Proper Adjective

Introduction

Proper adjectives are formed from proper nouns, they are subject to the same grammatical rules as proper nouns in their construction. Consider the following example: He is a Mexican cook. Here the adjective is derived from a proper noun Mexico.

What is a proper adjective?

In grammatical terms, a proper adjective is an adjective that is derived from a proper noun. When we talk about proper nouns, we’re talking about nouns that have a connection to people, places, and things that are unique from the rest of the lexicon. Here are a few examples of proper nouns: Isaac Newton, Russian Federation, and Twitter are all names that fall within this classification. To illustrate that something originated in a certain region or is related to a specific person, proper adjectives are used. A product or service is referred to as “Japanese” since it was developed in Japan. Nonetheless, the Victorian era was a period of history during which, among other things, Queen Victoria of England governed and exercised power and during which Queen Victoria of England reigned.

Proper adjective: Definition

The proper adjective, like other adjectives, characterises a noun. Proper adjectives differ from other adjectives because they come from proper nouns, making it easier to tell the difference between them. As a result, they should be expressed in capital letters in most circumstances to avoid confusion. As a general rule, when constructing proper adjective phrases or sentence constructions, the names of nations (or other specified places), religions, or individuals are used as starting points.

Proper adjectives: Examples

It is common practice for proper adjectives to be derived from the names of people or places: for example, individuals from various historical periods such as Elizabethan, Victorian, and Napoleonic periods, Christians and Buddhists from various periods such as Shakespearean, Edwardian, Maoist, Jacksonian, Kafkaesque, Confucian, and so on. The Spanish, American, Japanese, Chinese, Australian, Chilean, Norwegian, Jamaican, Bulgarian, Iraqi, Afghan, Haitian, African, and European countries are all discussed in this book, as are the Japanese, Chinese, and Norwegian.

When it comes to specific persons or places, a few proper adjectives should not be pushed when used more broadly. There are many examples of this in adjectives such as significant, simple, draconian, and titanic.

Proper adjectives should be used in the following places in a sentence:

Like most other adjectives, proper adjectives can be employed either directly before the noun or pronoun they modify or as the subject complement of a sentence when used in conjunction with a linking verb, as with most other adjectives.

• This week, we’ll be learning about the history of Uganda.
• The architecture of the Roman Empire is breathtaking.
• According to the researchers, the objects were assumed to be of Chinese origin.
• My father is of Albanian descent, and my mother is of Polish descent.
• The difference between the subjects and predicates is explained in this section.

Proper adjectives examples in a sentence

Correctly using proper adjectives in sentences is demonstrated in each of the following examples.

Example No. 1

She went out and purchased several boxes of Swiss chocolate. The appropriate adjective Swiss modifies the chocolate, indicating that the chocolate originated in Switzerland.

Example No. 2

He aided me in my study of Euclidean geometry. In this case, the appropriate adjective Euclidean modifies the noun geometry, indicating that the field of geometry was founded on the theorems of the Greek mathematician Euclid.

Example No. 3

When horror stories incorporate Lovecraftian undertones, I find them particularly compelling. (The proper adjective Lovecraftian is used to modify the noun themes, implying that the themes are akin to those employed by horror writer H.P. Lovecraft and is used in this context.)

Proper Adjectives are Short and to the point.

If you compare the meaning and function of proper adjectives to regular adjectives, you will see that they are substantially more specialised. They are typically used to provide a brief description of something. Proper adjectives allow authors to express their point in fewer words than they would have if they had instead used a proper noun to do it instead.

Consider the following questions: Which is more succinct?

• The USA President will pay a visit soon.
• The president of the USA, who is now in office, will pay a visit soon.

As the first option delivers the content in fewer words than the second option, writers tend to use the first option over the second.

• The adjective “USA” modifies the noun “president” in the first of the two options above.
• Both USA and the president are nouns in the second case with no adjective to describe it.

Readers will only feel irritated or bored if a writer is extremely lengthy due to repetition of the same words in their writing. Increasing your adjective vocabulary will allow you to precisely and rapidly describe objects. Proper adjectives connected to proper nouns, can considerably improve the clarity of your written communication.

Proper Adjectives Can Be Used in a Different Way

Proper adjectives may be used metaphorically and literally, depending on the context. Academics regularly use proper adjectives formed from the proper names of notable philosophers in their writing. It is possible to suggest certain methods of thinking and theories, which is advantageous.

• The machiavellian political technique can be applied to a variety of political situations.
• People and society may be approached in an Orwellian or Freudian manner by someone.

Consider the following sentence:

           Their tragic love story was on par with Shakespeare’s tragedies.

Conclusion

A proper adjective is defined as a modifier that states some particular quality that makes a noun stand out. These adjectives are derived from proper nouns. When you come across a capitalised term, examine if it refers to a particular person, place, or thing or whether it is modifying a specific person, place, or thing that you are familiar with. One should be careful in using these adjectives appropriately.