The Communicative Grammar of English Workbook (2013)

UNIT SIX. Adjectives

6.1. Adjectives

Sections 440–444

Here are four features of adjectives:

Task one **

Some of the adjectives in the following texts are used attributively, some are used predicatively. Arrange them in three groups according to whether they are normally used

1.It is quite obvious, according to the medical profession, that vegetable oil should be one of the chief ingredients of a healthy diet.

2.Most people would consider Brian extremely lazy, but I think that’s sheer nonsense. The main thing about him is that he is a little clumsy at times and he is afraid to make an utter fool of himself.

3.Tomorrow will be a mainly bright day, with skies over Scotland becoming cloudier in the afternoon and perhaps the odd shower mixed in towards late evening.

4.Sandra had been feeling really ill for a week or so. Being a mere child, the girl feared she might be suffering from a deadly disease, but in the end she made a complete recovery and now she is alive and kicking again.

5.I thought Linda had already fallen asleep but in fact she was still wide awake, trying to come to terms with the shocking events of the day. The live pictures on TV had made it abundantly clear to her that the heinous crimes perpetrated by evil minds should not go unpunished.

Task two *

Underline in the above texts any degree adverbs premodifying an attributive or a predicative adjective.

Task three ***

State the difference in meaning between the two versions of the following sentences, using synonymous expressions or paraphrases.

1.Social workers had to counsel

2.I want you to meet

3.The bathroom is

4.Several mathematicians offered to deal with

Task four ***

Determine whether the -ing and -ed forms in the following sentences are (a) adjectives or (b) participles, justifying your decision.

Examples: We were very pleased to be invited by the Lord Mayor.

⇒ (participial) adjective, cf premodifying degree adverb Although admired by many, the author does not give interviews.

⇒ (past) participle, cf the by-agent (= signals the passive).

1.I don’t want you worrying about me all the time.

2.We were rather amused to hear that Ms Upstart had been demoted.

3.I shall always be grateful to my truly devoted parents.

4.The story of the Holy Grail is still fascinating people all over the world.

5.I was terrified to go there and also very ashamed of myself.

6.The Little Mermaid turned out to be quite a moving film.

7.The signals coming from Brussels are encouraging.

8.If you’re that worried about your health, go and see a doctor.

9.You will be astonished by the detail and depth of our reports describing access to the site.

10.The purchase of new computer hardware is always a daunting task, with so many guides and experts bewildering us with technical jargon.

11.I was informed of Ms Dando’s murder by my mother, and was absolutely flabbergasted as to why such a thing could happen.

12.The Education Secretary became incensed when he read the scathing criticism voiced by a number of headmasters in The Times.

Task five **

Restore the following extract to its original form by filling the blanks with one of the adjectives listed below. Each adjective should be used only once.

ALASKA: OIL’S GROUND ZERO

If you want somebody to fly you over the ____________ peaks of the Brooks Range and drop you onto the ____________ tundra of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Dirk Nickisch is your man. Dirk is a ____________ rodeo rider and crop-duster, a ____________ fellow with ____________ eyes and ____________ whiskers whom some in his home state of North Dakota have likened to a coyote. He meets clients at a gravel airstrip in a Gwich’in Indian village just south of the range. ____________ in ____________ pants and a baseball cap, he kicks the tires on his 1952 single-prop de Havilland Beaver, shoulders the ____________ rudder back and forth to be ____________ it’s still in ____________ order and tells you, if you ask him, that he reckons his Pratt & Whitney engine has been overhauled “a few times”. He doesn’t have much time for people who stand around asking questions without making themselves ____________, however. So he rolls four ____________ barrels of fuel under the plane and puts you to work with a hose and a ____________ hand pump.

(from Newsweek, 13 August 2001, p. 38)

6.2. Adjective or adverb?

Sections 445–447

Most adverbs in English are derived from adjectives by the addition of -ly, but there are some which do not end in -ly. These words can be used both as adjectives and adverbs.

An adjective is used after verbs of the senses. Here we consider the adjective to be a complement, not an adverbial.

The difference between an adverb form and an adjective form does not always involve a difference in meaning. The form without -ly tends to be more informal and is especially common in comparative and superlative constructions.

Task one **

Complete the following sentences, using an adjective OR a corresponding adverb ending in -ly related to the noun or verb in brackets.

1.Stung by so much criticism, the PM reacted very (anger) _______________.

2.After the confrontation the headmaster felt extremely (anger) _______________.

3.Most of the young recruits looked very (courage) ____________.

4.The two frail women had behaved (courage) _____________.

5.It all sounds (marvel) ___________________, doesn’t it?

6.This (marvel) ___________________ executed story captures the spirit of the series perfectly.

7.It was a (delicacy) ______________________ creamy soup.

8.The local food tastes (delicacy) ______________________.

9.That type of weakness is considered (fate) _______________ by most neutral observers.

10.Two firefighters were (fate) _______________ injured in the explosion.

11.Later that afternoon the sky turned (haze) ________________.

12.The victim remembered the events only (haze) ________________.

Task two **

Add the most appropriate of the adverbs listed below, using the base form OR the form ending in -ly. Each form should be used only once.

1.Does this train go to London ______________ or via Canterbury?

2.The Queen praised _____________ what had already been achieved.

3.With your help, one day I might come _______________ to being ‘perfect’.

4.The landscape was stripped _______________ after the civil war.

