WHAT ARE ADJECTIVES FOR? - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The adjectives are functional units of speech that serve to qualify a noun establishing a predicative relationship. This relationship is characterized by two functions: one of applying its content to the content of the noun and another of direct definition of the noun.

Adjectives can have two types of meanings in the sentence. One is to describe something denoting the state of things. The other, less descriptive but more instrumental, is to relate denoted semantic objects with certain considerations such as the intensification of the subject's meaning.

Adjectives examples

Some adjectives serve as abstract predicates and others as concrete predicates. In general, those that serve as concrete predicates are descriptive and can be intensified while the abstract ones are instrumental and usually not intensified.

Adjectives can have different classifications depending on the type of relationship they establish. This classification can vary between different languages. Similarly, within Spanish, the functions and classifications of adjectives are not fully defined and are subjects of constant discussion among linguists.

The adjective and the noun

Some linguists have even proposed that the adjective and the noun should fall within the same class of word called "name". However, a separate classification has been maintained due to the relationship between adjectives and nouns.

The main criterion that has maintained the separation of adjective and noun is a functional criterion.

This criterion establishes that the adjective is a word of secondary rank that cannot be an updater of the noun and that it fulfills an attribution function. This type of function cannot be fulfilled by a noun.

Other reasons to maintain a separate classification are the particularities of the adjective that allow it to have degrees of comparison, while the noun in principle does not allow it.

Classification of adjectives

The classification of adjectives is very extensive and can be based on different attributes of this element of the sentence. Some types of adjectives and their characteristics are presented below.

Attributive adjectives

This classification exists in different languages ​​and may have variations in its description.

In Spanish, attributive adjectives directly assign an attribute to the noun. They can be linked to the name by a copulative verb (to be or to be). Examples of them are "The tree is big" and "The old house"

Predicative adjectives

They act as a predicative complement. In general, its use assumes the presence of a non-copulative verb between the adjective and the noun. Example: "The sky will be dark"

Relational adjectives

They are associated with a name. Examples are: presidential is associated with president or dental that is associated with teeth.

Reference adjectives or modifiers

They refer to temporary states of the name (As previous, current), or to an epistemological situation (as potential) or they serve to intensify (as simple, mere).

Color adjectives

They attribute the characteristic of color to a name. Examples: Yellow, Red.

Descriptive adjectives

They give a value of an attribute to a name. For example short, as a height attribute or heavy as a weight attribute.

Occurrence adjectives

These adjectives arise from nouns related to calendar units. Some examples are: Annual and daily.

References

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5. Martínez del Castillo JG The Gradability of the Adjective. Atlantis. 1991; 13 (1): 21–35.
6. Rind M. Tillinghast L. What Is an Attributive Adjective? Philosophy. 2008; 83: 77–88.
7. Sussex R. The Deep Structure of Adjectives in Noun Phrases. Journal of Linguistics. 1974; 10 (1): 111–131.