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Communication in English > Adjectives > Flashcards

Adjectives Flashcards

1
Q

What is an adjective?

A

A word that modifies a noun or a pronoun.

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2
Q

What questions do adjectives typically answer?

A

They answer:
* What kind?
* Which one?
* Whose is it?
* How many/How much?

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3
Q

Where do adjectives usually appear in a sentence?

A

Before nouns or pronouns, but can follow linking verbs.

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4
Q

What is a definite article?

A

The article ‘the’ used to indicate that the identity of the noun is known.

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5
Q

What are the indefinite articles?

A

A and an.

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6
Q

What do possessive adjectives indicate?

A

Ownership or possession.

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7
Q

List the possessive adjectives.

A
  • My
  • Your
  • His
  • Her
  • Its
  • Our
  • Their
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8
Q

What are demonstrative adjectives?

A

Adjectives used to indicate specific people, animals, or things.

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9
Q

What are the demonstrative adjectives?

A
  • This
  • That
  • These
  • Those
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10
Q

What do numbers indicate when used as adjectives?

A

They answer the question ‘How many?’.

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11
Q

What are proper adjectives derived from?

A

Proper nouns.

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12
Q

What are the three interrogative adjectives?

A
  • Which
  • What
  • Whose
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13
Q

What are indefinite adjectives used for?

A

To discuss non-specific things.

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14
Q

List some common indefinite adjectives.

A
  • Any
  • Many
  • No
  • Several
  • Few
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15
Q

What do attributive adjectives discuss?

A

Specific traits, qualities, or features.

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16
Q

What types of adjectives are considered attributive?

A
  • Observation adjectives
  • Size and shape adjectives
  • Age adjectives
  • Color adjectives
  • Origin adjectives
  • Material adjectives
  • Qualifier adjectives
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17
Q

What are compound adjectives?

A

Adjectives made up of multiple individual words, often connected by hyphens.

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18
Q

What is the Positive form of an adjective?

A

The root form of the describing word.

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19
Q

What is the Comparative form of an adjective?

A

Used to compare two things.

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20
Q

What is the Superlative form of an adjective?

A

Used to compare three or more things.

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21
Q

How do comparative forms of adjectives typically change?

A

Often add -er to the positive form.

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22
Q

How do superlative forms of adjectives typically change?

A

Often add -est to the positive form.

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23
Q

True or False: Certain adjectives do not conform to the general rules of comparison.

A

True. 1. Irregular Adjectives
Some adjectives have unique comparative and superlative forms that do not follow the standard rules of adding -er or using more:

Good → Better (comparative)
Bad → Worse
Far → Farther/Further
2. Absolute or Non-gradable Adjectives
Some adjectives describe absolute states or qualities and do not naturally form comparative or superlative degrees:

Examples: Perfect, Unique, Dead, Infinite.
While phrases like “more perfect” are occasionally used for emphasis, technically these adjectives do not have comparative forms because the quality they describe cannot be measured in degrees.
3. Adjectives with Fixed Comparative Forms
Some adjectives have specific comparative or superlative forms that are traditionally fixed:

Little → Less (comparative), Least (superlative)
Much/Many → More, Most
4. Adjectives Already in Comparative Form
Adjectives that end in -ior are inherently comparative:

Examples: Junior, Senior, Inferior, Superior.
They do not take “more” or “-er” for comparison.
Thus, while most adjectives follow general comparison rules, there are notable exceptions due to irregularity, absolute nature, or traditional usage.

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24
Q

What is the order of adjectives when multiple adjectives appear before a noun?

A

OSASCOMP:
* Opinion
* Size
* Age
* Shape
* Color
* Origin
* Material
* Purpose

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25
Q

What is an adjective?

A

A: An adjective is a word that modifies a noun or pronoun, providing more information about it.

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25
Q

What questions do adjectives answer?

A

A: “What kind?”, “Which one?”, “Whose is it?”, and “How many/How much?”

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26
Q

What is the primary purpose of adjectives?

A

A: To describe and provide more information about a noun or pronoun.

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27
Q

Where are adjectives usually placed in a sentence?

A

A: Before the noun or pronoun they modify.

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28
Q

Can adjectives appear after the noun?

A

A: Yes, especially with linking verbs where they act as subject complements.

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29
Q

What are definite and indefinite articles?

A

A: Articles like “a,” “an,” and “the” function as adjectives.

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30
Q

What is the role of possessive adjectives?

A

A: They indicate possession, such as “my,” “your,” “his,” and “her.”

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31
Q

What are demonstrative adjectives?

A

A: Words like “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” used to point out specific things.

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32
Q

Which question do demonstrative adjectives answer?

A

A: “Which one(s)?”

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33
Q

What are numerical adjectives?

A

A: Numbers that describe quantity, such as “six” or “twenty-three.”

34
Q

Define proper adjectives.

A

A: Adjectives derived from proper nouns, like “Mexican” or “French.”

