Kinds of Adjectives
From A New English Grammar for Schools, by Thomas Harvey:
Review:
Samuel’s hat is torn.
What kind of element is the noun “Samuel’s”? Why?
Mr. Smith, the mason, is sick.
What kind of element is the noun “mason”? It is called an appositive, because it is set off by commas and renames or describes a noun that comes in front of it.
1. Assumed adjective elements
An adjective element is a word or a group of words that modifies a noun or any expression used as a noun. It may be an adjective, a noun, or a pronoun, but its relation to the noun it modifies is always assumed, never affirmed:
good man
Mr. Meyers, the barber,
my friend Hiram
ripe apples
John’s apples
Mr. Meyers, the barber,
my friend Hiram
2. Affirmed adjective elements
An adjective whose relation to the noun is affirmed is the predicate, not an adjective element.
Mr. Meyers is a barber.
Hiram is my friend.
3. When diagramming, an adjective element is placed below the term which it modifies,
and in the angle formed by a vertical and a horizontal line. Several elements of the same kind may sometimes be placed in the same angle.
Exercises:
ripe apples
John’s apples
“Ripe” is an adjective element (why?); it is an adjective (why?); “John’s” is an adjective element (why?); but it is a noun (why?).
1. Express orally or in writing five sentences in which the subjects are limited by adjective elements denoting quality.
Ex. — “Cross dogs bite.”
“Cold days will come.”
2. Express orally or in writing five sentences in which the subjects are limited by adjective elements denoting number.
Ex. — “Two boys fought.”
“Three men left.”
3. Express orally or in writing five sentences in which the subjects are limited by words that merely point them out.
Ex. —“That boy is studious.”
“This boy is lazy.”
4. Express orally or in writing five sentences in which the subjects are limited by nouns.
Ex. — “Jeff’s uncle is rich.”
“Mr. Todd, the lawyer, is young.”
5. Express orally or in writing five sentences in which the subjects and objects are both limited by adjective elements.
Ex. — “Emma’s mother bought a new bonnet.”
6. Diagram some of the sentences you wrote.
