1. Chapter 12 Adjectives McGraw-Hill/Irwin Business English at Work, 3/e © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. Objectives Identify the function of an adjective in a sentence Identify limiting, descriptive, possessive, proper, and demonstrative adjectives in sentences. Use the articles a, an, and the correctly. Hyphenate compound adjectives when appropriate. PP 12-1a

3. Objectives Use the positive, comparative, and superlative degrees of adjectives correctly. Identify nouns modified by adjectives, adjective phrases, and adjective clauses. Determine the correct usage of commonly misused adjectives. PP 12-1b

4. Adjectives An adjective is a word that modifies (describes) a noun or a pronoun. Several adjectives often appear in one sentence. More than one adjective may describe the same noun or pronoun. PP 12-2a

5. Adjectives l An adjective answers these questions: What kind? green, old, round, strong Which one? this, that, these, those How many? two, few, 300, two-thirds, all, some Whose? hers, Maria’s, companies’ PP 12-2b

6. Limiting Adjectives Indicate how many. May be numbers or words. We must wait six weeks for the new chairs. Lisa charges a $200 consulting fee. PP 12-3

7. Descriptive Adjectives Before Nouns Answer the question What kind? Usually precede nouns. Are placed as closely as possible to the noun or pronoun that they modify. We request sealed bids for the workstation estimates. Back disorders may result from poor posture. PP 12-4

8. Descriptive Adjectives After Linking Verbs Modify nouns or pronouns used as subjects. Act as complements (predicate adjectives). Usually follow linking verbs. Proper office lighting is important. The noise in this office seems excessive. PP 12-5

9. Possessive Adjectives Possessive pronouns such as my, her, his, your, its, our function as adjectives. Possessive nouns such as Jon’s or the company’s function as possessive adjectives also. You should use a keyboard that meets your needs. Richard’s degree is in marketing. Modify a noun or a pronoun. Answer the question Whose? PP 12-6

10. Proper Adjectives Proper adjectives are proper nouns or words derived from proper nouns that function as adjectives. They answer the question Which? We selected the Italian desk lamps. Capitalize most proper adjectives as you would proper nouns. Shelly recommends a light blue venetian blind. Do not capitalize proper adjectives when they lose their connections with the proper nouns from which they were derived. PP 12-7

11. Demonstrative Adjectives The four demonstrative adjectives that modify nouns are this, that, these, those. These adjectives answer the question Which one? or Which ones? Use this or that with singular nouns. Use these or those with plural nouns. PP 12-8a

12. Demonstrative Adjectives continued Examples— We recommend this computer monitor for employees with vision problems. We will have difficulty complying with that safety regulation. Many of these injuries are unnecessary. Do those keyboards reduce wrist discomfort? PP 12-8b

13. Guidelines for Using A or An The initial sound (not the first letter) of the word that follows an article determines whether you will use a or an. Use a before words beginning with a consonant sound. a chaira deska telephone Use a before words beginning with the long sound of u. a universitya uniona uniform PP 12-9a

14. Guidelines for Using A or An Use an before words beginning with the vowel sounds a, e, i, o, and the short sound of u. an assetan outcome an unfortunate accidentan estimate Use an before words beginning with silent h. an honest sales staffan hour ago an honor continued PP 12-9b

15. The Article The Use with singular or plural nouns. Place before any other adjective when two or more adjectives precede a noun. Take short rest breaks throughout the day. The indoor air quality of the building is excellent. The most well-known category of CTD is carpal tunnel syndrome. PP 12-10

16. Repetition of Articles Repeat an article before each noun when two persons, places, or things are involved. The manager and the supervisor approved the new office design. Do not repeat an article when only one person, place, or thing is intended. The manager recommended that the reception area and waiting room be redesigned. PP 12-11

17. Compound Adjectives—Hyphenated Before and After Nouns Some compound adjective combinations use hyphens when appearing before or after nouns or in other locations in a sentence. This work-related injury could have been prevented. This office was described to me as fast- paced. PP 12-12

18. Compound Adjectives—Hyphenated Only Before Nouns Some compound adjective combinations use a hyphen when appearing before a noun. This well-known furniture company is the one that we selected. When these combinations appear in other locations in a sentence, they do not require hyphens. We selected this furniture company because it is well known. PP 12-13

19. Common Compound Adjectives Do not use a hyphen when an adjective plus a noun combination is widely recognized as a concept or institution. Our real estate agent recommended moving to a new location. Most of our positions require more than a high school education. To avoid wrist injury, learn the keystroke combinations for your word processing program. PP 12-14

20. Nouns with Numbers Use a hyphen to connect a number (words or figures) and a noun to form a compound adjective before a noun. a 4-foot workstationa 15-pound object Do not use a hyphen when the expression consisting of a number and noun follows the noun. a workstation that is 4 feet an object that is 15 pounds PP 12-15

21. Numerical Compound Adjectives Use hyphens in the numbers between 21 and 99 when the numbers are written as words. Eighty-two out of one hundred adults will suffer back problems at some point in their lives. Our note to the bank is for Thirty-five Thousand Five Hundred Thirty-three Dollars ($35,533). PP 12-16

