We consider the words as different kinds of parts of speech that emerged from their collocation in the sentences. Let us see how “powerful’’ acts as an adjective, adverb, or noun.
The term “powerful’’ can be an adjective because it has the function to qualify the naming word. It can also be used as an adverb in the form “powerfully’’ or as a noun in the form “power’’. These forms accomplish their actions when used in sentences.
Now we will explore more facts on the usage of “powerful” as an adjective, noun, or adverb along with concrete examples and explanations.
When is “powerful” an adjective?
The adjective comes under one type of parts of speech that displays its role of describing naming words or their associates. Now take a look at if “powerful’’ is an adjective.
The term “powerful’’ is regarded as an adjective as it is used in such a way that it precedes a naming word or is used as a qualifier of the noun and appears to us as a determiner.
Let us glance at the aspects in the table when “powerful’’ functions as an adjective.
| Aspects of “powerful’’ being an adjective | Examples | Explanations |
| 1. To show the ability to influence or control what people do or think | The powerful men are creating pressure on the school authority to change the timings of the school. | The usage of the term “powerful’’ in the given sentence shows that it is used as an adjective. It modifies the naming word “men’’ who can influence the school authority to change the rules. |
| 2. To show someone bodily or physically strong | Powerful muscles are needed to move the stone from the path. | In the cited scenario, we can get the conception that the term “powerful’’ is used as an adjective that shows the energy to move the stone from the path. |
| 3. To show an action done with a lot of physical force | The sportsman can carry the kits with his powerful hands. | Here the usage of the term “powerful’’ presents that it is applied as an adjective to describe the naming word “hands’’. It expresses an action that is executed with a lot of physical force. |
| 4. To show something strong and working well | The company has installed a more powerful engine for better results. | Here the cited example deals with the term “powerful’’ which acts as an adjective to modify the concrete noun “engine’’. It gives us a description that is used to show something strong and working well. |
| 5. To show a powerful chemical that has a strong effect | We must keep in mind that the powerful effect of nicotine has affected his health. | The usage of the term “powerful’’ in this sentence shows that it acts as a describing word that modifies the noun “effect’’. It shows the strong effect of the chemical on his health. |
| 6. To present a very loud or bright, or a strong smell | A powerful rotten-egg smell is coming from the kitchen. | In the present scenario, the term “powerful’’ is used as an adjective. It describes the strong smell that is coming from the kitchen. |
Is “powerful” a descriptive adjective?
We find eight categories of adjectives in English grammar based on their activities. Let us see to which category the word “powerful’’ belongs.
“Powerful’’ is taken into consideration as a descriptive adjective because it can be used to describe the naming words and provide their quality.
When is “powerful” a descriptive adjective?
The word “powerful” can be used as a descriptive adjective when we insert it to express the naming word as very impressive in size, power, or skill and therefore deserves respect or is often difficult to deal with.
The examples here will assist to learn the usage of “powerful’’ as a descriptive adjective.
| Example | Explanation |
| 1. The boy has a very powerful voice to tempt us. | The adjective “powerful’’ is used here as a descriptive adjective because is working to describe the naming word “teacher’’. It shows the quality of the teacher. |
| 2. The teacher is powerful to make in influencing the students. | The term “powerful’’ is used as a descriptive adjective that mainly qualifies the naming word “teacher’’. It provides the quality of the teacher who can make influence the students. |
| 3. Soumen is a very powerful leader in our team. | Here in the scenario, the word “powerful’’ is used as a descriptive adjective that describes the naming word “Soumen’’. The description shows that the person mentioned is a strong leader of the team. |
| 4. The actor gave a powerful performance in the movie. | The adjective “powerful’’ in the present sentence belongs to a descriptive adjective because it describes the naming word “actor’’ and it expresses his strong acting in the movie. |
| 5. My father is a person who looks powerful. | The sentence deals with the term “powerful’’ which is used as a descriptive adjective as it has the function of describing the naming word “person’’. This predicative adjective tells about my father’s energetic quality. |
| 6. Though Ramen is short he is very powerful in the village. | Here the term “powerful’’ acts as a descriptive because it describes the noun “Ramen’’ and shows his capability to control the village. |
| 7. The engineer has a very powerful technique to construct a building. | The usage of the term “powerful’’ here shows the function of a descriptive adjective that describes the noun “engineer’’ and we get about his excellent technique to construct a building. |
Is “powerful” an adverb?
