Adjectives

Learn the :
Definition of Adjective In English In Thai Functions of Adjective In English In Thai Rules in using Adjectives Formulas

Objectives:
To restore knowledge from past learnings about adjectives as a part of speech in the English grammar. To define adjective in Thai linguistics. To compare and contrast adjectives in English and Thai perspective. To learn about the rules in using adjectives in English and Thai language To present formulas for better understanding of the Thai adjectives

Definition of Adjective
In English, adjective is a part of speech that modifies a noun or a pronoun

In Thai linguistics, adjectives are simply called /kham wi saeht/, which is usually translated as modifier.

Three main grammatical functions within sentences in the English language:

Functions of Adjective

Adjectives as Noun Phrase Modifiers -words and phrases that describe noun or noun phrases. Adjectives as Predicative Modifiers - adjectives and adjective phrases that follow a copular or linking verb such as be and become and modifies or describes the subject. Adjectives as Object Complements - nouns, pronouns, noun phrases, adjectives, and adjective phrases that directly follow and modify the direct object.

Functions of adjective in Thai

attributive function Or (Noun Phrase Modifiers) standalone predicate

Rules in using Adjectives

Noun Phrase Modifier Rule: In noun phrase modifier, the adjective is placed before the noun it modifies in the sentence. Examples: My mother planted purple flowers in her garden. The very tiny puppy barked at the cat. The restaurant served tasteless soup

Predicative Modifier
Rule: In using predicative modifier just add a copular or linking verb before the adjective. Examples: My cat is black and brown. Your hair is shiny. I am fond of Thai grammar.

Objective Complements
Rule: In using objective complements as a modifier, just add adjective or adjective phrases after the direct object of the sentence. Examples: The little girl wanted her room bright pink. Catholics consider saints holy. The jury judged the defendant guilty.

Noun Phrase Modifier (Attributive Modifier)

Rule: The important thing to understand about adjectives is that you should place them after the noun they are describing. Examples: Words bahn yai - big house bahn lek - small house mah cha - slow dog rot yon ray-oh - fast car

Sample Sentences Dek sa baai yim. English translation: The content child smiles. Pern lawel port go hok. English translation: The bad friend tell a lie. Mah cha khao bahn. English translation: The slow dog entered the house.

Predicative modifier
Rule: In Thai, there is no need for additional verb, copula or linking verb to join an adjective to a noun. Examples: Khun sway . English translation: You are beautiful. Khun Steve bpen kon soong English translation: Mr Steve is a tall person Khun Somchai bpen kon dtee-a English translation: Mr Somchai is a short person

Degree of Comparison in English

English has two ways of forming the degrees of comparison 1. an inflectional way involving the use of the bound morphemes -er and -est, and 2. an analytical way involving the use of the free morphemes more and most.

Degree of Comparison

Positive

Comparative Superlative

inflectional

dark friendly compatible intelligent

dark-er friendli-er more compatible more intelligent

dark-est friendli-est most compatible most intelligent

analytical

Adjective Big Small

Comparative Bigger Smaller

Superlative Biggest Smallest

Little
Much Good Bad

Less
More Better Worse

Least
most Best Worst

Far

Further

Furthest

 Thai uses add-on words to form the comparative and the superlative so there are no irregular forms.

The Comparative
Rule1: The comparative is formed with the add on word gwah. Example: yai gwah - bigger Sentence: Bahn nee yai gwah bahn nun English translation: This house is bigger than that house

 lek gwah - smaller Sentence: noo lek gwah mee-ow English translation: A mouse is smaller than a cat.

 Rule 2: mah gwah is the equivalent of more Example: pom chawp bee-a mah gwah lao English translation: I like beer more than spirits.

 Rule 3: dee gwah is the equivalent of better bpai gup koon john dee gwah - Go with Mr John, better bpai tee nai dee gwah, pooget reu pataya where is better to go, Phuket or Pattaya bpai pooget dee gwah - go to Phuket is better

Superlative
Rule 1: The superlative is formed with the add on words tee soot.

 Example: yai tee soot - biggest Sentence: Phuket pben gaw yai tee soot nai pra-tayt Thailand English translation: Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand

 Rule 2: dee tee soot is equivalent of best Example: pra tayt dee tee soot Sentence: pra-tayt thai dee tee soot English translation: Thailand is the best country

Last
To say 'the last' of something, you use the add on words soot tai. Example: tee soot tai - last place Sentence: kao mah tee soot tai English translation: He came in last place.

Formulas
In using noun phrase modifier, the formula is: a. English: adjective+ noun (A+N) b. Thai: noun+ adjective (N+A) In using predicative modifier, the formula is: a. English: subject + linking verb+ adjective/ adjective phrases (S+LV+A) b. Thai: subject+ adjective/ adjective phrases (S+A)

In the degree of comparison:

a. English: Regular adjective- base form of adjective+er/est (comparative and superlative respectively) Irregular adjective: add many, better, best b. Thai In comparative: adjective + gwa (represents er) adjective + mah gwah (more) adjective + dee gwah (better) In superlative: adjective + tee soot ( -est ) Adjective + dee tee soot (best)