Primitive Adjectives and Derivatives

You AdjectivesPrimitives they are not derived from any words. They are the ones from which other adjectives are formed - the derivatives. You AdjectivesDerivatives, therefore, derive from other words, which can be adjectives, nouns or verbs.

Compare:

Primitive Adjectives	Derived Adjectives
blue	bluish
yellow	yellowish
remarkable	most notable

Examples of Primitive Adjectives and Derivatives

1. After sad news, he went out for some air. Yet sad, returned home.
2. I like the dress green, although this tone greenish don't match my skin too much.
3. I am happy with the event. nothing will leave me unhappy today!
4. the husband always faithful, he suffered with his wife unfaithful.
5. He is White, but today it is whitish!

In the pairs highlighted above, the first adjective is primitive: sad, green, happy, faithful and white.
Sad, greenish, unhappy, unfaithful and whitish, in turn, are adjectives derivatives.

Adjectives Derived from Verbs and Nouns

So far we've seen adjectives derived from primitive adjectives, let's now look at adjectives that arise from other word classes.

1. disjointed, could not articulate the words correctly. (disarticulated derives from the verb to articulate)
2. are all very lovely. (lovable derives from the noun love)
3. Illnesses mortals they kill millions every year. (mortals derives from the noun death)
4. i feel Brazilian, although he was born in Portugal. (Brazilian derives from the noun Brazil)
5. These letters are visible for me; I can see them perfectly. (visible derives from the verb to see)

Homeland Adjectives - those referring to countries, states, among others, characterizing people according to their origins are an example of derived adjectives. Know more!

AND,forto completeyourresearch,read:

• Adjectives
• simple adjectives
• Adjective inflection
• Uniform Adjectives
• Biform Adjectives
• Adjective Degree
• superlative degree
• Adjective phrase

Exercise

Indicate the primitive and derivative adjectives.

a) fair
b) nice
c) friend
d) impossible
e) terrible
f) thin
g) practicable
h) visible
i) invisible
j) beautiful

See Answer

• Primitive adjectives: letters a, c, f and j.
• Derived adjectives: letters b, d, e, g, h and i.

See too: Exercises on adjectives (with commented feedback)