In English grammar, we find one type of word that acts as the modification of adjectives, verbs, or another adverb. Now we are going to check if “powerful’’ is an adverb.
The direct usage of the term “powerful’’ cannot be regarded as an adverb. We can get its usage as an adverb if it is framed “powerfully’’ by adding the suffix “ly’’ with the root word and fulfills the actions of modification of the descriptive, action, or naming word.
When is “powerful’’ an adverb?
The term “powerfully’’ can certainly be used as an adverb when it is used to qualify or describe the describing word, action word, or another adverb. It is applied as an adverb in the following situations.
- The term “powerfully’’ is an adverb when we need to indicate the way that is very noticeable and has an influence on us.
- It is an adverb to show the way that involves a lot of force or strength.
We will now go through the examples used with the adverb “powerfully’’ for the realization of the correct usage.
| Example | Explanation |
| 1. The batsman is hitting the ball very powerfully. | The adverb “powerfully’’ has the function of modifying the verb “hitting’’ here. |
| 2. The teacher has presented very powerfully a crucial point on the solution. | Here the adverb “powerfully’’ modifies another adverb “very’’ and expresses the teacher’s power to present a crucial point to his students. |
| 3. The decision of batting first affected powerfully on the opponent team. | The usage of the adverb “powerfully’’ here acts as a modifier of the action word “affected’’ and presents the effect of the decision on the opponent team. |
| 4. I am always powerfully impressed by my father’s work. | In the given statement, the adverb “powerfully’’ modifies the adjective “impressed’’ and shows the impression of my father’s work on me. |
| 5. My grandfather was not powerfully built and was very agile. | Here the adverb “powerfully’’ is used to modify the describing word “built’’ and we get the idea of my grandfather’s agility. |
Is “powerful” a noun?
We regard these words as nouns that help us to detect the names of persons, animals, things, or abstract thoughts. Let us conceive if the term “powerful’’ acts as a noun.
We can use the term “power” as a noun as it is used to convey a thought or feeling. It indicates energy, force, or strength.
When is “power’’ a noun?
The term “power’’ is applied as a noun when we need to show physical or mental strength to execute any work. It can be used as a noun in the following situations.
- The word “power’’ is used as a noun when we show the ability to influence or control what we do or think.
- It is used as a noun to indicate the ability to achieve something or to make something happen.
- It is used as a noun to show a natural or unusual ability for doing something.
- It can be used as a noun to show political control of a country or government.
- It is applied as a noun to indicate official or legal authority to do something.
- It is used as a noun to show a country that is able to influence other countries because of its economic or military strength.
- It is used as a noun to show the energy obtained from oil, coal, the sun, etc for operating equipment and machines.
- It is used as a noun to indicate the supply of electricity to our home, office, community, etc.
- It is used as a noun to indicate physical force or strength.
The table will provide us with the instances of “power’’ used as a noun.
| Example | Explanation |
| 1. We have a profound belief in the power of the bowler to win the match. | The term “power’’ has been mentioned here as a naming word. It has expressed that we have a profound belief in the bowler in terms of winning the match. |
| 2. I will do everything in my power to stand by the flood victims. | The sentence is constructed with the term “power’’ which acts as a naming word. It gives the notion about my ability to do everything for the flood-affected people. |
| 3. You should not underestimate the power of the opponent teams. | The usage of term “power’’ shoes that it has been used as a noun that indicates the opponent team’s capacity of playing very well. |
| 4. If we read more our power of knowledge will increase. | Through the usage of the word ‘power’’, we get to know that it does the action of a noun that expresses the process of increasing knowledge. |
| 5. Sailen won the heart of his beloved with the power of his enormous love. | Here we get the conception that the term “power’’ works as a naming word that shows Sailen’s deep love for his beloved. |
Conclusion
The article is clearly discussing on the usage of “powerful’’ as an adjective. We will also learn how the noun and adverb forms of the term are used to construct sentences through examples and explanations.
Hi…. I am Goutam Datta. I have completed a double M. A. in English and B. Ed. I am a creative writer. Currently, I am a part of the LambdaGeeks.
