Adjectives

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  • Semantic test:
    • Adjectives refer to properties
  • morphological test:
    • Adjectives can combine with comparative and superlative markers (-er/-est, or more/most)
    • Adjectives can combine with -ly to form an adverb
  • syntactic test
    • Adjectives can be between a determiner and a noun, i.e. in the environment ('attributive use'):Det __ N Pat read the __ book.
    • Adjectives can occur in the following copula ('linking') verbs ('predicative use'):They felt/seemed/sounded __