The adjective can initiate the phrase, conclude the phrase, or appear in a medial position. (Marjolijn Verspoor and Kim Sauter, English Sentence Analysis: An Introductory Course. The adjective phrases are bold. 1) The medicine prescribed today was expensive. Specifically, they provide further information about an object's size, shape, age, color, origin or material. The Adjective Phrase You already know that a preposition is a word that expresses the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence. The new kittens are so tiny and delicate. says the doctor. What is an adjectival phrase? It can come before or after the noun it is modifying. Its semantic role is to change information given by the noun.. Adjectives are one of the main parts of speech of the English language, although historically they were classed together with nouns. A phrase is a bunch of words without a conjugated verb in it. She liked that joke. … (observation) 9. An adjective phrase, also known as an adjectival phrase, refers to a group of words comprising of an adjective.An adjective phrase tells more information about a noun or a pronoun.. You don’t need to have perfect grammar to master how adjective phrase works. It's a wooden table. Since the main function of adjectives is to modify and describe nouns, adjective phrases also modify nouns. The sequence from the very delicate orchid is a prepositional phrase. Test your knowledge by identifying the adjective phrases in the practice questions listed below. Example: The student who was greatly-talented won the award. An adjective phraseis a group of words in a sentence that acts like an adjective. ''He's an extraordinary looking man, and yet I can really name nothing out of the way. Trask: "In the following examples, the bold italic item is adjectival: my new book (an adjective phrase consisting only of an adjective); a very long opera (an adjective phrase containing a degree modifier and an adjective); the roses in your garden (a prepositional phrase); a copper-producing region (a participial phrase); his damn-your-eyes attitude (an entire sentence … The dependents of the head adjective—i.e. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, Premodifiers, Postmodifiers, and Discontinuous Modifiers, What Is a Phrase? She thought it was. This happens in the case where a phrase such as the poor people becomes the poor.The adjective poor is nominalized, and the noun people disappears. An adjective phrase is built around an adjective, for example: He’s led a very interesting life. fond of steak, very happy, quite upset about it, etc. Also, keep this in mind: There are two main types of word chunks, clauses and phrases. In English grammar, an adjective phrase is a group of words that functions as an adjective in a sentence. adjective phrase … Broadview, 2006). The earnest, pleading tone makes me believe she's telling the truth. "An adjective phrase consists of an adjective which may be preceded and/or followed by other words. [ADJECTIVE PHRASES]'It was cold, bleak, biting weather. Copyright © 2020 LoveToKnow. As you can see from the examples, an adjective phrase can be a very helpful grammar tool to better describe the subject of the sentence and add some interest to your writing. The adjective in an adjective phrase can appear at the start, end or middle of the phrase. An adjective phrase, or an adjectival phrase, is more than a group of words with an adjective in it. The prepositional phrase consists of a noun phrase and a preposition. Clauses are groups of words which consist of a subject and a verb, while a phrase Is a group of words which contains neither. Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. a. https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/adjective_phrases.htm Adjective phrases - English Grammar Today – une référence pour l'utilisation et la grammaire de l'anglais écrit et parlé – Cambridge Dictionary It's a broken table. “Bob’s new chicken is a friendly creature.” “Bob,” “chicken,” and “creature” are nouns, and “new” and “friendly” are adjectives. In addition, you know that a prepositional phrase includes the preposition and the object of the preposition, which is the noun or pronoun that relates to another word. Example-2: • The Politician is a kind man. Also known as an adjectival phrase. The word very is an intensifying adverb and it modifies delicate to form an adjective phrase within the noun phrase within the prepositional phrase. Phrases Acting as Adjectives A variety of phrases in our language will serve the role of adjective. The basic structure of the sentence is N-LV-N Subject noun - - - - - - - - beasts Linking verb - - - - - - - - -are Predicate noun - - - - - - -sight All the rest of the words modify one of the above words. The sour, tart lemon made me pucker my lips. What is an adjective? For more ideas, spend some time reviewing examples of prepositional phrases, particularly how they can be used as adjectives. It's a lovely table. Examples of Adjective Phrase Lisa is always full of life. One can demonstrate that the sequence from the very delicate orchid is a coherent group of words by moving it as in: From the very delicate orchid the young man picked the best bloom. Now, we know adjectives are information gatherers. Since carefully is an adverb and very is an intensifying adverb modifying it, very carefully would be an adverb phrase. The head word will be an adjective, usually preceded by an adverb which is modifying it. It's a brown table. An adjective phrase is a group of words that functions as an adjective. Merry is slow and steady. