Adjectives are words, or phrases naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it.
5
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3answers
970 views
Adjective describing a person who does work to get it done
I have a friend who always goes on that I have a bad work ethic, though I am not lazy. At the same time, he says he has a good work ethic, but is lazy.
The definition of having a good work ethic is ...
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2answers
143 views
Capitalization for “Federal”
I'm writing an article for publication and I want to capitalize the following sentence appropriately. "You need to know that Federal law bars the lender from accelerating the mortgage on your ...
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2answers
134 views
Is it possible to use “extraordinaire” instead of “extraordinary”?
Since they are both adjectives, is it possible to use them interchangeably on various occasions? When is the right time to use extraordinaire?
2
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2answers
3k views
“Repairable” vs. “reparable” vs. “irreparable” vs. “unrepairable”
I've been looking online at these three words, but I'm not able to determine their relationship and the rules surrounding their usage.
I believe this is true:
Repairable: Just what you'd think, ...
0
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1answer
142 views
“Continuing” vs. “continued”
So, just a few minutes ago we had this question asking whether one could substitute ongoing availability with continuing availability and what the difference would be, if any. Apart from the question ...
4
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3answers
184 views
Using “reachable” instead of “available”
Is it possible to use reachable as a replacement for available? I noticed that some dictionaries don't have the former term in their database. Is there any origin for this word?
2
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5answers
532 views
What is the difference between “dichotomous”, “binary”, “boolean”, etc.?
To classify species we use a method called: dichotomous biological key. It works base on true and false cycles. In computer sciences true and fulse working is called boolean and binary is a 0 and 1 ...
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2answers
60 views
Using the word “deadbeat” as an adjective
BBC quotes President Obama:
America is "not a deadbeat nation", US President Barack Obama has said, as he warned Republicans unconditionally to approve a rise in the US debt ceiling.
It appears ...
0
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2answers
64 views
“Proxime” vs. “proximate”
When should proxime and proximate be used? Can they be used both to mean spatial as well as temporal nearness? Are they being used differently in British and American English?
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2answers
182 views
About adjective possessive pronouns [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is there a correct gender-neutral, singular pronoun (“his” versus “her” versus “their”)?
In the sentence ‘Everyone should make everyone’s part’, what adjective ...
0
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1answer
113 views
Difference between “hypnotic” and “hypnotizing”
Is there a difference between hypnotic and hypnotizing? I believe they are synonyms but I think of hypnotic as being more metaphorical, and hypnotizing as being used, at least sometimes, as a clinical ...
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3answers
10k views
“Belated happy birthday” or “happy belated birthday”?
What's the correct sentence?
Belated happy birthday!
Happy belated birthday!
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4answers
732 views
“Large amount of calories” vs. “high amount of calories”
Is it more typical to say that there are a large amount of calories or a high amount of calories?
For example:
Chocolate cake contains a high/large amount of calories.
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1answer
332 views
Most is adjective or adverb, comparative or superlative in the following phrase?
In the following phrase, from the 1971 film "The Devils" by Ken Russell, what is "most"? An adjective or an adverb? And in what form, comparative or superlative?
I conjure thee, most frightful ...
1
vote
1answer
141 views
Is there a difference between “depressive” and “depressing”?
Is news depressing or depressive? In what situations would you use these two words?
According to dicionary.com:
depressive - tending to depress
depressing - serving to depress; inducing a ...
3
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2answers
167 views
Sometimes the article precedes the noun and not the adjective
I have a question that baffled me for a while now, and I'd be a happier person for an answer.
Why in sentences such as
It's not that big a deal.
And
He was as nice a friend as you were.
Or
...
6
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1answer
144 views
Where does “wicked” get its /ɪd/ from?
There are three ways I know to pronounce the -ed at the end of an adjective:
/t/ as in cracked.
/d/ as in lined.
/ɪd/ as in naked
I realise naked is a special case because, as etymonline states, ...
5
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1answer
203 views
How do I refer to two things together that have different adjectives?
I want to express these two facts: there is a front view; and there is a side view.
Which of the following are valid ways of referring to the two views together?
a front and side view;
a ...
0
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1answer
100 views
Exact meaning of “You are brand new”? [closed]
I run across a phrase of "You are brand new to GitHub" on the web.
What makes me confused is the word "brand"; is it a noun, an adjective or an adverb?
3
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3answers
205 views
Lexically recognized synonym for “humblebrag”?
As one might guess, a humblebrag is one who uses a pretense of humility as a vehicle for boasting. This word can be found at Urban Dictionary but, it appears, nowhere more authoritative. Yet, of ...
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3answers
200 views
For people, can you say “a British” like you can say “an Australian”?
According to Wiktionary, you can't use "a British" to refer to individual British people, though you can use it to refer to a race of people as a whole, but you can use "an Australian", and this ...
2
votes
3answers
240 views
“Precise” vs. “exact” [closed]
Which of the sentences below looks more natural?
Question answering systems that appear with the aim of providing precise textual answers.
Question answering systems that appear with the aim ...
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2answers
112 views
An adjective that would substitute “underfunded” here?
Tom remains underfunded to start up a business.
The context is that this man has an excellent business plan and entrepreneurial spirit. But the bank wouldn't lend him money in absence of ...
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5answers
144 views
What is the noun for “committable”?
I am coding a program and want to raise a signal whenever the data of a form is in a state that allows it to be committed to a storage.
signal committabilityChanged();
However, I don't find the ...
3
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1answer
452 views
Are the adjectives “utopic” and “dystopic” correct English words?
