English grammar - Adjectives for Class 7

 

An adjective is a part of speech in the English language that tells us more about a noun or a pronoun. Because adjectives add to the meaning of a noun or a pronoun, they are also called ‘modifying words’. Students learning adjectives for Class 7 will be told about their usage in a sentence and will also study the different kinds of adjectives. Adjectives form an integral part of sentence structure. They add qualitative value to the noun and make our association with the subject well-defined.

 

The online learning material for adjectives for Class 7, curated by PlanetSpark, complements the CBSE curriculum in English grammar. We offer a simple way of learning English grammar. For clarity, we have provided examples with popular types of adjectives in use. A child will not only learn adjectives for Class 7 but also end up revising the content of the coursebook made available at school.

 

Different kinds of adjectives

 

Like other parts of speech in the English language, adjectives are also used differently in different situations. There are several types of adjectives that we may find in our daily conversations. English grammar for Class 7 covers the main type of adjectives and their usage. You will find the adjectives illustrated with examples in this section. It will serve as a ready reckoner for a student looking to learn adjectives for Class 7.

 

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.

 

Examples

1. Singapore is an expensive city.
2. Rashmi is a kind girl.

In both examples, the adjectives are refining the quality of the noun. The word ‘expensive’ defines Singapore. Similarly, in the second sentence, the word ‘kind’ tells you what quality Rashmi has.

 

2. Adjectives of quantity

As the name suggests, such an 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 only a few students in the class.
2. You could have brought some milk.

 

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 five pencils in her box
2.  Some families did not attend the meeting.

 

In the examples mentioned above, adjectives add numeric values to the nouns.

 

4. 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 house is mine

These flowers are pretty.

 

You can see how these adjectives point to a particular noun, modifying their use. With these adjectives, you have made specific references to the subjects you want to draw attention to.

 

5. Interrogative adjectives

These adjectives are used in sentences that ask questions about a noun or a pronoun. What, whose and which are some examples of interrogative adjectives. When using interrogative adjectives, remember that they are always followed by a noun or a pronoun.

 

Examples

1. Which class are you in?
2. Whose purse is this?

 

6. Possessive adjectives

Adjectives that show ownership are called possessive adjectives. These adjectives show association with the noun or a pronoun by way of possession. Whenever you have difficulty in identifying these adjectives, remember that they always come before a noun.

 

Examples

1. My dog is tied outside.
2. Their house is very spacious.

 

 

Degrees of adjectives

 

English grammar for Class 7 also defines degrees of adjectives; these can be used to compare two or more nouns and are called the degrees of comparison. There are three degrees of comparison of adjectives: Positive, comparative and superlative degree.

 

1. Positive degree: When a sentence defines a noun or speaks of its quality, it is called a positive degree. Such usage does not have any room for comparison.

 

Example

Ranu is a tall girl. (There is no comparison, just an attribution.)

 

2. Comparative degree: When an adjective compares two sets of nouns, a comparative degree of adjective is at work.

 

Example

Ranu is taller than Deepa. (Note that the comparison is in effect.)

 

3. Superlative degree: When an adjective determines the greatest degree of a quality in a noun compared to others in the same set, it results in a superlative degree.

 

Example

Ranu is the tallest girl in the class. (The degree of comparison is the greatest in the ‘class’, which is the same group or set.)

 

 

Rules for usage

 

1. Difference between an adjective and an adverb.

Just as adjectives add to the meaning of a noun or a pronoun, adverbs redefine a verb. Sometimes, adverbs are used in place of an adjective, which is erroneous and should be avoided. We must remember that adjectives modify a noun, not a verb.

 

2. Coordinate adjectives

When we use different adjectives to modify the same noun, they are called coordinate adjectives. These adjectives can be used with a comma or with the conjunction ‘and’.

 

Example

It is going to be a long, hard recession.

(In this sentence, both ‘long’ and ‘hard’ modify the noun ‘recession’. The important point here is that they can independently add to the meaning of ‘recession’ as well.)

 

3. Proper adjectives

When an adjective modifies a proper noun, it is called a proper adjective. Proper adjectives borrow from the proper noun and come across as almost similar, but they are not. There are subtle differences in their usage, placement and sentence structure that separate them from the nouns.

 

Examples

 

I like Japanese food.

Shakespearean plays have been adapted into movies.

 

In the first example, Japanese food has its origin in Japan, a proper noun. In the second example, the adjective has been derived from the name of a popular writer.

 

4. How to frame a sentence with an interrogative adjective

Here is a working tip on adjectives for Class 7. When using an interrogative adjective in a sentence, always remember that it has to be followed by a noun. For example: What colour is your hair? In this sentence, ‘what’ is the interrogative adjective. It is followed by the noun ‘colour’. There can be no other word between an interrogative adjective and the noun it is modifying.

 

5. Things to keep in mind with proper adjectives

There are two things about proper adjectives that you must keep in mind. First, proper adjectives are always capitalised. The first letter of a proper adjective will be in capitals. This rule about adjectives for Class 7 follows from the fact that they represent a proper noun, which is always capitalised. The other thing that will guide you in usage is that proper adjectives are derived from the names of places and popular people.

 

Examples

1. I like American movies. (Here, the adjective is derived from America, a proper noun representing a country.)
2. They follow a Christian tradition. (This sentence draws the adjective from the noun Christ.)

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is an adjective in the English language?

An adjective is a word that adds something to the description of a noun. These words usually bring about a qualitative aspect of the noun, thereby refining its image.

 

2. Does an adjective replace a noun?

No. Unlike pronouns, adjectives do not replace nouns. They add on to the meaning of a noun or a pronoun.

 

3. Are there different kinds of adjectives?

Yes, there are different kinds of adjectives. Some important classifications are based on quality, quantity and numeric values. Adjectives are also defined as possessive, interrogative and demonstrative.

 

4. Can adjectives modify pronouns?

Yes, adjectives can modify pronouns just as they can add to the meaning of nouns. However, adjectives cannot modify verbs or adverbs.

 

5. What does the degree of an adjective convey?

The degree of an adjective draws a comparison between two or more nouns. It gives us an insight into the qualitative aspect in the same set of people or things. Adjectives come in three degrees of comparison: Positive, comparative and superlative.

Check out the ‘degree of adjectives’ section to understand intriguing English for Class 7.

 

6. How does PlanetSpark literature help in learning intriguing English for Class 7?

Our learning material adds value to the CBSE Class 7 English grammar, adjectives included. Our information is easy to use and understand.

 

Summary

Adjectives bring value to the noun. They can modify, add to the meaning and lend perspective to a noun or a pronoun. We use adjectives in our daily conversations. Our compilation of English grammar for Class 7 will help them improve their knowledge of adjectives for Class 7. Adjectives are classified by types and degrees. Each of these has a different purpose and offers a wide range of use. The degrees of adjectives are used to compare two or more nouns. This lends a qualitative insight into the subject and/or subjects we are referring to in a sentence. With PlanetSpark’s online learning tools, students can work efficiently with adjectives for Class 7.