expensive:opinion or fact adjective?

[zahari]

hi!!!

my question is about the adj.expensive.is it an opinion or a fact adjective? i think it's opinion but in a sentence like this one: I bought a beautiful expensive porcelain vase. why does it come second? ok. I know for sure that "beautiful" is opinion but is it possible to have more than one opinion adjectives describing a noun and if yes how are they put in order? if not, i wonder what type of adj. expensive is.

[Casiopea]

Welcome, zahari.

[1] It's a big expensive car. <denominal adjective, fact>
[2] It's an expensive big car. <emphatic: central adjective, opinion>

Central adjectives: both are opinion
[3] It's a silly cute puppy. (It's more silly than cute)
[4] It's a cute silly puppy. (It's more cute than silly)

Our example
I bought a beautiful expensive vase. <opinion "beautiful", fact "expensive">

Note, "expensive" is privy to both central and denonimal adjectival classes, whereas "beautiful" is not. That is, it can never be a fact adjective. The rule of thumb is, denominal adjectives reside closest to the noun, central adjectives further away. Given that distribution, the order "an expensive beautiful vase" is possible, given emphasis (see below), but normally awkward because 'beautiful' is a central adjective, so it should occur before a denominal adjective.

Max: I bought a beautiful vase.
Sam: It looks like an expensive "beautiful vase" to me. <opinion>

Note, intelligent is also a denominal adjective. Go figure.

[queenbu]

Excuse me,Casiopea-what does 'go figure' mean?

[Casiopea]

Hi, queenbu.

You'll find its meaning and origin here:
http://www.yaelf.com/aueFAQ/mifgofigure.shtml

All the best.

[queenbu]

Thanks a lot,Casiopea.Very interesting.As I live in Italy I appreciate the Italian translation of the expression!Even in Maltese there's a very literal translation of it:'Mur ifhem!' meaning 'Go understand'

[Casiopea]

Cool!

I love that site, too.

[zahari]

hi!!!

thanks a lot casiopea but i think i have some difficulty understanding the difference between central and denominal adjectives... I can't even find their definitions or translation in greek in order to make it clearer to me

thank you!!!!

[Casiopea]

Well, they are fairly new terms.

Click on the link below and read pages 3 though 7. There's even a tutorial! If it's all still very fuzzy, let us know and we'll guide you through.

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/internet-gramma...tiv/xadjv3.htm

All the best.

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

Welcome, zahari.
[1] It's a big expensive car. <denominal adjective, fact>
[2] It's an expensive big car. <emphatic: central adjective, opinion>
Central adjectives: both are opinion
[3] It's a silly cute puppy. (It's more silly than cute)
[4] It's a cute silly puppy. (It's more cute than silly)
Our example
I bought a beautiful expensive vase. <opinion "beautiful", fact "expensive">
Note, "expensive" is privy to both central and denonimal adjectival classes, whereas "beautiful" is not. That is, it can never be a fact adjective. The rule of thumb is, denominal adjectives reside closest to the noun, central adjectives further away. Given that distribution, the order "an expensive beautiful vase" is possible, given emphasis (see below), but normally awkward because 'beautiful' is a central adjective, so it should occur before a denominal adjective.
Max: I bought a beautiful vase.
Sam: It looks like an expensive "beautiful vase" to me. <opinion>
Note, intelligent is also a denominal adjective. Go figure.

In addition the following adjectival word order is common:
Quality - Size/age/shape - Colour - Origin - Made of - Type/usage - Noun:
She has short, straight, blonde hair.
Metal half-moon spectacles

Regards
Jamshid

[Casiopea]

Thank you.

What are some examples of "Quality" adjectives and how would you class them, as a central adjectives or as a denominal adjectives?