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Adjective Equivalents

Sometimes words that are not adjectives are used as adjectives. Such types of a word may be a
noun or participle. Such a word is called an adjective equivalent.
Study the following sentences carefully.

1. Iron gates are durable gates.

2. Barking dogs seldom bite.
Adjectives are used to qualify nouns and pronouns.

Two forms of Adjectives

Adjectives are mostly used before their nouns. But sometimes they are used after the verb as a part
of the predicate. So we can use adjectives in two ways.
Adjectives used before nouns Adjectives used after verbs

1. Henry was a noble king. 1. The king was noble.
2. Neha is a graceful lady. 2. The lady is graceful.

Remember

1. An adjective used before its noun is called an attributive adjective.

2. An adjective used after the verb is called predicative adjective.

Rules Regarding the Use of Adjectives
Rule 1: Adjectives of quality have the same form to be used with nouns in both the numbers and in
all the genders as well as persons.

an honest boy honest boys an honest man
an honest girl honest girls an honest woman

Rule 2: If two or more adjectives qualify the same noun, they should not be separated by commas
or by and, etc.
1. a tall thin girl 2. curly golden hair

3. a big round rubber ball 4. a fat stocky policeman
Rule 3 : If an adjective of quality is preceded by the, it becomes a common noun of plural number.

1. the brave = brave soldiers
2. the wicked = wicked people

These nouns are always used with plural verbs.
1. The brave deserve to be honoured.

2. The wicked have to be punished for their misdeeds.
Rule 4 : When a word or a phrase is linked to an adjective, it is put after its noun.

1. She is a woman true to her word.
2. Japan is a land rich in resources.

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