Adjective Meanings

BY NADIA ANAM
 Topic

Constructions with adjectives

1.Gradability
2. Adjectives modifying nouns
3. Larger sets than pairs
Adjective Gradability
Adjectives describe qualities (characteristics) of nouns.
Some qualities can vary in intensity or "grade", for
example:
rather hot, hot, very hot; hot, hotter, the hottest
The adjective hot is gradable.
language has ways of expressing different levels or
degrees of qualities.
For example; she is taller than Ali. Comparative
she is the tallest of them all. Superlative
Gradable vs Non-gradable Adjective
 A gradable adjective  A non-gradable
can be used with adjective cannot be
grading adverbs that used with grading
vary the adjective’s adverbs.
grade or intensity.  E.g
 E.g
It was rather freezing
It was very hot outside. outside.
Adjectives modifying nouns
Adjectives are words that modify nouns.
They are often called describing words
because they give us further details about
a noun such as
what it looks like ( the white horse)
How many there are ( the three boys)
Or which one it is ( the last house)
An adjective modifying a noun are like the
intersection of sets.

When two meanings are put together. Adjectives that

fit this scheme of interpretation are called intersective
adjectives.
Non-intersective adjectives 
 Non-intersective adjectives are descriptors that may or
may not describe their noun.
The most frequently cited examples are words such
as alleged, probable, suspected and possible. In the sentence,
“A possible motive for her alleged crime is jealousy,” there
may or may not be a motive, and there may or may not be a
crime. Note that unlike most intersective adjectives, most
non-intersective adjectives have corresponding adverb or
noun forms: allegedly, probably; suspect (n), possibility
 Larger sets than pairs
Sense relation that holds between the
meanings of sets of words that can be larger
than pairs.
some adjectives with apparently interesting
interrelationships in meaning occur in sets of more
than two; for example;
The yellow rock
 For example

set 1 Set 2 Set 3

black, round, previous,
purple, triangular, current,
blue, rectangular next
brown,
green,
yellow,
orange,
red,
THANK YOU