English Grammar - Adjective for Class 6

Adjectives are universally known as ‘modifying words’. These words form an important part of speech in the English language. Adjectives help us determine the qualities of a noun, or put a value to it. This helps in a closer association with a noun. Adjectives can also be used with pronouns to modify their meaning. In the following passages, students will be learning adjectives for Class 6.

The learning material for adjectives online, for Class 6, has been curated by PlanetSpark for students in the middle classes. They are in sync with the learning module for CBSE Class 6 English grammar, adjectives included. Our educators have tried to explain the adjectives and their usage through easy-to-understand examples. Your child can learn adjectives for Class 6 by referring to our learning material.

Different kinds of adjectives

Adjectives, like other parts of speech in the English language, have their own types and rules. When studying English grammar for Class 6, students will come across different types of adjectives. Students will be told about their usage and placement in a sentence, while learning adjectives for Class 6.

1. Adjectives of quality

These adjectives offer qualitative information about a noun or a pronoun. They help you describe a subject. That is why such adjectives are also called descriptive adjectives.

Example

1. Tokyo is a developed city.
2. Gajraj is a friendly boy.

In both examples, the adjectives define the quality of the noun. The word ‘developed’ defines the noun ‘Tokyo’. In the second sentence, the word ‘friendly’ tells us something more about the subject, ‘Gajraj’.

2. Adjectives of quantity

As the name suggests, this adjective adds a measure to a noun or a pronoun. These are generally used with nouns that cannot be counted or computed; we can only determine their measure to a certain degree. These adjectives usually answer the question: how much.

Examples

1. There are more mangoes in the fridge.
2. We have enough food for a week.

In the first example, the adjective ‘more’ gives the mangoes a quantitative attribute. In the second, ‘enough’ modifies the noun ‘food’. Note that in both cases, we know of some value that has been assigned to the nouns by the adjectives of quantity.

3. Adjectives of number

When we use a word to assign quantitative values to a noun or a pronoun, it is known as an adjective of number. An adjective of number usually answers the question: how many.

Examples

1. There are twenty apples in the crate.
2.  Many employees skipped work today.

There are three different kinds of numeral adjectives in English grammar for Class 6. These are: definite, indefinite, and distributive.

Definite numeral adjectives will tell you the exact numeric value assigned to a noun. For example - There are twelve eggs in a dozen.

We use indefinite numeral adjectives when we are not aware of the precise numeric value that describes a noun. Some, many, and several are examples of indefinite numeral adjectives.

Distributive numeral adjectives represent nouns as a part of a whole, like a subset of the entire set. For example - Every citizen has the right to vote.

These examples show how adjectives can be used to amplify a subject by assigning it numeric values.

4. Interrogative adjectives

When we use adjectives to ask questions about a noun or a pronoun, they are called interrogative adjectives. Interrogative adjectives are necessarily followed by a noun or a pronoun. Some examples of interrogative adjectives are: What, whose, and which.

Examples

1. Which book are you reading?
2. Whose watch is this?

5. Demonstrative adjectives

When an adjective points to a specific person, an animal or a place, it is called a demonstrative adjective. Adjectives such as this, that, these, and those are demonstrative adjectives.

Examples:

That bike is mine.

These eggs are rotten.

These adjectives are modifying the nouns ‘bike’ and ‘eggs’. With these adjectives, you have made specific references to the subjects you want to draw attention to.

6. Possessive adjectives

When we use words to show ownership of a thing or a person, these words are called possessive adjectives. Such adjectives always precede a noun. These adjectives, like possessive pronouns, modify a noun by showing possession.

Examples

1. Is that your cat?
2. She is my sister.

These examples depict how you can show association with the subject in a sentence with the help of a possessive adjective.

Degrees of adjectives

While learning adjectives for Class 6, there is another aspect we must take into account. Other than the different types, adjectives are separated by degrees of comparison. These degrees are used to compare two or more nouns or pronouns. They allow a user to draw a comparison between any subject with respect to other subjects in the same set. The degrees of comparison of adjectives are divided into three types: Positive, comparative and superlative degrees.

1. Positive degree

In a positive degree of adjective, there is no comparison. For example: Rajasthan is a dry state. Here, we are just making a point about a noun. We are attributing a quality to it with the adjective ‘dry’.

2. Comparative degree
   When you use an adjective to draw a comparison between two sets of nouns, it results in a comparative degree of adjective. For example: Rajasthan is drier than Kerala. In this sentence, we are comparing two states with the adjective ‘drier’. This allows us to compare between the two nouns, ‘Rajasthan’ and ‘Kerala’.

3. Superlative degree

When making a comparison, if you attribute the greatest degree of a quality to a noun, it results in a superlative degree of an adjective. For example: Rajasthan is the driest state in the country. In this sentence, we have demonstrated how ‘Rajasthan’ is the driest (superlative degree) compared to the other states in the same set (A country).

Rules for usage

1. Difference between adjective and an adverb
   An important point to remember while learning English grammar for Class 6 is that adverbs cannot be used in place of an adjective, which is wrong and should be avoided. We must remember that adjectives modify a noun, and not a verb.
   
2. Coordinate adjectives

When different adjectives end up modifying the same noun, they are called coordinate adjectives, Such adjectives are used with a comma or the conjunction ‘and’.

Example

He is a calm and intelligent leader.

In this sentence, both ‘calm’ and ‘intelligent’ are modifying the noun ‘leader’. The important point to note is: when independently used, they can still make sense of the noun.

3. Proper adjectives

We use adjectives in day-to-day conversation that describe a proper noun. Such an adjective is called a proper adjective. Proper adjectives can come across as similar to proper nouns they modify. But there are differences in their usage and placement in a sentence.

Examples

I love Australian beaches.

I want to be a part of the Martian colony.

In the first example, ‘Australian’ has been derived from the proper noun ‘Australia,’ which is a country. In the second example, the adjective ‘Martian’ has been derived from ‘Mars’, which is a planet, and a proper noun. The proper adjectives, like the proper nouns from which they are derived, are always capitalised.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is an adjective in the English language?

An adjective brings qualitative value to a noun. It is a word that adds to the description of a noun or a pronoun.

2. Does an adjective replace a noun?

Adjectives cannot replace a noun. Pronouns can replace a noun, but adjectives modify a noun. They can also add to the meaning of a pronoun.

3. How many kinds of adjectives are there?

There are different kinds of adjectives. For simplicity’s sake, adjectives for Class 6 can be classified into 6 kinds. These are: Adjectives of quality, number and quantity. Then there are interrogative, possessive and demonstrative adjectives.

4. What is a proper adjective?

Adjectives for Class 6 syllabus include proper adjectives. These adjectives are derived from proper nouns, hence the name. Proper adjectives, like proper nouns, are always capitalised.

5. What is the degree of an adjective?

The degree of an adjective is used to make comparisons between two sets of nouns. Degrees of comparison of adjectives have been classified into three types: Positive, comparative, and superlative.

Summary

An adjective is a helpful part of speech in the English language. It describes the noun in a sentence. It also allows you to modify a pronoun in a sentence. While a pronoun simplifies a language, an adjective brings depth to it. There are multiple kinds of adjectives in our daily use. PlanetSpark’s material on English grammar allows a child to learn adjectives for Class 6 easily. Our learning modules are in sync with English grammar for Class 6. Students can also consult our literature and learn adjectives online. For Class 6, we have used examples with every topic to guide them better in their learning.

Resources

https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/adjectives-proper.php

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/adjective/

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adjective