CHAPTER 2 THE BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES. pronoun, and give more information about the noun or pronoun s referent.

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1 CHAPTER 2 THE BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES 2.1. The Definition of Adjective An adjective is a word whose main syntactic role is to modify a noun or pronoun, and give more information about the noun or pronoun s referent. Collectively, adjectives form one of the traditional English eight parts of speech, though linguists today distinguish adjectives from words such as determiners that also used to be considered adjectives ( The adjectives are used to clarify nouns and it can be one word or a group of words. They can also be used with certain verbs (such as the verb to be ) and to clarify the subject that is doing the action. In general, adjectives are used to describe colour, material, shape, size, amount, price, quality, origin, personality, weight, temperature, weight, age, direction, etc. They may come before the word they describe or they may follow the word they describe ( The Position of Adjective Attributive position Adjectives can appear before a noun as a part of a noun phrase, placed after determiners or numbers if there are any, and immediately before the noun. (Cyssco, 2008:76).

2 She was very proud of her long hair. He bought two brown bread rolls. Adjectives placed before a noun in this way are generally referred to as occurring in the attributive position Predicative position Adjectives can also occur as complements of the verb to be and other link verb such as become, feel or seem (Cyssco, 2008:76). Her smile is beautiful. She didn t seem happy to see me. Adjectives placed after the verb in this way are generally referred to as occurring in the predicative position. When information contained in an adjective is not the main focus of a statement, then the adjective is usually placed before the noun in the attributive position The Definition of Demonstrative Adjective Demonstrative Adjective is an adjective that points out which person, object or concept is being referred to; whether it is singular or plural, and whether it is near or far from the speaker or writer (

3 2.4. The Usage of Demonstrative Adjectives Demonstrative adjectives follow the same rules as other adjectives, and can be used either attributively or predicatively (Parsons, 2008: 1. Attributive Usage When a demonstrative adjective is used to directly modify a noun, it is said to be used attributively. A noun with an attributive adjective is said to comprise an adjective phrase (for example, this man, where the adjective this modifies the noun man and the two words comprise a phrase). Attributive adjectives have the following properties: 1. They follow the noun they modify 2. They agree with the noun they modify in: Gender Number Definiteness (if the noun is definite, the adjective must be, too) Feminine This woman These women Masculine This man These men Feminine That woman Those women Masculine That man Those men

4 In these examples, notice how the demonstrative adjectives appear after their nouns with which they agree in gender, number, and definiteness. In each case the adjective is being used attributively. 2. Predicate Usage Recall that predicate adjectives have the following properties: 1. They appear before the noun they modify 2. They agree with the noun they modify in: Gender Number but not in definiteness When a demonstrative adjective functions this way, it is actually behaving substantively as a pronoun (which we call a demonstrative pronoun). Feminine This is the woman These are the women Feminine That is the woman Those are the women Masculine This is the man These are the men Masculine That is the man Those are the men In these examples, notice how the demonstrative pronouns appear before their nouns with which they agree in gender, number but not in definiteness

5 2.5. The Classification of Demonstrative Adjectives. Demonstrative adjectives can be classified into two part, they are definite and indefinite demonstrative (Suryadi and Junaida, 2007:70) Definite Demonstrative Adjectives A. Definite Demonstrative Adjective the. The adjective the is always known as a definite article which points out some particular persons or things. It can be used for countable or uncountable nouns, depends on the situation. Based on the theory of Martin and Wren, the definite demonstrative adjective the is used: When we speak of a particular person or thing, or one already referred to When a singular noun is meant to represent a whole class With names of gulfs, rivers, seas, oceans, groups of islands, and mountain-range Before the names of certain books Before common nouns which are names of things unique of their kind

6 Before a proper noun only when it is qualified by an adjective or a defining adjectival clause. With superlatives With ordinals With decades, or groups of years Before musical instruments B. Definite Demonstrative Adjectives this and these. This and these are generally used for things that are near. This goes with singular nouns, while these goes with plural nouns. We haven t much time to do this long exercise. These mangoes are sour. C. Definite Demonstrative Adjectives that and those. That and those are generally used for things that are further away. That goes with singular nouns, while those goes with plural nouns. How much is that bag?

7 Please give me those clothes. D. Definite Demonstrative Adjective such. Such clause expresses cause and the that clause expresses result. CAUSE subject verb such a adjective Table 1 count noun (singular) RESULT that subject verb It was such a hot day that we went out She is such a nice girl that everyone likes her. It is such difficult homework that I can t do it at all Indefinite Demonstrative adjectives A. Indefinite Demonstrative Adjectives a and an. A and an are used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns. A and an mean one. They are used before singular count nouns. A is used before words that begin with a consonant sound. An is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

8 A A Consonant sound Foreign student An An Vowel sound International student The choice between a and an is determined by sound. Before a word, beginning with a vowel sound an is used; as, An enemy, an orange, an umbrella, an hour, an honest man. It will be noticed that the words hour and honest begin with a vowel sound, as the initial consonant h is not pronounced. Before a word beginning with a consonant sound a is used; as, A boy, a yard, a hole, a university, a union Because these words (university, union) begin with a consonant sound, that of yu. Before words beginning with h and not accented on the first syllable, an is often used; as, An heir, an hour, an honest Based on the theory of Martin and Wren, the indefinite demonstrative adjectives a and an are used: To refer to something for the first time. To refer to a particular member of a group or class. To refer to a kind of, or example of something. With singular nouns, after the words what and such. Meaning one, referring to a single object or person.

9 B. Indefinite Demonstrative Adjectives some and any. Some and any are used before the countable and uncountable noun to show the indefinite quantity. Some is used in positive sentences, while any is used in negative sentences. I have got some new friends here. He doesn t need any stamps. Some and any are also used in the interrogative sentences. Example: Do you have any homework to do? Do you have some money? C. Indefinite Demonstrative Adjectives another and other. Another comes from an + other. The word has a meaning one more out of a group of similar items. The word another can be used in the form of an adjective in front of a noun or the word one. She asked me to give her another example of my drawing. They gave the child a balloon. When the child didn t stop crying, they gave her another one.

10 Other means several more out of a group of similar items. It can be used in front of a plural noun or the word ones. He kept the other tickets for himself. That girl has three ribbons. She takes one for her, one for her sister and gave other ones to her best friend.