The British Council?s language clinic with ?Dr Danny?

Hello and welcome back to the British Council?s English language clinic. This week I?d like to share some thoughts on a particular type of word: adjectives. Adjectives describe nouns and other adjectives; they allow us to communicate colour and texture, size and type, quantity and quality. Adjectives are what give our language personality. For example ?the cat sat on the chair? is a fairly basic statement, it does not offer any detail. By using adjectives we can change this statement into a detailed and colourful description of an event. The same basic information is still present but now the description becomes more interesting and individual. ?The angry black cat sat on the old oak chair?. I like to think of adjectives as being the paints on an artist?s palette.

Adjectives should always be chosen carefully, as they can dramatically alter the way in which people react to what we say. For example, I may not be particularly concerned to learn that there is ?a dog? outside my house, but were I to learn that there was ?a horse sized, ravenous beast of a dog? outside I might be rather more concerned. When communicating we sometimes want to give as much detail as possible. On other occasions we want others to see the world in a very particular way. For example ?I?m going on holiday, could you look after my dog?? is a fairly reasonable request to make to a neighbour. Whereas, ?I?m going on a very long holiday, could you look after my horse sized, ravenous beast of a dog?, I think you?ll agree, is not. So, pay attention to the adjectives you use? but pay even more attention to the adjectives other people use!

Please send your comments, queries and questions to ?Doctor Danny? at the British Council?s English Language clinic by emailing the following address [email protected]. To find out about studying with the British Council please call 403 0200.