Adjective Phrases and Adjectives: Structure, Functions, and Types
Adjectival Phrase: Structure and Functions
Constituents of the Adjective Phrase
The adjective phrase (AdjP) is a phrase whose core is an adjective. This core can have two types of modifiers:
- Specifiers: Usually adverbs of quantity that express the degree or intensity of the adjective.
- Complements: Prepositional phrases that modify the meaning of the adjective.
Functions of the Adjective Phrase
Adjective phrases can function as:
- Complements within a noun phrase.
- Attributes in a copular sentence (with verbs like *ser*, *estar*, *parecer*).
- Predicative complements.
The Adjective
An adjective is a variable word that agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. There are two main types of adjectives based on meaning:
- Qualifying Adjectives: Express a property or quality of the noun.
- Relational Adjectives: Relate the meaning of the noun to another concept or reality.
Position and Meaning of the Adjective
When an adjective functions as a constituent of a noun phrase, it may appear before (antepuesto) or after (pospuesto) the noun. Unlike English, where adjectives are typically placed before the noun, Spanish adjective placement depends on its meaning. Relational adjectives are always placed *after* the noun, while qualifying adjectives can be placed *before* or *after*.
Degree of the Adjective
Specifiers in adjective phrases express the degree or intensity of the property signified by the adjective. Not all adjectives allow gradation; qualifying adjectives generally do, while relational adjectives usually do not, unless they acquire a qualitative meaning. There are three degrees of adjectives:
- Positive: The adjective expresses the quality without intensification (no specifier).
- Comparative: Expresses intensity through a comparative syntactic structure. There are four types:
- Superiority
- Inferiority
- Equality
- Excellence
Some adjectives inherently include the comparative degree of superiority and do not require further specification. Similarly, comparisons using *lower* and *upper* values are followed by the preposition *a*.
- Superlative: Expresses the maximum intensity of the quality. It can be *absolute*. The language uses morphological, syntactic, and lexical mechanisms to form superlatives.
Double Predication
Simple sentences usually have two constituents: a noun phrase (subject) and a verb phrase (predicate). However, some constructions exhibit *double predication*, where two elements predicate the same subject. The syntactic function of the secondary predicate is called *predicative complement*. An adjective can also function as a noun predicate. The predicative complement may, in certain cases, be preceded by the prepositions *de*, *por*, and *como*.
Predicative Adjective Phrase Complementing the Subject
A noun phrase can function as a secondary predicate of the subject and as a constituent of the verb phrase. This is a *predicative complement of the subject*.
Predicative Adjective Phrase Complementing the Direct Object
A predicative complement can also be a secondary predication of the direct object.