Class # 14
Adjectives
Adjectives and adjective phrases describe nouns. They may be used to descrbe quantity (number or amount) ; sufficiency (number or amount needed) ; consecutive order (order in a sequance) ; quality (appearance) ; and emphasis (importance or force).
Most adjectives and adjective phrases have only one form in English. They do not change forms to agree with the nouns they describe.
Part # A
Determiners
Determiners are a special kind of adjective. Like other adjectives , determiners describe nouns. But unlike other adjectives, determiners must agree with the nouns they describe. In other words, you must know whether the noun is a singular count noun or a plural count noun or a non-count noun before you can choose the correct determiner. the noun determines which adjectives form you use.
Problem 1 : Determiners ~ a and an
Remember that both a and an mean one. They are used before singular count nouns. A is used before words that begin with a consonant sound. Where as An is used before words that begin with a vowel sound OR you can consider An used before words that begin with a word sounds Ah.
Quote:
Structure : A + consonant sound
Expression : A foriegn student must have an I-20 form
Structure : An + Vowel sound
Expression : An international student must have an I-20 form
|
Avoid confusing vowel and consonant spellings with vowel and consonant sounds. U is a vowel spelling, but it has the consonant sound Y in words like use, universal , usual, etc. H is a consonant spelling, but it has a vowel sound in words like historical, hour, and honor, but not in words like history and horror.
Examples :
Incorrect : It is a big decision to choose an university.
Correct : It is a big decision to choose a university.
Incorrect : Do you have an use for this empty box ?
Correct : Do you have a use for this empty box ?
Problem 2 : Non-count nouns with qualifying phrases ~ the
Remember the is used with count nouns. You have also learned that the can be used before an -ing noun and a qualifying phrase.
In addition, the can be used before a non-count noun with a qualifying phrase.
Quote:
Structure : The + non-count noun + Qualifying phrase
Expression : The art of the Middle ages is on display.
|
Examples :
Incorrect : Poetry of Carl Sandburg is being read at the student union on Friday.
Correct : The poetry of Carl Sandburg is being read at the student union on Friday.
Incorrect : Science of genetic engineering is not very old.
Correct : The science of genetic engineering is not very old.
Problem 3 : meaning all
Remember that no article before a non-count or a plural count noun has the same meaning as all.
Quote:
Structure : all + noun (non-count) + verb (singular)
Expression : All art is interesting
OR : Art is interesting
Structure : all + noun (count-plural) + verb (plural)
Expression : All trees prevent erosion
OR : Trees prevent erosion
|
Avoid using the before the noun to express all.
Examples :
Incorrect : I like the music
Correct : I like music
Incorrect : The mathematics is easy for me
Correct : Mathematics is easy for me
Problem 4 : No meaning not any
Remember that no meanss not any. It may be used with a singular or plural count noun or with a non-count noun.
Quote:
Structure : no + noun (count singular) / (count plural) + verb (singular) / (plural)
Expression : No tree / trees grows above the tree line / grow above the tree line
Structure : no + noun (non-count) + verb (singular)
Expression : No art is on display today
|
Avoid using the negative not or none intead of no. Avoid using a singular verb with a plural count noun.
Examples :
Incorrect : There is not reason to worry
Correct : There is no reason to worry.
Incorrect : We have not a file under the name Shahzeb
Correct : We have no file under the name Shahzeb
Incorrect : None of cheating will be tolerated
Correct : No cheating will be tolerated.
to be continued