What distinguishes an adjective from other word classes in the English language? Notional grammars define adjectives as “words that describe nouns.” An adjective phrase consists of an adjective plus any optional modifiers and complements. Prototypical adjectives express three degrees of modification. Adjectives can function as adjective phrase heads, noun phrase modifiers, subject complements (predicate adjectives), and object complements in English grammar.
The following posts provide more information about the adjective in English grammar.
Grammatical Forms
Grammatical Form of English Adjectives: Positive, Comparative, and Superlative Adjectives explains the internal structures that distinguish adjectives from other grammatical forms, which includes three degrees of modification.
Grammatical Forms of English Adjective Phrases explains the internal structure of adjective phrases in English.
Predicative-Only Adjectives explains the subcategory of adjectives that function only as subject complements and object complements in the predicate of a clause in the English language.
Grammatical Functions
Grammatical Functions of English Adjectives and Adjective Phrases explains the four grammatical functions of adjectives and adjective phrases in English grammar.
Using Adjectives as Adjective Phrase Heads exemplifies adjectives performing the grammatical function of adjective phrase head.
Using Adjectives and Adjective Phrases as Noun Phrase Modifiers exemplifies adjectives and adjective phrases performing the grammatical function of noun phrase modifier.
Using Adjectives and Adjective Phrases as Subject Complements exemplifies adjectives and adjective phrases performing the grammatical function of subject complement.
Using Adjectives and Adjective Phrases as Object Complements exemplifies adjectives and adjective phrases performing the grammatical function of object complement.
For information on adjective clauses, see English Adjective Clauses.
