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Adjectives (Test)

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Adjective: red only	Adjective: massive quickly	Possessive adjective: belongs my
Adjective: confident confidant	Definite article: the an	Possessive adjective: it's its
Which is right? four-storey building four storey building	Which is right? I saw uncle Raphael. I saw Uncle Raphael.	Which is better? There is an a la carte menu. There is an a-la-carte menu.
Which is right? skillfully-tied knot skillfully tied knot	4,500,000 4 and a half million 4-and-a-half million	Which is better? well-developed muscle well developed muscle


	Adjectives are describing words. (The following are all adjectives: blue, large, smelly, expensive, comprehensive.) An adjective is added to a noun to state what kind, what colour, which one or how many.

	red Like all colours, "red" is a describing word. Example: a red car ("red" is the adjective; "car" is the noun) only "Only" is an adverb.


	Adjectives are describing words. (The following are all adjectives: blue, large, smelly, expensive, comprehensive.) An adjective is added to a noun to state what kind, what colour, which one or how many.

	massive "Massive" is a describing word. Example: a massive bill ("massive" is the adjective; "bill" is the noun) quickly "Quickly" is an adverb.


	Possessive adjectives are used to show possession. (The following are all possessive adjectives: my, your, her, his, its, our, their.)

	my "My" is a possessive adjective. Example: my hat belongs "Belongs" is a verb.


	Adjectives are describing words. (The following are all adjectives: blue, large, smelly, expensive, comprehensive.) An adjective is added to a noun to state what kind, what colour, which one or how many.

	confident "Confident" is a describing word. Example: a confident speaker ("confident" is the adjective; "speaker" is the noun) confidant "Confidant" is a noun. (A person you confide in is a "confidant".)


	*"The" is known as the definite* article; whereas, "a" and "an" are known as indefinite articles.**

	the Example: the apple (i.e. a specific apple) an an apple (i.e. any apple)


	Possessive adjectives are used to show possession. (The following are all possessive adjectives: my, your, her, his, its, our, their.) "Its" is a possessive adjective; whereas, "it's" is short for "it is" or "it has".

	its "Its" is a possessive adjective. Examples: 1. Leave its wing alone. 2. Can you see its shape? it's "It's" is short for "it is" or "it has". Example: It's stopped raining.


	It is possible for a single adjective to comprise more than one word (e.g. "two-seater aircraft", "free-range eggs"). An adjective of this kind is called a "compound adjective". The words forming a compound adjective are linked with hyphens.

	four-storey building "four-storey" - compound adjective - hyphen required four storey building


	When a personal title (like "constable", "sergeant" or "auntie") is written with the name, it is given a capital letter.

	I saw Uncle Raphael. "Uncle" forms part of the name and, therefore, is written with a capital letter. (When a word like "uncle" is not part of a name, there is no need to use a capital letter.) I saw uncle Raphael.


	Although hyphens can be used to link the words in a compound adjective, it is more stylish to use italics for a compound adjective comprising foreign words.

	*There is an a la carte* menu. The compound adjective "a la carte" is grouped using italics. Note: Only the adjective is written in italics (i.e. the word "menu" is not). There is an a-la-carte menu.** This is correct, but it is not as stylish.


	When an adverb is used before an adjective, there is no need to use a hyphen.

	skillfully tied knot A hyphen is only used to link an adverb to an adjective when there could be ambiguity (see question 12). skillfully-tied knot no ambiguity - no hyphen required


	*An expression like 2-and-a-half* (as in "2-and-a-half pints") is a compound adjective and should be hyphenated.**

	4-and-a-half million 4 and a half million Technically, this is 500,004. (four + half a million)


	When an adverb is used before an adjective, only use a hyphen to avoid ambiguity.

	well-developed muscle In this example, "well" is an adverb meaning "widely". However, "well" can also be an adjective meaning "healthy". Therefore, to make it absolutely clear that it is not two adjectives, a hyphen is used. well developed muscle This is not wrong, but it is (very slightly) ambigious. (e.g. It could mean that the muscle is "healthy" and "developed".)