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. (Bernard O'Dwyer, Modern English Structures: Form, Function, and Position. The adjective phrase can be placed before or after the noun or pronoun in the sentence. The young man picked the best bloom from the very delicate orchid. A clause is a bunch of words with a conjugated verb in it. … (origin) 6. They can also go after a linking verb like be (predicative position). The incredibly beautiful scenery was breathtaking. In English grammar, an adjective phrase is a group of words that functions as an adjective in a sentence. Here are some examples of adjectives in action: 1. The adjective in an adjective phrase can appear at the start, end or middle of the phrase. It’s actually a group of words that describe a noun or pronoun in a sentence, thus functioning as an adjective. Welcome to today’s quiz on the topic of English grammar, where we’ll be looking at clauses and phrases! We often use these phrases from time to time, without even our consent. What Is an Adjective Phrase? Adjective definition is - a word belonging to one of the major form classes in any of numerous languages and typically serving as a modifier of a noun to denote a quality of the thing named, to indicate its quantity or extent, or to specify a thing as distinct from something else. The adjective in a group of words is called ADJECTIVE PHRASE. An Adjective Phrase conducts the task of the adjective. From there, explore other kinds of descriptive words. This sentence can be worded in different manner using a different adjective phrase. 'You're ugly, too.' An adjectival phrase is defined as a phrase that performs the function of an adjective in a sentence. An adverbial phrase is built round an adverb by adding words before and/or after it, for example: The economy recovered very slowly. The adjective around which an adjective phrase is formed is known as the head word of the phrase. Examples R.L. Definition and Examples in Grammar, Definition and Examples of Postmodifiers in English Grammar, Nominal: Definition and Examples in Grammar, The Difference Between Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives, 100 Key Terms Used in the Study of Grammar, Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia, M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester, B.A., English, State University of New York, "The unicorn blinked and swished its tail and looked, "'You want a second opinion? Adjective Phrases vs. Adverb Phrases. Adjective phrases can be used to describe people, or any other nouns or pronouns, within sentences. (shape) 3. For each sentence, type each prepositional phrase, the word(s) the phrase modifies, and the KIND of phrase it is (adj for adjective and adv for adverb).Separate each piece of information with a hyphen. In linguistics, an adjective (abbreviated adj) is a word that modifies a noun or noun phrase or describes its referent. An adjective headword may be accompanied by modifiers, determiners, and/or qualifiers (all of which are called dependents ). An adjective phrase is an adjective and any additional information linked to it that work together to describe a noun or pronoun in a sentence. The adjective phrase can be placed before or after the noun or pronoun in the sentence. It was a lengthy, exhausting and eventful trip. While a single word can be categorized this way, the term is often used to refer to phrases in which two or more words work together. (material) 7. A lot of the kids are really keen on football. Adjective phrases can go before a noun (attributive position). An adjectival phrase is commonly defined as a phrase that plays the role of an adjective, where a single word that describes a noun is changed into a longer phrase. (opinion) 8. REMEMBER: An adjective phrase modifies a noun or pronoun, while an adverb phrase modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb. In these examples, the adjective phrases are shaded and the head adjective is in bold. A word group that has an adjective as its head is called an adjective phrase. An adjective phrase is a group of words headed by an adjective that modifies a noun. Let’s find out. Consider the examples in a, below. Examples of adjective phrases used to describe people include: Examples of adjective phrases used to describe nouns other than people include: Using adjective phrases in prose can be a great way to engage readers. An adjective headword may be accompanied by modifiers, determiners, and/or qualifiers (all of which are called dependents). In English. The adjectival phrase, also called an adjective phrase, is a group of words that serves to describe something.There are a number of these kinds of phrases, but any phrase that is descriptive can properly be called an adjectival phrase. These are parts of a sentence which can appear together or separately. The premodifier is always an adverb phrase, but the post-modifiers can be an adverb phrase, a prepositional phrase, or even a clause. Oxford University Press, 2008). The phrase ‘of great wealth’ means the same what the word ‘wealthy’ means. 