Name the adjectives in the following sentences, that are used to modify nouns directly, and those that are used to modify nouns as part of the predication or assertion made about them:—
| 1. | She is a good girl. | |
| 2. | I have a soft pencil. | |
| 3. | He was ignorant of this fact. | |
| 4. | The water is cold. |
1. An adjective that modifies a noun directly is said to be in the attributive relation; as, A grand tree is the stately oak.
2. An adjective that modifies a noun as part of the predication or assertion made about it, is called a predicate adjective; as, This apple is sweet. I am glad you succeeded.
3. An adjective that is joined to a noun in a loose and indirect way is said to be used in the appositive relation; as, All history, ancient or modern contributes towards my theory.
EXERCISE.
State the relation of each adjective in the following sentences:—
| 1. | A tremendous storm came on. | |
| 2. | My dear friend is ill. | |
| 3. | Young, and gay, she heeded not my warning. | |
| 4. | Full many a gem of purest ray serene, | |
| The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear.—Gray. | ||
| 5. | Along the crowded path they bore her now, pure as the newly-fallen snow that covered it.—Dickens. | |
| 6. | Sweet was the sound, when oft, at evening’s close, | |
| Up yonder hill the village murmur rose.—Goldsmith. | ||
| 7. | I met a little cottage girl; | |
| She was eight years old, she said; | ||
| Her hair was thick with many a curl | ||
| That clustered round her head.—Wordsworth. |