22. Series of Compound Adjectives Use a hyphen in a series of compound adjectives even though the base noun does not follow each adjective. Are you able to lift 15-, 20-, or 30-pound objects? We had an opportunity to choose 4-, 6-, or 8- foot workstations. PP 12-17

23. “Self” Words Use a hyphen when self is connected to another word to form a compound adjective. self-confidence self-reliant self-fulfilling self-worth PP 12-18

24. Positive Degree Use the positive degree as the base form of the adjective to describe one person, place, thing, quality, idea, activity, or one group of things. bright colortall building quiet printerhigh bid This turquoise fabric is a bright color. Franklin Office Furniture submitted a high bid on the computer chairs. PP 12-19

25. Comparative Degree Use the comparative degree to compare two people, places, ideas, qualities, activities, or things. brighter colortaller building quieter printerhigher bid This turquoise fabric is a brighter color than the gray fabric. Franklin Office Furniture submitted a higher bid on the computer chairs than Rincon Furniture. PP 12-20

26. Superlative Degree Use the superlative degree to compare more than two persons, places, ideas, qualities, activities, or things. brightest colortallest building quietest printerhighest bid This turquoise fabric is the brightest color of all of the fabric samples. Franklin Office Furniture submitted the highest bid of all the vendors. PP 12-21

27. Guidelines for One-Syllable Adjectives l Add er to the positive form for its comparative degree. cool+ er=cooler tall+er =taller old+er=older safe+er=safer high+er=higher clean+er=cleaner PP 12-22a

28. Guidelines for One-Syllable Adjectives continued l Add est to the positive form for its superlative degree. cool+ est=coolest tall+est=tallest old+est=oldest safe+est=safest high+est=highest clean+est=cleanest PP 12-22b

29. Guidelines for Two-Syllable Adjectives PositiveComparativeSuperlative narrow narrower or more narrow narrowest or most narrow quiet quieter or more quietquietest or most quiet simple simpler simplest Add er or add more or less to the positive form for its comparative degree. Add est or add most or least to the positive form for its superlative degree. PP 12-23

30. Guidelines for Three-Syllable Adjectives Add the word more or less before the positive form for its comparative degree. Add the word most or least before the positive form for its superlative degree. PP 12-24a

31. Guidelines for Three-Syllable Adjectives PositiveComparativeSuperlative attractive more attractivemost attractive essential more essentialmost essential efficient less efficientleast efficient complicated less complicatedleast complicated continued PP 12-24b

32. Words Ending in y l Change the y to i and add er or est to form the comparative and superlative degrees. PositiveComparativeSuperlative friendly friendlierfriendliest busy busierbusiest heavy heavierheaviest happy happierhappiest PP 12-25

33. Special Forms Some irregular adjectives change in their comparative and superlative forms. PositiveComparativeSuperlative good betterbest bad worseworst little less, lesserlittlest, least many moremost much moremost PP 12-26

34. Absolute Adjectives Already express the highest degree. circularhorizontal straight complete ideal supreme correct instantaneous unanimous dead perfectunique empty singlevertical PP 12-27

35. Adjective Clauses Use who, whose, which, and that to connect to the noun or pronoun that is modified. Place an adjective clause immediately after the noun that is described. Use commas to set aside the clause when it does not add to the meaning of the sentence (nonrestrictive clause). Do not use commas when the clause is necessary to the meaning of the sentence (restrictive). PP 12-28a

36. Adjective Clauses Example of a nonrestrictive clause The firm’s corporate office, which is in Florida, compiled statistics on workplace injuries. Examples of restrictive clauses Workers who must repeat the same motion throughout the day are most likely to develop RSIs. Several Web sites that I discovered provide excellent information about ergonomics. continued PP 12-28b

37. Adjective Phrases Function as modifiers of nouns or pronouns and may be infinitive phrases, participial phrases, or prepositional phrases. To avoid pain in my wrists, I wear a wrist support. Having no break from working on the computer, I noticed that my eyes were dry. The wireless mouse from Computer Town was highly recommended. PP 12-29

38. Fewer/Less Use fewer with plural nouns. Fewer refers to number. Using computer function keys causes fewer hand injuries. Treehorn Books had fewer complaints after lowering the bookshelves. PP 12-30a

39. Fewer/Less Use less with singular nouns when you refer to degree or amount. Simple ergonomic changes cost less money to implement than you might imagine. Use less than before nouns that express money, percentages, time, distance, and measurements. We planned to spend less than $500 for a new chair. continued PP 12-30b

40. Farther/Further Use farther to refer to physical distance. Use further to mean additional. The printer is farther from my workstation than I like. The new office supply store is farther from our office than we expected. Poor indoor air quality causes further problems to people with asthma. Jane will provide further information about the workstation at the next meeting. PP 12-31

41. Latter/Later/Last/Latest Use latter to refer to the second of two persons, places, or things mentioned. Use later to refer to time. Use last to refer to whatever follows everything else in a series. Use latest to refer to time (as in most recent). PP 12-32a

42. Latter/Later/Last/Latest continued Examples The latter plan for the reception area is more comfortable for visitors than the others that were submitted. The latest set of statistics about work-related injuries just arrived. We ordered new computer keyboards last year. The later time for the planning meeting was not suitable for me. PP 12-32b