Seminar 4

The Adjective

Reading

1. Блох М. Я. Теоретическая грамматика английского языка. (Ch. VIII, p. 197 – 214)

2. Ilyish B. The Structure of Modern English. (Ch. V, p. 58 – 65; Ch. VII, p. 74 – 75)

3. Quirk R., Greenbaum S. et al. A University Grammar of English. (5.1. – 5.20., p. 108- 118; 5.42. – 5.47., p. 129 – 133)

Points to discuss

1. The adjective as a part of speech.

2. Classifications of adjectives.

3. The category of comparison.

Questions for the discussion

1. What categorial meaning does the adjective express?

2. List the semantic, morphological and syntactic features of the adjective.

3. What subclasses are adjectives traditionally divided into?

4. What principle of distinction was proposed by Prof. Blokh? What subclasses of adjectives are singled out according to this principle?

5. What does the category of adjectival comparison express? What is the linguistic status of less/ least combinations and such constructions as ‘a most beautiful girl’?

Practice Assignment

I. Give the forms of degrees of comparison and state whether they are formed in a synthetic, analytical or suppletive way:

Well-off, amazing, sunny, noticeable, little, bad-tempered, ill-bred, handsome, good-looking, common, pleasant, magnificent, far-fetched.

II. State the classification features of the adjectives in the following sentences:

1. Julia, smiling good-naturedly, looked at her with ingenuous eyes. (W. S. Maugham)

2. He was tall and homely, wore horn-rimmed glasses, and spoke in a deep voice. (J. Cheever)

3. She was very fond of him, but he was so elegant, so well-bred, so cultured, she could not think of him as a lover. (W. S. Maugham)

4. He advanced with unmistakable authority on squat, powerful legs. (D. Brown)

5. Surely there is not another language that is so slipshod and systemless, and so slippery and elusive to the grasp. (M. Twain)