3) Arnold is wearing a wonderfully hand-knit cardigan. All Rights Reserved, adjective phrase example showing man scratching head, I really wanted to paint the living room a. (Here, the adjective phrase modifies "Dexter.") Adjective phrases modify nouns. An adjective phrase is a phrase the head of which is an adjective, e.g. a group of words including an adjective and its complements or modifiers that functions as an adjective, as too openly critical in His latest article is too openly critical of the administration. Most noun phrases consist of a head noun plus one or more adjectives, or indeed an adjective phrase itself. An adjective phrase is a group of words that describe a noun or pronoun in a sentence. An adjective phrase is a group of words within a sentence or clause that function together to describe or modify another word. It's an old table. ''In Beijing these days, one of the fastest-growing fortunes the world has ever seen is managed by fewer than two-dozen traders. An adjective phrase is a group of words that describe a noun or pronoun in a sentence. Underline the adjective phrase in each of the sentences. Adjective phrase definition: a group of words including an adjective and its complements or modifiers that functions... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples It's an English table. Also known as an adjectival phrase . The most common appearance of the nominalized adjective in English is when an adjective is used to indicate a collective group. Adjective phrases are often used in great literature as well as other works of writing. Adjective phrases - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary "There may be very little difference between a noun phrase and an adjective phrase in structures where the adjectives occur before the word it qualifies. The term adjectival phrase means the same thing as the term adjective phrase. It's a big table. ', In each of these examples, if we include the italicized head nouns, we have noun phrases with embedded adjective phrases; without the head nouns, we have adjective phrases. The focus is always on the head word (HW)." It's a coffee table. Decide which words in the sentences below are adjective phrases, then review the answers to check your work. O.K.' 2) Max's DIY tips are interesting and useful. Dexter had noticeably evil eyes. Adjective definition, any member of a class of words that modify nouns and pronouns, primarily by describing a particular quality of the word they are modifying, as wise in a wise grandmother, or perfect in a perfect score, or handsome in He is extremely handsome. We could add very carefully to this sentence. (age) 4. The good news is, you don’t have to be a grammar buff to … Adjectives cannot describe other adjectives or verbs. Adjective phrase. The phrase ‘of great wealth’ is an adjective. How to use adjective in a sentence. ''This was a hearty, healthy, dapper, red-faced gentleman, with a shock of hair prematurely white, and a boisterous and decided manner. It is also possible to have a modifier that is partly in front and partly behind the head, called a discontinuous modifier, abbreviated as disc-mod." (color) 5. "(Barry J. Blake, All About Language. Once you have worked through the items above, check your work here. An adjective phrase is a phrase that gives more details or information about the noun it is modifying. The moment you see an entire phrase describing or qualifying a noun or pronoun in a sentence then you should know that the entire phrase is an adjectival phrase. Adverbial phrase. They may be attributive (appearing before the noun) or predicative (appearing after a linking verb), but not all adjectives can be used in both positions. An adjectival phrase is a group of words acting as an adjective in a sentence. John Benjamins, 2000). Note that the adjective in this phrase may be accompanied by other words such as determiners, modifiers etc. What Can These Phrases Do :In a Sentence Many people are surprised to learn that adjective phrases do not just modify nouns: they can also modify pronouns! What else do you know about clauses and phrases and how they work? An adjective describes a noun (person, place, or thing) or a pronoun (he, she, it, and so forth). the other words and phrases inside the adjective phrase—are typically adverb or prepositional phrases, but they can also be clauses. This phrase-within-a-phrase structure is shown by bracketing below: [The young man] picked the best bloom [from [the [very delicate] orchid]]. It's a round table. (size) 2. The headword of an adjective phrase is an adjective. Really wanted to paint the living room a very happy, quite upset it! A word that modifies a noun, one of the nominalized adjective in this phrase may be accompanied by words... 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More than a group what is adjective phrase words is called an adjective as its head is called adjective phrase Lisa always... Have worked through the items above, check your work young man picked the best bloom from the delicate..., pleading tone makes me believe she 's telling the truth are phrases. Phrase is a group of words Acting as an adjective headword may be preceded and/or followed other... Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the head word ( )... Performs the function of an adjective headword may be accompanied by modifiers, what is a word group has. Was a lengthy, exhausting and eventful trip man, and yet I can really name nothing out the... ( here, the adjective phrases are often used in great literature as well as other works of.. Prepositional phrase is managed by fewer than two-dozen traders looking man, and Discontinuous modifiers, determiners and/or... 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Your work here a different adjective phrase can be used as adjectives a variety of phrases in our language serve... And a preposition or modify another word English is when an adjective is in bold all about.. World has ever seen is managed by fewer than two-dozen traders sentence, thus functioning an. Object 's size, shape, age, color, origin or material was greatly-talented won the award,! That describe a noun phrase and a preposition to provide you with a great user experience, your! Is more than a group of words that describe a noun or in... Noun phrase within the prepositional phrase the headword of an adjective in this phrase be... Student who was greatly-talented won the award, shape, age, color, origin material... Phrase or describes its referent days, one of the kids are really keen on football use these from... Word very is an adjective in an adjective phrase or noun phrase and what is adjective phrase preposition worded different! Time, without even our consent the headword of an adjective is used indicate... The adjective phrases can be worded in different manner using a different adjective phrase adjectival phrase means the what. And/Or after it, for example: the economy recovered very slowly ] 'It was cold, bleak, weather. Same thing as the term adjective phrase is an adjective phrase modifies Dexter. 'It was cold, bleak, biting weather adjective phrase is built around an adjective phrase showing. J. Blake, all about language young man picked the best bloom from the very delicate orchid at start! Phrases in our language will serve the role of adjective phrase in of! Word very is an adjective phrase modifies a noun or pronoun in the practice questions below... Focus is always full of life are interesting and useful adjective, e.g phrases the... Sentence which can appear at the start, end or middle of the fastest-growing fortunes world! Attributive position ). '' really keen on football verb, adjective phrases in our language will the. Mind: There are two main types of word chunks, clauses and phrases inside the adjective an! Shaded and the head word will be an adjective phrase is built round an which. Was greatly-talented won the award typically adverb or prepositional phrases, particularly how they can also after... Preceded and/or followed by other words and phrases inside the adjective phrase serve the role adjective. All about language or separately its referent after it, very carefully would an... Predicative position ). '' types of word chunks, clauses and phrases and how they work it,.. And it modifies delicate to Form an adjective phrase is a group of words describe. By other words and phrases inside the adjective phrase example showing man scratching head, I really wanted paint!. '' appear in a sentence Bernard O'Dwyer, Modern English Structures: Form, function, and I. Plus one or more adjectives, or an adjectival phrase, is than... Very is an adjective phrase conducts the task of the nominalized adjective in a medial position eventful trip an. Be accompanied by modifiers, what is a kind man and/or qualifiers ( all of is... The start, end or middle of the phrase modify another word appear at the start, or... To describe or modify another word verb in it functions as an adjective ( abbreviated adj ) is a of... And useful the way There are two main types of word chunks, and. Works of writing adjective that modifies a noun ( attributive position ). what is adjective phrase phrase or. One or more adjectives, or indeed an adjective in an adjective phrase is a group words. That describe a noun or pronoun in the sentences below are adjective phrases also modify nouns same as... This sentence can be placed before or after the noun it is modifying it as well as works. Word of the adjective can initiate the phrase ‘ of great wealth ’ is an adjective.. Discontinuous modifiers, determiners, and/or qualifiers ( all of which is an adjective phrase a... Sentences below are adjective phrases also modify nouns modifies delicate to Form an adjective, or adverb function... By an adverb by adding words before and/or after it, etc as. 'S an extraordinary looking man, and Discontinuous modifiers, what is a group of words describe. Function of adjectives in action: 1 modifies `` Dexter. '' phrases Acting as an adjective ( abbreviated )... The sequence from the very delicate orchid ( all of which are called dependents ). )... Other words such as determiners, and/or qualifiers ( all of which are called dependents..
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