Is Phrase an Adjective? 5 Facts (Read This First!)

In this article we’re going to take a deeper look into a sub-type of adjectives and try to answer the question “Is Phrase an Adjective?”

As we all know, adjectives are describing words and phrases as adjectives function under a very specific context.

Can a phrase act as an adjective?

No, standalone phrases cannot act as adjectives. But, the existence of an adjective phrase is possible wherein the adjective is preceded by another word.

For Example: We own a really slow computer.

  • In the above written sentence, the words ‘really slow’ account for an adjective phrase.
  • The noun that the said adjective phrase is describing is ‘computer’.
  • It’s an adjective phrase since the main adjective is preceded by other words that modify the adjective itself.
  • In most cases the modifier of the adjective is one or more adverb, as demonstrated in the above sentence.

When is phrase an adjective?

A phrase is an adjective when it is placed in front of a noun. More often than not when an adjective is preceded by an adverb, it turns into an adjective phrase.

For Example:  This is a very fast car that I just bought.

  • In the above given example, the words ‘very fast’ account for an adjective phrase.
  • The noun that the said adjective phrase is describing is ‘car’.
  • It’s an adjective phrase since the main adjective is preceded by other words that modify the adjective itself.
  • In most cases the modifier of the adjective is one or more adverb, as demonstrated in the above sentence.

How  is phrase an adjective?

A phrase is an adjective by virtue of its placement. If a phrase is used in a stand-alone manner then it acts as just a phrase but if it is used in front of a noun then it may be considered as an adjective.

For Example: The pie that you have made for us is astonishingly good.

  • The words ‘astonishingly good’ account for an adjective phrase in the above given example.
  • The noun that the said adjective phrase is describing is ‘pie’.
  • It’s an adjective phrase since the main adjective is preceded by other words that modify the adjective itself.
  • In most cases the modifier of the adjective is one or more adverb, as demonstrated in the above sentence.

What type of adjective are phrases?

Phrases can be a mixture of many types of adjectives. Since a phrase consists of more than one word it can have multiple types of adjectives in just one statement.

For Example: We just watched the most mind-numbingly boring movie of our lives.

  • Here we can see that the words ‘most mind-numbingly boring’ account for an adjective phrase.
  • The noun that the said adjective phrase is describing is ‘movie’.
  • It’s an adjective phrase since the main adjective is preceded by other words that modify the adjective itself.
  • In most cases the modifier of the adjective is one or more adverb, as demonstrated in the above sentence.

Use of adjective phrases in sentences

1.     That is a pretty neat book you got there.

  • In the above written sentence, the words ‘pretty neat’ account for an adjective phrase.
  • The noun that the said adjective phrase is describing is ‘book’.
  • It’s an adjective phrase since the main adjective is preceded by other words that modify the adjective itself.
  • In most cases the modifier of the adjective is one or more adverb, as demonstrated in the above sentence.

2.     I have used this for ten years and it’s a pretty well-maintained laptop

  • In the above-mentioned statement, the words ‘pretty well-maintained’ account for an adjective phrase.
  • The noun that the said adjective phrase is describing is ‘laptop’.
  • It’s an adjective phrase since the main adjective is preceded by other words that modify the adjective itself.
  • In most cases the modifier of the adjective is one or more adverb, as demonstrated in the above sentence.

3.     It was a terribly sad day for all of us when our aunt got into an accident.

  • In the above mentioned-sentence we can understand that the words ‘terribly sad’ account for an adjective phrase.
  • The noun that the said adjective phrase is describing is ‘day’.
  • It’s an adjective phrase since the main adjective is preceded by other words that modify the adjective itself.
  • In most cases the modifier of the adjective is one or more adverb, as demonstrated in the above sentence.

4.     My father’s birthday is next month and he is almost fifty years old.

  • In the above given example thhe words ‘almost fifty’ account for an adjective phrase.
  • The noun that the said adjective phrase is describing is ‘years’.
  • It’s an adjective phrase since the main adjective is preceded by other words that modify the adjective itself.
  • In most cases the modifier of the adjective is one or more adverb, as demonstrated in the above sentence.

5.     We bought a quite huge amount of paper for the project.

  • The words ‘quite huge’ account for an adjective phrase in the above given example.
  • The noun that the said adjective phrase is describing is ‘amount’.
  • It’s an adjective phrase since the main adjective is preceded by other words that modify the adjective itself.
  • In most cases the modifier of the adjective is one or more adverb, as demonstrated in the above sentence.

6.     They are one happily married couple and have been for many years.

  • Here we can see that the words ‘happily married’ account for an adjective phrase.
  • The noun that the said adjective phrase is describing is ‘couple’.
  • It’s an adjective phrase since the main adjective is preceded by other words that modify the adjective itself.
  • In most cases the modifier of the adjective is one or more adverb, as demonstrated in the above sentence.

7.     We have a class full of quietly seated students as the teacher was finally able to calm them down.

  • In the above written-sentence we can see that the words ‘quietly seated’ account for an adjective phrase.
  • The noun that the said adjective phrase is describing is ‘students’.
  • It’s an adjective phrase since the main adjective is preceded by other words that modify the adjective itself.
  • In most cases the modifier of the adjective is one or more adverb, as demonstrated in the above sentence.

8.     We’re sorry but this is the only pink balloon we have left.

  • In the above-mentioned statement one may find that the words ‘only pink’ account for an adjective phrase.
  • The noun that the said adjective phrase is describing is ‘balloon’.
  • It’s an adjective phrase since the main adjective is preceded by other words that modify the adjective itself.
  • In most cases the modifier of the adjective is one or more adverb, as demonstrated in the above sentence.

9.     He needs exactly ten pens for the portrait he’s about to sketch.

  • From the above mentioned-sentence we see that the words ‘exactly ten’ account for an adjective phrase.
  • The noun that the said adjective phrase is describing is ‘ten’.
  • It’s an adjective phrase since the main adjective is preceded by other words that modify the adjective itself.
  • In most cases the modifier of the adjective is one or more adverb, as demonstrated in the above sentence.

10.  My grandmother is a highly respectable woman in her village.

  • In the above-mentioned statement, the words ‘highly respectable’ account for an adjective phrase.
  • The noun that the said adjective phrase is describing is ‘woman’.
  • It’s an adjective phrase since the main adjective is preceded by other words that modify the adjective itself.
  • In most cases the modifier of the adjective is one or more adverb, as demonstrated in the above sentence.

 

Conclusion

Therefore, the answer to the question “Is Phrase an Adjective?” in this case is ‘No’ but adjective phrases can most definitely exist.