My dictionary only mentions the form ending in "ian" for both adjectives (utopian/dystopian) yet I do come across the "ic" ending in some decent writings. Would that be considered incorrect usage?
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1answer
175 views
Difference between “antisymmetric” and “nonsymmetric” [closed]
What is the difference between antisymmetric and nonsymmetric?
I only know the meaning of asymmetric.
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1answer
97 views
Is “low physique” idiomatic?
Is "low physique" idiomatic? If not, what is the adjective to be used with physique?
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6answers
116 views
Oxymoronic soundtrack — mismatch audio to visuals
I am looking for a word or a turn of phrase to describe a situation whereby the music or a soundtrack does not go with the visuals of a film at all. This is to perhaps make it more poignant and create ...
5
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4answers
607 views
“The point is moot”
I was recently called out for using the phrase "the point is moot" incorrectly. My intent was to indicate that I felt that the point wasn't really worth debating or discussing. I was then shown that ...
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3answers
424 views
Is an impromptu speech essentially the same as, or different from, an extempore speech? [closed]
I was taught by at least two speech professors that an impromptu speech is one that is given on the spot, with no formal preparation, whereas an extempore speech is one that is prepared in advance. ...
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2answers
74 views
“Special” or “specials” [closed]
I would like to know if in the following sentence, special should be plural or not.
The red apples are not special.
I do not feel that this is correct.
1
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4answers
458 views
“May I know your good name?” [closed]
“May I know your good name” is a typically Indian way of honouring the other person (who is previously unknown) by asking their name using an adjective like sweet, good, beautiful, et cetera — and of ...
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1answer
60 views
Is this adjective or adverbial?
When are you getting the train back to Adelaide?
Is the phrase back to Adelaide an adjective phrase that modifies the train or adverbial to are getting?
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2answers
238 views
Order of participial adjective
I'm proof-reading a thesis by one of my friends and there's some recurring construct which I always mark as false but I'd like to check with you.
In the comments I was told that the example I ...
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1answer
203 views
Three-word phrase stress (“little straw house” vs. “small wooden house”)
I'm interested to learn why the following three-word phrases have stress on different words.
"little straw house" (stress is on little and house)
"small wooden house" (stress is on wooden)
Here ...
0
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5answers
282 views
How many adjectives can be chained without sounding weird?
In spoken and written language, in colloquial and formal context. Is there a general rule to use in sentences like the following:
"How many broken yellow plastic toys?"
"All those old ...
3
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2answers
301 views
“Nose” is to “nasal” as “throat” is to what?
We use nasal as an adjective for something related to nose.
What is the word to refer to something related to throat?
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2answers
140 views
Is there a word for the word being described by an adjective?
Is there a word for the word being described by an adjective? In other words, the "target" of an adjective. Or, by analogy, "Operators have operands, adjectives have ____."
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vote
2answers
310 views
“True” vs. “right” vs. “correct”
I noticed that, in the dictionary, the words True, Right and Correct can have a meaning resembling accurate or exact. ODO says:
True (adj) = accurate or exact.
Right (adj) = true or correct as a ...
2
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4answers
174 views
“Unsociable” vs. “unsocial” in the following sentence
I got stuck in my exam when there were two options which look similar in meaning. Interestingly, the examiner gave two synonyms. The sentence was:
The hockey team could not deal with his ...
2
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4answers
65 views
Is “mellifluous” onomatopoeic?
mel·lif·lu·ous /məˈliflo͞oəs/
Adjective:
(of a voice or words) Sweet or musical; pleasant to hear.
As in the title: is "mellifluous" onomatopoeic or is the definition of onomatopoeia ...
4
votes
2answers
198 views
What is the difference between “impossible” and “implausible”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Plausible” vs. “possible”
My English-Russian dictionary translates "impossible" and "implausible" absolutely the same. But there must be a difference. Could you ...
2
votes
2answers
331 views
“Fairly quick” vs. “fairly quickly” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Which is correct: “drive safe” or “drive safely”?
If I were to write a sentence like:
I completed the task fairly quickly.
Is it correct, or would fairly quick be ...
2
votes
0answers
20 views
Adjective order convention [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the rule for adjective order?
As a native speaker, I would always say "big red ball," but never "red big ball."
Further, I would say "Big red furry ball," and ...
3
votes
7answers
293 views
“Crack” as a positive noun?
Some Spanish speakers use the word crack as a positive noun. For example:
Lionel Messi es un crack del football!
Is it the same in English? Can I say: You're a crack?
19
votes
3answers
839 views
What exactly are the differences between “diligent”, “assiduous” and “sedulous”?
From OALD:
sedulous (formal) showing great care and effort in your work
synonym: diligent
assiduous (formal) working very hard and taking great care that everything is done as well as it ...
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3answers
584 views
“How far” vs “How long”
I am not clear how to use "How long" and "How far". Suppose I got in a taxi or cab to my hotel, how should I say to the driver if I want to know the distance to the hotel? Which of the following is ...
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2answers
315 views
Why can we say “worth more than” but not “expensive more than”?
Why can we say:
It is worth more than. . . .
but not:
It is expensive more than. . . .
It’s the position of more which I find so confusing.
Also, is worth an adjective in both these ...
4
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4answers
191 views
A single word for an inanimate object that is very old and held in high esteem
What is an adjective for an inanimate object that is very old and held in very high esteem?
Especially in the context of buildings for example:
The government building is ____ . Many people flock to ...
4
votes
2answers
157 views
Is there an adjective form of “recipe”?
Is it possible to use "recipe" as an adjective as in the following sentence:
These are some reciptial suggestions for you.
(These set of suggestions are like a recipe to your problems.)
What ...