5.Professor Appleby’s untimely death cut _______________ his brilliant career.

6.There have been more and more signs of unrest _______________.

7.Due to fog I could _______________ make out the contours of the ferry.

8.Mrs Curry is in her late eighties and still going ___________.

9.Regular troops were involved ______________ in the attack.

10.Captain Cook, I have received your message _________________.

11.I’m not in town now but I will be ______________.

12.The eagle was flying _________________ over the mountains.

13.Having worked _____________ all his life, the builder decided to retire at last.

14.There is no question: the chairman expressed himself ____________________.

15.We are already behind schedule, so we will arrive ___________.

16.The two brothers __________________ resembled each other.

17.The two rapists have ________________ been punished for what they did.

18.The football fans are so disciplined that there is ____________ any need for a police presence.

19.The redecorated rooms smelled ________________ of paint.

20.The Internet Keyword brings you _______________ back here.

6.3. Adjectives as heads

Section 448; 90; 579–580

Some adjectives can be heads of noun phrases and have generic reference:

•adjectives denoting a class of people, including some nationality adjectives (plural): the English

•adjectives denoting an abstract quality (singular): the symbolical

Task one *

Use adjectives acting as heads of noun phrases to refer to the following classes of people.

1.people who are out of work:

2.people who have a physical handicap:

3.people who are well-off:

4.people who have great faith in God:

5.people who are victims of oppression:

6.people who have nowhere to live:

7.inhabitants of Great Britain:

8.inhabitants of Wales:

9.inhabitants of Ireland:

10.inhabitants of Spain:

11.inhabitants of France:

12.inhabitants of the Netherlands:

Task two ***

Complete the following sentences, using adjectives acting as heads of noun phrases to refer to the abstract qualities referred to by the phrases in brackets.

1.Some people believe in ________________________.

(= things that are impossible to explain by natural causes)

2.Why do some politicians keep stating ________________________?

(= things that are already clear to everyone)

3.The name of Samuel Beckett is associated with the theatre of ___________________.

(= things that do not make sense at all)

4.Police officers and firefighters did ______________________.

(= succeed in doing what an ordinary person cannot achieve)

5.This type of extreme behaviour borders on __________________.

(= typical of people who belong in a mental hospital)

6.Leave everything to me – I’ll do ____________________.

(= whatever is required under the circumstances)

7._____________________ has captivated me over __________________ as long as I can recall.

(= things that endure for ever vs things that do not)

8.On 11 September 2001 _________________________ happened.

(= something that nobody can accept or even imagine)

6.4. Adjective patterns

Sections 436–438

Adjectives can have different types of complement, such as

Task one **

Complete the following sentences, adding the appropriate prepositions.

1.Most of Europe is still dependent _______ oil from the Middle East.

2.More and more women are financially independent _______ their husbands.

3.The starving stowaway was impatient _______ his first meal in five days.

4.Teachers are very impatient _______ students who don’t understand the basics of mathematics.

5.Kenneth has been deeply involved _______ a younger colleague for some time.

6.Several companies are involved _______ producing the Airbus.

7.Even in the face of adversity most of the aid workers remained true _______ their ideals.

8.What you were saying about Germany is also true _______ Austria.

9.General Swordfish was furious _______ his chief-of-staff because of his improper behaviour.

10.Karen was furious _______ being told she might be sacked.

11.Some emancipated men are still not very keen _______ cooking.

12.People eager _______ a quick cure are likely to be disappointed.

Task two **

Expand each of the following sentences by adding an introductory clause such as I am/was + adjective or it is/was + adjective, using an adjective related to the noun or verb in brackets. In some cases both patterns are possible, as in

1.So many people are using drugs these days. (shock)

2.The government should form a Royal Commission. (essence)

3.You are offering me this unique opportunity. (gratitude)

4.I had helped in the attempt to fight poverty. (pride)

5.We have not learned any lessons from this bloody conflict. (shame)

6.Titanic beat Star Wars at the box office. (outrage)

7.The scheme will be very successful. (confidence)

8.Mr Welsh offers useful advice on how to deal with the war on drugs. (no surprise)

9.Peter tried to deny the gravity of the problem. (alarm)

10.I was watching another movie altogether. (convince)

11.We should move forward in positive and productive ways. (evidence)

12.I will begin to get some real answers at last. (hope)

6.5. Adjective patterns with a to-infinitive

Section 439

There are at least four different types of adjectives which have a construction with to-infinitive:

Some adjectives do not belong to any of these four types:

Task one **

Paraphrase the following sentences by turning the adjective patterns with a to-infinitive into alternative structures.

1.The doctor was slow to realize the seriousness of his patient’s condition.

2.Susan was wise to ditch her boyfriend.

3.Manual typewriters are almost impossible to come by these days.

4.The Queen was astonished to see so many well-wishers.

5.Such vicious attacks are likely to recur in the next few months.

6.Sixteen-year-olds can be very pleasant to teach.

7.The 6 o’clock plane for Tokyo is certain to arrive on time.

8.You were foolish to accept a bribe from that man.

9.Some species of fish are increasingly hard to catch.

10.The couple next door were relieved to get news from their son.

11.Bob was clever to write a letter of apology to the headmaster.

12.I was happy to be invited to the Prime Minister’s birthday party.

Task two **

Arrange the above adjectives in groups according to type, adding to each group one synonym OR antonym of your own which patterns in the same way.