adjective (n.) (A, adj, ADJ)

A term used in the GRAMMATICAL classification of WORDS to refer to the main set of items which specify the attributes of NOUNS. From a FORMAL point of view, four criteria are generally invoked to define the class in English (and similar kinds of criteria establish the class in other languages): they can occur within the noun PHRASE, i.e. they function in the attributive position, e.g. the big man; they can occur in a post-verbal or predicative position, e.g. the man is big; he called it stupid; they can be PREMODIFIED by an INTENSIFIER, such as very, e.g. the very big man; and they can be used in a COMPARATIVE and a SUPERLATIVE form, either by INFLECTION (e.g. big, bigger, biggest) or PERIPHRASTICALLY (e.g. interesting, more interesting, most interesting). However, not all adjectives satisfy all these criteria (e.g. major, as in a major question, does not occur predicatively – cf. *The question is major), and the subclassification of adjectives has proved quite complex. Both narrow and broad applications of the term ‘adjective’ will be found in grammars. In its broadest sense it could include everything between the DETERMINER and the noun, in such a phrase as the vicar’s fine old English garden chair; but many linguists prefer to restrict it to the items which satisfy most or all of the above criteria (to include only fine and old, in this example), the other items being called ‘adjective-like’ or adjectivals. Adjectives may also be the HEADS of phrases (adjective or adjectival phrases (abbreviated AP or AdjP), such as that’s very important), and an adjectival function is sometimes recognized for certain types of CLAUSE (e.g. he’s the man I saw).