Syntax » Focus & Content » Traditional Grammar » Constituents and Phrasal Categories » The Adjective Phrase

_{Syntactic Theory}

The Adjective Phrase (AP)

The distribution of the adjective phrase

An AP can occur

following a 'linking verb' (copula verb): Kim is/feels/sounds/smells __.

The pro-form so can be used to refer to an AP: Kim is [very interested in snooker] and so is Pat.

The internal structure of the adjective phrase

An AP must contain an adjective
An AP may contain:
- a degree word (very, quite, extremely) at the left periphery of the AP
- a PP following the AP (proud [PP: of their children], fond [PP: of icecream])
- an infinitival VP introduced with to following the AP (eager [to leave early], easy [to read])
- a clause (certain [that Kim will arrive on time])

In English, an AP in prenominal (i.e. attributive) position may not contain elements following the adjective:

Kim is [AP: very proud [PP: of the children]].
the [AP: very proud] teacher
*the [AP: very proud [PP: of the children]] teacher

Example 1: An AP with a degree word and a clause

                __AP________
               /  |         \
              /   |      ____S_____
            Adv   A     /          \
             |    |    /____________\
    Kim is very happy that Pat called.

Further reading on the other major phrases, NP, VP, PP.

Categories: Glossary

< The Verb Phrase | General Linguistics | The Preposition Phrase >