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The adjectives are words whose grammar function is to modify the noun, and in fact it can be understood as the specification of some characteristic of a subject (a person or an entity, which acts as the protagonist of the sentence) in order to make some characteristic explicit that is not given by the mere mention of the individual.
In both English and Spanish,adjectives constitute a very long list with which sentences can be formed trying to cover the totality of what a person may want to say, and especially the totality of specific characteristics that one may want to give to anything. The adjective, for the noun, fulfills the same function as the adverb for the verb.
In English, there is a theory quite elaborate on the adjectives so that their use is correct. While the strategy of translating other languages word for word may sound good, in fact it often leads to problems. In general, it can be said that There are eight classes of adjectives: qualifying, demonstrative, distributive, quantity, interrogative, possessive, proper, and numerals. Except in the case of demonstrative adjectives and those of quantity, in all the rest the adjectives do not distinguish the plural and the singular, so a fundamental agreement cannot be required for the correct syntactic structure of the sentence, as it happens in the Spanish.
Other characteristic of adjectives in English is that they can be used together, without the need to add a connector that refers to more than one being spoken. However, English speakers do not choose the order of adjectives preceding (or succeeding) the noun to their liking. In contrast, there is an order that considers that first adjectives of opinion, size (or length), age (or temperature), shape, color, origin, material, use, and name should be placed before finally refer to the noun. Logically, not all of them appear, but this rule works to determine the predominance of one adjective over another.
In most cases, the adjective precedes the noun. Unlike Spanish, when the modification of the noun is part of the subject, it will always be prior to it. The adjective may appear after the noun only in cases where the entire sentence has the function of expressing the modification, and then the adjective is not a direct modifier but a predicative. If they are separated by a verb (it is, it seems, it is seen, it appears, it feels) the adjective usually follows the noun.
Finally, reference can be made to the particular uses of adjectives, such as those of comparison (by means of comparatives, with the ending 'er' if they are short or with the expression 'more -adjective- than' if they are long) or referring to extreme degrees (by means of superlatives, with the ending 'est' if they are short or with the expression 'the most –adjective-' if they are long). Verbs can be transformed to some extent into adjectives by means of participles, which belong (as in Spanish) to the category of verboids.
See also:Comparative and Superlative Adjectives in English
Examples of sentences with adjectives in English
- Donald, our boss, is richer than your father. (Donald, our boss, is richer than your father)
- My aunt, Laura, is a great woman. (My aunt Laura is a great woman)
- It is something very unusual. (It is something very unusual)
- Paris is famous for its traditional culture. (Paris is famous for its traditional culture)
- My father is the most generous. (My father is the most generous)
- We don't want to spend all our money. (We don't want to spend all of our money)
- He is very impolite, probably he won’t get the job. (He's very rude, he probably won't get the job)
- She gave me a plastic spoon. (She gave me a plastic spoon)
- Our neighbors are going to repair their garage. There’ll be some noise. (Our neighbors are going to repair the garage)
- She is a unique person, and everybody knows that. (She is a unique person, and everyone knows it)
- His wife is very jealous, you won’t imagine what she did that day. (His wife is very jealous, you won't believe what she did that day)
- This is the most expensive restaurant I've ever heard of. (This is the most expensive restaurant I ever heard of)
- The meeting was interesting. (The meeting was interesting)
- The government announced its goals for this year. (The government announced its objectives for this year)
- His house is large, but I really don't like that kind of houses. (His house is big, but I really don't like that kind of house)
- He has a practical mind. (He has a very practical mind)
- The test was worse than I’d expected. (The exam was worse than I expected)
- Do you like your job? Don’t answer if you are not sure. (Do you like your job? Do not answer if you are not sure)
- Some people decided to leave. (Some people decided to leave)
- My sister is very intelligent, this year she are concluding the university. (My sister is very intelligent, this year she will be finishing her university studies)
- He is a careful student. (He is a careful student)
- That was the worst day of my life. (That was the worst day of my life)
- She is a better student than her brothers. (She is a better student than her brothers)
- The cinema was full when the film started. (The theater was full when the movie started)
- What you wrote her is terrible. (What you wrote is terrible)
- Jane is single, what about getting out with her? (Jane is single, how about you go out with her?)
- Your homework is easier than mine. (Your task is easier than mine)
- The new car broke down before I get out from the car shop. (The new car broke down before leaving the dealership)
- I have a green hat. (I have a green hat)
- Grandparents usually love their grandchildren. (Grandparents generally love their grandchildren)
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