Syntactic Functions of Adjectives

The syntactic functions of adjectives describe the grammatical roles adjectives perform in sentences.

Transcript

1. SYNTACTIC FUNCTIONS OF ADJECTIVES BY LAVIN S. AZIZ
2. ADJECTIVE CLASSES We can divide adjectives into three classes according to their function in the sentence. • Pre-modifier • Subject-complement • Object-complement 2
3. SYNTACTIC FUNCTIONS Adjectives can be attributive and predicative. When adjectives function as pre-modifiers, they are considered attributive. E.g. This is a beautiful dress. When adjectives function as subject complements or object complements, they are considered predicative. E.g. Layla is comfortable. (Subject-complement) E.g. I made the bed comfortable. (Object-complement) 3
4. CENTRAL ADJECTIVES Some adjectives can be used in all three functions are called central adjectives. E.g. clever, hungry, noisy, brave, old, and etc. 4
5. EXAMPLE OF A CENTRAL ADJECTIVE • My house is old. • I consider her old. • He is an old man. (Predicative, Subject-complement). (Predicative, Object-complement). (Attributive, Pre-modifier). 5
6. PERIPHERAL ADJECTIVES Some adjectives are classified as peripheral adjectives because they do not exhibit all the typical syntactic functions of adjectives. Note: Some adjectives are restricted to attributive position, such as main, utter, chief, sheer, and medical… E.g. She is the main character. Note: Some adjectives are restricted to predicative position, such as asleep, alone, alive, afraid… E.g. Adam is alive! 6
7. THANK YOU