35
Q

What are interrogative adjectives?

A

A: Words like “which,” “what,” and “whose,” used in questions.

36
Q

What are indefinite adjectives?

A

A: Adjectives like “many,” “few,” and “several” used to describe non-specific quantities.

37
Q

What are attributive adjectives?

A

A: Adjectives that describe traits, qualities, or features, such as “small” or “beautiful.”

38
Q

Name types of attributive adjectives.

A

A: Observation, size, shape, age, color, origin, material, and qualifier.

39
Q

What are compound adjectives?

A

A: Adjectives formed by two or more words, often hyphenated (e.g., “well-known”).

40
Q

What are the three degrees of comparison in adjectives?

A

A: Positive, comparative, and superlative.

41
Q

Give an example of a regular comparison.

A

A: Big, bigger, biggest.

42
Q

How do adjectives like “beautiful” form comparisons?

A

A: By using “more” and “most” (e.g., “more beautiful,” “most beautiful”).

43
Q

What are irregular adjective comparisons

A

?
A: Examples: good/better/best, bad/worse/worst.

44
Q

What is the correct order of adjectives?

A

A: Opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose (OSASCOMP).

45
Q

Why must the OSASCOMP order be followed?

A

A: To avoid ambiguity or rendering sentences meaningless.

46
Q

What is an attributive adjective?

A

A: An adjective that comes before the noun it modifies.

47
Q

What is a predicative adjective?

A

A: An adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject.

48
Q

Give an example of a linking verb with an adjective.

A

A: “The house is old.”

49
Q

What are observation adjectives?

A

A: Adjectives that express opinions, like “lovely” or “ugly.”

50
Q

What do size adjectives describe?

A

A: Measurable qualities, like “big” or “small.”

51
Q

What do shape adjectives describe?

A

A: The form of an object, like “round” or “square.”

52
Q

What do age adjectives describe?

A

A: The age of an object, such as “old” or “new.”

53
Q

What do color adjectives describe?

A

A: The color of an object, like “blue” or “yellow.”

54
Q

What do origin adjectives describe?

A

A: The source of a noun, like “Canadian” or “Mexican.”

55
Q

What do material adjectives describe?

A

A: What something is made of, like “gold” or “wooden.”

56
Q

What do qualifier adjectives do?

A

A: They make nouns more specific, like “log cabin” or “luxury car.”

57
Q

What is the purpose of interrogative adjectives?

A

A: To modify nouns in questions, such as “Which book?”

58
Q

Provide an example of an indefinite adjective.

A

A: “We looked at several options.”

59
Q

What is a demonstrative adjective in plural form?

A

A: “These” or “those.”

60
Q

What are articles, and how do they function as adjectives?

A

A: “A,” “an,” and “the” describe nouns by specificity.

61
Q

What does the superlative form express?

A

:
A: The highest degree among three or more entities.

62
Q

What type of adjective is “American”?

A

A: Proper adjective.

63
Q

Provide an example of a possessive adjective.

A

A: “Her book is on the table.”

64
Q

Why are compound adjectives hyphenated?

A

A: To ensure clarity, such as “well-written.”

65
Q

What is an example of a positive degree adjective?

A

A: “Tall.”

66
Q

Provide a sentence with an attributive adjective.

A

A: “The red car is fast.”

67
Q

Provide a sentence with a predicative adjective.

A

A: “The food tastes delicious.”

68
Q

What does “several” function as in grammar?

A

A: An indefinite adjective.

69
Q

How does “more” function in comparative adjectives?

A

A: It modifies adjectives like “beautiful.”

70
Q

What are auxiliary adjectives?

A

A: Words that modify auxiliary verbs in conjunction with nouns.

71
Q

What is a material adjective example?

A

A: “The wool sweater is warm.”

72
Q

Give an example of an OSASCOMP sequence.

A

A: “A lovely small old round blue French wooden chair.”

73
Q

What adjective type answers “Whose?”

A

A: Possessive adjectives.

74
Q

What is the base form of an adjective called?

A

A: Positive degree.

75
Q

How do adjectives enhance writing?

A

A: By adding detail and specificity.

76
Q

Can numbers function as adjectives?

A

A: Yes, when they indicate quantity.

77
Q

Which adjectives modify uncountable nouns?

A

A: Quantifiers like “much” or “little.”

78
Q

What do comparative forms often add to adjectives?

A

A: “-er” or “more.”

79
Q

Which adjectives use “most” for superlative forms?

A

A: Multi-syllable adjectives, like “interesting.”

80
Q

How are adjectives crucial for effective communication?

A

A: They provide clarity and detail.

81
Q

What is a common linking verb?

A

A: “Is.”

82
Q

Why is adjective order essential?

A

A: It avoids confusion and maintains meaning.

83
Q

Provide an example of a color adjective.

A

A: “The green grass is soft.”

Communication in English (14 decks)

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