Quiz Unit 14 Expression of quality, degree and comparison

Which suffix is commonly associated with forming adjectives that describe quality in English?

• -ment

• -ous

• -tion

• -ity

Answer explanation

Suffixes like -ous (e.g., “generous,” “serious”) are commonly used in English to form adjectives that denote quality. While the other suffixes are used in forming nouns, -ous specifically helps in creating adjectives describing attributes or states .

Which of the following adjectives can form the comparative and superlative using both inflection (-er/-est) and "more/most"?

• Narrow

• Intelligent

• Dangerous

• Happy

Answer explanation

The adjective 'narrow' can form its comparative as 'narrower' and superlative as 'narrowest', as well as using 'more narrow' and 'most narrow'. Other options do not allow both forms, making 'narrow' the correct choice.“Two-syllable adjectives” like narrow can take both forms: “narrower/narrowest” or “more/most narrow.” Other options, like “intelligent,” only use “more/most,” and “dangerous” always forms comparatives analytically. “Happy” exclusively uses “-er/-est” as it ends in -y .

Which type of adjective is not likely to be gradable?

• Dynamic adjectives

• Adjectives denoting provenance

• Stative adjectives

• Qualitative adjectives

Answer explanation

Adjectives denoting provenance, such as 'American' or 'Italian', describe origin and do not have varying degrees. In contrast, dynamic, stative, and qualitative adjectives can express gradation, making them gradable.

What is the function of an adjective in the sentence, "The coffee is hot"?

• Subject

• Modifier

• Subject complement

• Object complement

Answer explanation

In the sentence "The coffee is hot," the adjective "hot" describes the subject "coffee" and completes the linking verb "is." Therefore, it functions as a subject complement, providing more information about the subject.

Which of the following is an example of a compound adjective?

• Wonderful

• Home-made

• Cleverest

• Surprisingly

Answer explanation

A compound adjective is formed by combining two or more words. 'Home-made' is an example, as it combines 'home' and 'made' to describe something made at home. The other options are not compound adjectives.

What distinguishes a gradable adjective from a non-gradable one?

• Gradable adjectives refer to specific categories.

• Gradable adjectives can take intensifiers or comparatives.

• Gradable adjectives only describe provenance.

• Gradable adjectives cannot be used with degree modifiers.

Answer explanation

Gradable adjectives like “tall” or “beautiful” can show varying degrees of quality and are modified by intensifiers like “very” or “slightly” and comparatives like “more.” Non-gradable adjectives, such as “polar” or “atomic,” refer to fixed qualities that do not change .

Which of the following is a predicative-only adjective?

• Clever

• Utter

• Loath

• Beautiful

Answer explanation

Predicative-only adjectives, like “loath,” appear only after linking verbs (e.g., “She is loath to agree”). Adjectives like “utter” are attributive-only, and “clever” or “beautiful” can be both attributive and predicative .

Which compound adjective type includes a participle and an adverb?

• Hard-working

• Home-made

• Barefooted

• Ill-bred

Answer explanation

The combination of an adverb + past participle creates compound adjectives like “ill-bred.” Other examples include “well-dressed” or “far-fetched.” “Hard-working” uses an adverb + present participle, while “home-made” is noun + past participle .

What suffix is typically used to form adverbs from adjectives?

• -ic

• -ly

• -ous

• -ness

Answer explanation

Adverbs are frequently derived from adjectives by adding -ly (e.g., “quick → quickly”). However, not all adjectives follow this pattern, as some, like “fast,” remain the same in their adverbial form .

Which of these adjectives is both inherent and dynamic?

• Wooden

• Gold

• Narrow

• Happy

Answer explanation

“Wooden,” in a sentence like “The actor is being wooden,” is dynamic because the state can change and non-inherent because it describes behavior rather than a literal attribute of the noun .