An adjective is a “word that describes a noun.” An adjective phrase consists of an adjective plus any modifiers and complements.
As I have written many times before, the line between grammatical forms is blurry at best, especially among lexical categories like adjectives and verbs. Adjectives are “words that describe nouns.” Verbs are “words that denote actions, occurrences, and states.” Participles are nonfinite verbs that share characteristics and functions of verbs, adjectives, and nouns. A present […] More
Notional grammars define adjectives as “words that describe nouns.” Big, cute, green, small, and wonky are prototypical adjectives. In big bully, The baby is cute, and I painted the wall green, each adjective describes a noun. Big describes the noun bully, cute describes the noun baby, and green describes the noun wall. However, stating that […] More
Traditional grammars categorize determiners with either adjectives or pronouns. But determiners are not adjectives. Repeat after me: Determiners are not adjectives. Notional grammars define adjectives as “words that modify nouns.” Adjectives describe attributes of nouns, pronouns, and noun phrases, functioning as noun phrase modifiers, subject complements, and object complements. Determiners provide non-attributive information such as […] More
The basic definition of an adjective clause is a dependent or subordinate clause that consists of a subordinating conjunction, specifically a relative pronoun, followed by a clause and that performs an adjectival function. Some grammars use the term relative clause for adjectives clauses. Grammatical Forms Grammatical Forms of English Adjective Clauses explains the internal structure […] More
Similar to the adjective and adjective phrase in grammatical function, an adjective clause is a dependent or subordinate clause that consists of a subordinating conjunction, specifically a relative pronoun, followed by a clause and that performs an adjectival function. Some grammars use the term relative clause for adjectives clauses. Relative Pronouns Conjunctions are “words that […] More
As a type of dependent or subordinate clause, adjective clauses consist of a relative pronoun followed by a clause that consists of a subject and a predicate. Also known as relative clauses, adjective clauses perform adjectival functions. In grammar, a noun clause modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that modifies or describes a noun […] More
Adjective clauses, which are a type of dependent or subordinate clause, consist of a relative pronoun followed by a clause that consists of a subject and a predicate. Also known as relative clauses, adjective clauses perform adjectival functions. In grammar, a prepositional phrase modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that modifies or describes a […] More
Adjective clauses, which are a type of dependent or subordinate clause, consist of a relative pronoun followed by a clause that consists of a subject and a predicate. Also known as relative clauses, adjective clauses perform adjectival functions. In grammar, a verb phrase modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that modifies or describes a […] More
An adjective phrase complement is a word, phrase, or clause that completes the meaning of an adjective phrase. The three grammatical forms that function as adjective phrase complements are prepositional phrases, verb phrases in the form of infinitives, and that noun clauses. The following dictionary lists the most common adjectives followed by adjective phrase complements […] More
As a type of dependent or subordinate clause, adjective clauses consist of a relative pronoun followed by a clause that consists of a subject and a predicate. Also known as relative clauses, adjective clauses perform adjectival functions. In grammar, a noun phrase modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that modifies or describes a noun, […] More
Adjective clauses are dependent clauses that consists of a relative pronoun followed by a clause and that perform adjectival functions. Adjective clauses perform four grammatical functions within sentences in the English language. The four functions of adjective clauses are: Noun phrase modifier Verb phrase modifier Prepositional phrase modifier Noun clause modifier Some grammars use the […] More
Adjective phrase heads are words that function as the heads of adjective phrases. An adjective phrase consists of an adjective plus any modifiers and complements. Only one grammatical form can perform the function of adjective phrase head in the English language. The one grammatical form that can function as the adjective phrase head is: Adjectives […] More