English Adjectives and Adjective Phrases
The Three Main Functions of Adjectives in the English Language
Mar 24, 2009
Adjectives and adjective phrases perform three main grammatical functions within sentences in the English language. Both native speakers and ESL students must learn and understand the three functions to use adjectives and adjective phrases correctly in both spoken and written English. The three functions of adjectives and adjective phrases are:
- Noun phrase modifier
- Predicate adjective
- Object complement
Adjectives are traditionally defined as "words that describe nouns." Adjective phrases are defined as phrases that consist of an adjective plus any modifiers or complements such as adverbs and prepositional phrases. For example, the phrases blue, very sad, and afraid of the dark are all adjective phrases.
Adjectives as Noun Phrase Modifiers
The first grammatical function that adjectives and adjective phrases can perform is the noun phrase modifier. Noun phrase modifiers are defined as words and phrases that describe a noun or noun phrase. For example, the following italicized adjectives and adjective phrases function as noun phrase modifiers:
- My mother planted purple flowers in her garden.
- The very tiny puppy barked at the cat.
- The restaurant served plain, tasteless soup.
- George Washington appointed Edmund Randolph Attorney General.
- Barack Obama was the president elect.
Adjectives as Predicate Adjectives
The second grammatical function that adjectives and adjective phrases can perform is the predicate adjective. Predicate adjectives are defined as adjectives and adjective phrases that follow a copular or linking verb such as be and become and modifies or describes the subject. For example, the following italicized adjectives and adjective phrases function as predicate adjectives:
- Under the bed is filthy.
- The cake tastes sickeningly sweet.
- My cat is black and brown.
- Your perfume smells especially musky but very nice.
- I am fond of English grammar.
Adjectives as Object Complements
The third grammatical function that adjectives and adjective phrases can perform is the object complement. Object complements are defined as nouns, pronouns, noun phrases, adjectives, and adjective phrases that directly follow and modify the direct object. For example, the following italicized adjectives and adjective phrases function as object complements:
- The farmer painted the barn red.
- The little girl wanted her room bright pink.
- Catholics consider saints holy.
- The jury judged the defendant guilty.
- My puppy makes me happy.
Although not accepted in standard English, adjectives and adjective phrases also function as verb phrase modifiers and adverbials. For example, the adjective phrase too loud in the sentence He plays his music too loud functions as an adverbial. However, standard prescriptive grammar rules dictate that only the adverb phrase too loudly should function as the adverbial in this instance. Another example is the adjective careful functioning as a verb phrase modifier in the sentence Drive careful. Again, prescriptive rules state that the adverb carefully should function as the verb phrase modifier. However, the use of adjectives and adjective phrases as verb phrase modifiers and adverbials is accepted in many forms of spoken English.
The three functions of adjectives and adjective phrases in the English language are noun phrase modifier, predicate adjective, and object complement. Both native speakers and ESL students must learn and understand the three functions to properly and fully use adjectives and adjective phrases in both spoken and written English.
Sources
Hopper, Paul J. A Short Course in Grammar. W.W. Norton & Company: New York, 1999.
Huddleston, Rodney. Introduction to the Grammar of English. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1984.
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