Adjective Phrases: Structure, Functions, and Usage

Adjective Phrase: Structure and Functions

Constituents of the Adjective Phrase

The core of an adjective phrase is the adjective itself. This core can have two modifiers: specifiers (usually adverbs expressing degree or intensity) and complements (prepositional phrases that modify the meaning of the core adjective).

Functions of the Adjective Phrase

Adjective phrases commonly function as:

  • Complements of a noun phrase
  • Attributes in a predicate nominal
  • Predicative complements of the predicate

The Adjective

An adjective is a variable word that agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Adjectives can be broadly categorized into two types based on their meaning:

  • Qualitative Adjectives: Express a property or quality of the noun.
  • Relational Adjectives: Indicate a relationship or similarity between the noun and another concept.

Position and Meaning of the Adjective

When an adjective functions as part of a noun phrase, it can appear before (prefix) or after (postponed) the noun. The placement often depends on the adjective’s meaning. Relational adjectives are typically postponed, while qualitative adjectives can be either prefixed or postponed.

Degree of the Adjective

Specifiers within the adjective phrase express the degree or intensity of the quality signified by the adjective. Not all adjectives allow gradation; qualifiers do, but relational adjectives generally do not, unless they imply a quality. Adjectives can exist in three degrees: positive, comparative, and superlative.

  • Positive Degree: Expresses the quality without intensification.
  • Comparative Degree: Expresses intensity through a comparative syntactic structure. Types of comparison include superiority, inferiority, and equality.
  • Superlative Degree: Expresses the maximum intensity of the quality.

Double Predication

Simple sentences usually have a subject (noun phrase) and a predicate (verb phrase). However, some sentence constructions exhibit double predication, where two predicates apply to the same subject. The syntactic function of the secondary predicate complement is called the predicative complement. Adjectives can also function as noun predicates.

Adjective Phrase as Predicative Complement

The adjective phrase can function as a secondary predicate of the subject. In this case, it is a constituent of the verb phrase and acts as a predicate complement of the subject.

Adjective Phrase as Direct Complement Predicative

The adjective phrase can also be a direct complement in secondary predication.