Adjectivul

Adjectivele sunt invariabile. Ele nu isi schimba forma in functie de gen sau numar.

Ex.: A hot potato, some hot potatoes.

Pentru a sublinia sau accentua sensul unui adjectiv se pot folosi very, really:

Ex.: A very hot potato, some really hot potatoes.

3.2. Pozitia adjectivului

- De obicei adjectivul se aseaza in fata substantivului determinat:

Ex.: A good movie.

- Dupa verbe auxiliare ca to be, to become, to seem, to look, to taste, to appear, to feel, to keep, to make, to smell, to sound, to turn, etc:

Ex.: The movie is good.

You seem upset.

This cheese tastes different.

- Dupa substantiv in expresii fixe:

Ex.: the Princess Royal, the President elect, the court martial

- Cateva adjective, ca de exemplu chief, main, poor (=unfortunate) stau numai in fata substantivului determinat:

Ex.: This is the main purpose of the meeting.

That poor woman was living in a garage.

- Altele pot sta numai dupa un verb auxiliar: asleep, upset, awake, afraid, alike, alive, alone, annoyed, ill, well, sorry

Ex.: He's asleep.

I'm alone.

- Unele adjective isi schimba sensul in functie de pozitia pe care o ocupa. Adjectivele involved, present, concerned au sens diferit daca sunt plasate in fata substantivului sau dupa acesta.

Ex.: These are the people involved / concerned. (the people who have something to do with the matter)

They had an involved discussion on the matter. (detailed, complex)

I am a concerned mother. (worried, anxious)

The list of the students present is outside, on the door. (students who were there)

The present status of the matter requires urgent attention. (current)

3.3. Functiile adjectivului

Adjectivul ne spune mai multe despre calitatile substantivul determinat. Adjectivele pot exprima:

- Sentimente sau calitati:

Ex.: They make an original couple.

She is a single mother.

- Nationalitatea sau originea:

Ex.: Ricardo is Spanish. His mother is Argentinean and his father is Canadian.

I bought him a Swiss watch for Christmas.

- Diferite caracteristici ale unui obiect:

Ex.: The table is long.

The steel tray was a gift.

- Varsta:

Ex.: My hat is too old. I will buy another one.

He is still very young, almost a boy.

- Dimensiuni, marime si masuri:

Ex.: "Gone with the Wind" is a very long film.

That boy is too tall.

- Culoarea:

Ex.: I have a red jacket to go with my new white skirt.

- Materie / material:

Ex.: He wore a cotton shirt.

It was a silver tray, not a steel tray.

- Forma:

Ex.: A rectangular envelope.

A round table.

- Judecati, pareri sau opinii:

Ex.: Grammar is fascinating.

The show was entertaining.

3.4. Ordinea adjectivelor

Atunci cand se folosesc doua sau mai multe adjective pentru a descrie acelasi substantiv, ordinea lor depinde de functiile acestora. Exista mai multe variante, dar cea mai obisnuita ordine este: Value/opinion, Size, Age/Temperature, Shape, Colour, Origin, Material

Value/opinion delicious, lovely, charming

Size small, huge, tiny

Age/Temperature old, hot, young, little