Das Term Paper gibt einen übersichtlichen Einstieg zum Thema Adjectives. Da es Standardwerke vergleicht, ist es besonders für Studienanfänger geeignet, die sich einen schnellen Überblick über die vorhanden Literatur verschaffen wollen.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Definitions and General Remarks on Adjectives
3. Classifications of Adjectives
a. Semantic Types of Adjectives
b. The Formation of Adjectives
4. The Comparison of Adjectives
5. Different Usages of Adjectives and Their Syntactical Roles
a. Attributive and Predicative Use
b. Adjectives as Nouns and Vice Versa
c. Further Syntactical Roles
6. Adjectives in Different Occasions of Language Usage
Research Objectives and Core Topics
This term paper aims to provide a comparative analysis of how various English grammar books define, classify, and explain the usage of adjectives, while also exploring their application across different text types to support effective teaching practices.
- Comparative analysis of leading English grammar reference books.
- Taxonomy and formation processes of English adjectives.
- Syntactical roles including attributive and predicative functions.
- Practical pedagogical approaches for teaching adjectives in the classroom.
- Analysis of adjective frequency and usage in diverse linguistic registers.
Excerpt from the Book
a. Semantic Types of Adjectives
Among the seven compared grammar books four classify adjectives in similar ways and only two (An Advanced English Grammar and A Grammar of Present-Day English) do not mention this topic at all. The other four, however, categorize adjectives and then explain which of those categories has which position in a sentence when there is more than one adjective to describe a particular thing. The category in first place is always very subjective; i.e. opinion (English Grammar in Use) or quality adjectives (Longman English Grammar) come first to express or describe feelings and emotions or to evaluate something (Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and Written English and An A-Z of English Grammar & Usage). Adjectives to add facts have to follow: according to the English Grammar in Use the first category is the size, then the age, (the temperature and shape (Longman English Grammar)), the colour and finally the origin or what something is made of (cf. Longman English Grammar, Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and Written English and An A-Z of English Grammar & Usage). The A-Z of English Grammar and Usage additionally offers some more semantic categories like topical (e.g. oral), affiliative (e.g. French) or relational classifiers (e.g. primary).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the scope of the paper, focusing on the comparison of various grammar books regarding adjectives and the practical application for language teachers.
2. Definitions and General Remarks on Adjectives: Examines how selected grammar books define adjectives and identifies their primary morphological and semantic characteristics.
3. Classifications of Adjectives: Analyzes the different semantic categorization methods used in grammar literature and explains various processes for forming adjectives.
4. The Comparison of Adjectives: Discusses the rules and irregularities of comparative and superlative forms as presented in pedagogical grammar resources.
5. Different Usages of Adjectives and Their Syntactical Roles: Investigates the structural functions of adjectives, including attributive and predicative positions, and their conversion to other parts of speech.
6. Adjectives in Different Occasions of Language Usage: Explores how the frequency and role of adjectives vary across different registers, such as academic prose versus casual conversation.
Keywords
Adjectives, English Grammar, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics, Comparative Forms, Attributive, Predicative, Language Pedagogy, Grammar Books, Lexical Word Classes, Linguistics, Word Formation, Register, Syntactical Roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this term paper?
The paper focuses on comparing how different English grammar books handle the topic of adjectives, specifically regarding their definition, classification, and usage.
Which grammar books are analyzed in this research?
The study includes works such as 'English Grammar in Use', 'A Grammar of Present-Day English', 'Longman English Grammar', and the 'Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and Written English', among others.
What is the main pedagogical goal of the author?
The goal is to provide teachers with an overview of different grammatical approaches so they can select the most appropriate materials for their students' specific needs.
How are adjectives classified in the discussed grammars?
Most books categorize them into subjective (opinion) and factual (size, age, color, origin) groups, though some include further semantic classes like topical or affiliative classifiers.
What are the core syntactical roles of adjectives discussed?
The paper primarily examines attributive and predicative usage, but also covers substantive roles and instances where nouns behave as adjectives.
Which specific linguistic registers does the author compare?
The author highlights differences in adjective usage across conversation, fiction, news, and academic prose.
How does the paper address adjective formation?
It outlines three main methods: using derivational suffixes or prefixes, employing participle forms (present/past), and creating compound adjectives.
What distinguishes 'peripheral' adjectives from 'central' ones?
According to the 'Longman Student Grammar', peripheral adjectives lack typical characteristics such as regular gradability or standard morphological inflection.
Why does the author advocate for using non-textbook materials in class?
The author suggests that real-world texts, like newspaper articles, often demonstrate a more varied and practical usage of adjectives than standard textbook exercises.
How is the distinction between attributive and predicative usage defined?
Attributive adjectives are placed before a noun, whereas predicative adjectives appear after linking verbs such as 'be' or 'seem'.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Cordula Zwanzig (Autor:in), 2009, Adjectives in Different Grammars, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/267698
