1. Lesson 3a Language Training
Spoken English
Lesson 3a
Language Training

2. Adjective
An Adjective is a word that is used to add something to the meaning of or describe a noun or a pronoun. It’s a qualifying word. The clever boy was rewarded - Adjective used attributively The boy is clever - Adjective used predicatively (used along with the verb)

3. Kinds of Adjectives
Adjective of Quality – shows the kind or quality of the person or thing. Also called Descriptive Adjective
Mumbai is a big city
He is an honest man
This is a Grammar of the English language
Adjective of Quantity - shows how much of a thing is meant
Give me some rice
There has not been sufficient rain this year
He has lost all his wealth
Adjective of Number shows how many persons or things are meant, or in what order a person or thing stands
There are five books on the table
He is the first boy of the class
All men must die
Neither accusation is true

4. Adjectives of Number (or Numeral Adjectives) are of three kinds:
(i) Definite Numeral Adjectives, which denote an exact number
One, two, three, etc. -- These are called Cardinals.
First, second, third, etc. -- These are called Ordinals.
[A Cardinal denotes how many, and an Ordinal the order of things in a series. It will be seen that Ordinals really do the work of Demonstrative Adjectives.]

5. (ii) Indefinite Numeral Adjectives, which do not denote an exact number
All, no, many, few, some, any, certain, several, sundry.
(iii) Distributive Numeral Adjectives, which refer to each one of a number
Each boy must take his turn.
India expects every man to do his duty.
Every word of it is false.
Either pen will do.
On either side is a narrow lane.
Neither accusation is true.

6. The same Adjective may act as one of Quantity or Number, according to its use. I ate some rice. (Quantity) Some boys are clever. (Number) He has lost all his wealth. (Quantity) All men must die. (Number) You have no sense. (Quantity) There are no pictures in this book. (Number)

7. Kinds of Adjectives…
Demonstrative Adjectives point out which person or thing is meant;
This boy is stronger than Ravi
That boy is industrious.
These mangoes are sour.
Demonstrative Adjectives answer the question: Which ?
Please note that this and that are the only Adjectives which are inflected or changed in form to show number.
This girl sings. These girls sing.
That boy plays. Those boys play.

8. Kinds of Adjectives…
What, which and whose, when they are used with nouns to ask questions, are called Interrogative Adjectives
What manner of man is he?
Which way shall we go?
Whose book is this?
Please note that what is used in a general sense, and which in a selective sense

9. Kinds of Adjectives…
The words ‘own’ and ‘very’ are often used as Emphasizing Adjectives:
I saw it with my own eyes.
He was beaten at his own game.
Mind your own business.
He is his own master.
That is the very thing we want.

10. Kinds of Adjectives…
The word ‘what’ is sometimes used as an Exclamatory Adjective
What genius!
What folly!
What an idea!
What a blessing!
What a piece of work is man!

11. Adjectives are formed from nouns, verbs and adjectives
Boy boyish
Talk talkative
White whitish

12. Exercises

13. Identify and classify the Adjectives in the following sentences
The ship sustained heavy damage. (Descriptive)
I have called several times. (Numeral – Indefinite)
Every dog has his day. (Numeral – Distributive)
A live ass is better than a dead lion (Descriptive)
Say the same thing twice over. (Demonstrative)
Several persons were present at the time. (Numeral – Indefinite and Descriptive)
He is a man of few words. (Numeral – Indefinite)
Neither party is quite in the right. (Numeral – Distributive)
What time is if? (Interrogative)
There should not be much talk and little work. (Adj of Quantity)
Abdul won the second prize (Numeral – Definite)
It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good. (Adj of Quality and Quantity)

14. Fill in the blanks with suitable adjectives
The --- woman lives in a wretched hut.
This is a very --- matter.
The battle of Waterloo ended in a --- victory.
Suddenly there arose a --- storm.
It is a --- lie.
The --- tidings were a heavy blow to the old man.
Have you any --- reason to give?
---anxiety has undermined his health.
I have no --- cash.
Every cloud has a --- lining.
He was a man of --- ambition.
He was listened to in --- silence.

