each adjective in the phrase describes the noun or pronoun separately,
and they could stand alone as separate adjectives
- Contain two or more adjectives of equal
importance
- Are joined by a conjunction (usually
"and" or "or")
- Modify a single noun or pronoun
- Describe the noun or pronoun separately, with
each adjective providing distinct information
Examples of coordinate adjective phrases:
- "The big and red car" (Here,
"big" and "red" are coordinate adjectives, describing the
car's size and color.)
- "The happy, tired, and relieved
traveler" (Here, "happy", "tired", and "relieved"
are coordinate adjectives, describing the traveler's emotions.)
- "The sweet or sour taste" (Here,
"sweet" and "sour" are coordinate adjectives, describing
alternative tastes.)
Coordinate adjective phrases help create more
detailed and nuanced descriptions, allowing multiple adjectives to work
together to paint a richer picture of the noun or pronoun they modify.
Note: Coordinate adjective phrases can be
distinguished from other types of adjective phrases by the presence of multiple
adjectives of equal importance, joined by a conjunction.
These phrases contain two or more adjectives
joined by "and" or another conjunction.
Example: "The big, red car" (Here,
"big" and "red" are coordinate adjectives.)
1. Subordinate
adjective phrases:
A subordinate adjective phrase is a phrase that
begins with a subordinating conjunction (such as "because",
"although", "if", or "unless") and modifies a
noun or pronoun by providing additional information about its characteristics,
qualities, or attributes. The phrase is subordinate because it cannot stand
alone as a complete sentence.
Subordinate adjective phrases:
- Begin with a subordinating conjunction (e.g.,
"because", "although", "if", "unless")
- Modify a noun or pronoun
- Provide additional information about the noun
or pronoun's characteristics, qualities, or attributes
- Are dependent on the main clause and cannot
stand alone as a complete sentence
Examples of subordinate adjective phrases:
- "The cake, because it was homemade,
tasted better." (Here, "because it was homemade" is a
subordinate adjective phrase modifying "cake".)
- "The student, although struggling,
passed the exam." (Here, "although struggling" is a subordinate
adjective phrase modifying "student".)
- "The book, if well-written, will be a
bestseller." (Here, "if well-written" is a subordinate adjective
phrase modifying "book".)
Subordinate adjective phrases help create more
complex and nuanced descriptions, providing additional information about the
noun or pronoun they modify while also showing relationships between ideas.
Note: Subordinate adjective phrases can be
distinguished from other types of adjective phrases by the presence of a
subordinating conjunction and their dependence on the main clause.
These phrases begin with subordinating
conjunctions like "because", "although", or "if".
Example: "The cake, because it was
homemade, tasted better."
1. Adjective phrases with verbals:
An adjective phrase with verbals is a phrase
that uses a verbal (a verb form ending in -ing or -ed) as an adjective to
modify a noun or pronoun. The verbal adjective phrase describes the
characteristics, qualities, or attributes of the noun or pronoun it modifies.
Adjective phrases with verbals:
- Use a verbal (a verb form ending in -ing or -ed)
as an adjective
- Modify a noun or pronoun
- Describe the characteristics, qualities, or
attributes of the noun or pronoun
- Often answer questions like "What
kind?", "How?", or "In what state?"
Examples of adjective phrases with verbals:
- "The singing bird" (Here,
"singing" is a verbal adjective modifying "bird".)
- "The broken toy" (Here,
"broken" is a verbal adjective modifying "toy".)
- "The running water" (Here,
"running" is a verbal adjective modifying "water".)
- "The exhausted athlete" (Here,
"exhausted" is a verbal adjective modifying "athlete".)
Adjective phrases with verbals help create more
dynamic and descriptive language, allowing for nuanced and detailed
descriptions of nouns and pronouns.
Note: Verbal adjectives can be either present
participles (ending in -ing) or past participles (ending in -ed), and they can
be used to describe various aspects of the noun or pronoun, such as its state,
condition, or action. These phrases use verbals (verbs ending in -ing or -ed)
as adjectives.
Example: "The singing bird" (Here,
"singing" is a verbal adjective.)