15. Use each of the following adjectives in a sentence
happy sad
industrious lazy
short long
slow fast
strong weak

16. Use a suitable adjective with each of the following nouns
storm, siege, sleep, victory, advice, blow, silence, hands, water, servant, flower, city, artist, doctor, voice, husband, subject, child, king, dog.

17. Use as many suitable adjectives as you can with each of the following nouns:
fortune, man, news, storm, health, novel progress, room, incident.

18. Form the adjectives opposite in meaning to the following
Courageous coward, cowardly, timid
Many few
wild tame
Lean fat
Heavy light
Costly cheap, economical
Barren fertile
civilized uncivilized
Careful careless
Experienced inexperienced
Friendly unfriendly, hostile

19. Comparison of Adjectives
Adjectives change in form to show comparison. They are called the three Degrees of Comparison:
Positive Degree (sweet)
Comparative Degree (sweeter)
Superlative Degree (sweetest)

20. Small smaller smallest
Tall taller tallest
Bold bolder boldest
Clever cleverer cleverest
Beautiful more beautiful most beautiful
Able abler ablest
Noble nobler noblest
Important more important most important
Wise wiser wisest
Easy easier easiest
Heavy heavier heaviest
Merry merrier merriest

21. Pointers Adjectives are often used as Nouns.
As Plural Nouns denoting a class of persons
The cautious (= cautious persons) are not always cowards.
The rich (= rich people) know not how the poor (= poor people) live.
As Singular Nouns denoting some abstract quality
He is a lover of the beautiful (= beauty in general)

22. The correct use of some adjective
Some, any
To express quantity or degree some is used normally in affirmative sentences
any in negative or interrogative sentences.
I will buy some mangoes.
I will not buy any mangoes.
Have you bought any mangoes?
But any can be used after if in affirmative sentences.
If you need any money I will help you.
Some is used in questions which are really offers/requests or which expect the answer “yes”.
Will you have some ice-cream? (Offer)
Could you lend me some money? (Request)
Did you buy some clothes? (= I expect you did.)

23. The correct use of some adjective
Each, every
Each and every are similar in meaning, but every is a stronger word
than each; it means, 'each without exception'. Each is used while referring to two or more things; every is used only while referring to more than two. Each directs attention to the individuals forming any group, every to the total group. Each is used only when the number in the group is limited and definite; every when the number is indefinite.
Every seat was taken.
Five boys were seated on each bench.
Every one of these chairs is broken.
Leap year falls in every fourth year.
He came to see us every three days [i.e., once in every period of three days].
It rained every day during my holidays.
I was away ten days and it rained each day.

24. The correct use of some adjective
Little, a little, the little
Little = not much (i.e., hardly any). Thus, the adjective little has a negative meaning.
There is little hope of his recovery, i.e., he is not likely to recover.
He showed little concern for his nephew.
He has little influence over his old followers.
A little = some though not much. 'A little' has a positive meaning-
There is a little hope of his recovery, i.e., he may possibly recover.
A little tact would have saved the situation.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

25. The correct use of some adjective
The little = not much, but all there is.
The little information he had was not quite reliable.
The little knowledge of carpentry that he possessed stood him in good stead.

26. The correct use of some adjective
Few, a few, the few
Few = not many, hardly any, 'Few' has a negative meaning.
Few persons can keep a secret.
Few towns in India have public libraries.
Few men are free from faults
A few = some. 'A few' has a positive meaning, and is opposed to 'none'.
A few words spoken in earnest will convince him.
A few Praxites write correct English
The few = not many, but all there are.
The few remarks that he made were very suggestive.
The few students who attended the class definitely benefited from it.

27. Exercises