adjectives and categories

[learning54]

Hi, teachers
Do the following adjectives and categories for them make sense? Any corrections?

Shape, Form (Architecture):
Applies to: Buildings, Places, Things
Objective Adjectives: rectangular, oval, square, round

If the previous are correct, for subjective adjectives, which ones are better?
1. Subjective adjectives: strange, stylish, graceful
2. Subjective adjectives: traditional, modern, stylish, strange, classic, elegant

Can I mix traditional, modern, classic, elegant with strange, stylish, strange?

Thanks.

 

[Tarheel]

Hi, teachers
Do the following adjectives and categories for them make sense? Any corrections?

Shape, Form (Architecture):
Applies to: Buildings, Places, Things
Objective Adjectives: rectangular, oval, square, round

If the previous are correct, for subjective adjectives, which ones are better?
1. Subjective adjectives: strange, stylish, graceful
2. Subjective adjectives: traditional, modern, stylish, strange, classic, elegant

Can I mix traditional, modern, classic, elegant with strange, stylish, strange?

[.....]

Well, "strange" and "traditional" probably don't work very well together.

 

[jutfrank]

I don't understand the question, or what you're trying to do. Can you ask it again?

Is it something about what counts as a subjective versus an objective description of an architectural style?

 

[learning54]

I don't understand the question, or what you're trying to do. Can you ask it again?

My purpose is to show that the structure "What does ... look like? " can have two possible answers: (1) It can be used to describe facts based on visual evidence and (2) it can give opinions based on personal feelings. Then, I believe I have to explain that there are (1) objective and (2) subjective adjectives for those answers.
That said, my concern is about the adjectives. I would like to know If they are corrector for each category. Though I believe that If I remove the word "architecture", it will be safer because shape and form could apply to other things than architecture. Right?

 

[jutfrank]

my concern is about the adjectives. I would like to know If they are corrector for each category.

By 'category', you mean objective or subjective, right?

I can't see that any of those adjectives you mention describe a subjective judgement, other than 'strange'.

 

[learning54]

By 'category', you mean objective or subjective, right?

Yes, I do.

I can't see that any of those adjectives you mention describe a subjective judgement, other than 'strange'.

Understood. What about these ones: elegant and simple?

 

[jutfrank]

Can you provide a context in which you think any of these words expresses a subjective judgement or personal taste? A sentence at least? Or a mini-dialogue?

My purpose is to show that the structure "What does ... look like? " can have two possible answers: (1) It can be used to describe facts based on visual evidence and (2) it can give opinions based on personal feelings.

Are we supposed to be talking about buildings here? I find it quite hard to imagine why someone might ask what a building looks like, and even harder to imagine anyone asking such a question to require anything other than an objective, factual answer.

 

[learning54]

Can you provide a context in which you think any of these words expresses a subjective judgement or personal taste? A sentence at least? Or a mini-dialogue?

It seems that the way I presented my question is kind of strange. So, I've decided to change the whole idea.

This is the idea (Theory & Examples)

How to describe: Size & Scale
Applies to: People, Animals, Buildings, Things
Facts: objective descriptions based on evidence (what you can see / measure)
Exact / Specific: 6-foot, 2 metres tall, 50 sq. feet
General Adjectives: tall, short, big, small, long

Opinions: subjective descriptions based on what you think or feel about it.
Adjectives: huge, tiny, enormous, gigantic, massive
The “Adjectives” (tall, short, big, small, long) can be facts, but their meaning depends on comparison. (e.g., the adjective big changes depending on what you are describing: a big cat or a big elephant).

Examples for People (Simpler Examples)
Fact (Exact & Specific): My brother is 6 feet tall.
Fact (General Adjective): She is the tallest player on the volleyball team.
Opinion (Subjective): He looks huge in his winter coat. To the 3 years old, he seemed like a giant.

Do the adjectives and explanations make sense now?

 

[jutfrank]

Facts: objective descriptions based on evidence (what you can see / measure)
Exact / Specific: 6-foot, 2 metres tall, 50 sq. feet
General Adjectives: tall, short, big, small, long

All of those adjectives that you're calling 'general' are relative, and not factual or based on evidence. Something is only big or small in comparison to something else. Two different people can easily disagree on whether something is big or not.

Opinions: subjective descriptions based on what you think or feel about it.
Adjectives: huge, tiny, enormous, gigantic, massive

These adjectives are not really subjective or about personal taste. They're also relative, like 'big' and 'small' but this time with a non-gradable sense. If I understand you correctly, an example of the kind of adjective you're thinking about is 'ugly'. I think a particular building is ugly and you think it isn't. That's a difference in taste.

The “Adjectives” (tall, short, big, small, long) can be facts, but their meaning depends on comparison. (e.g., the adjective big changes depending on what you are describing: a big cat or a big elephant).

Not facts, no, but their meaning is relative, yes. If you say "Elephants are bigger than cats", you're expressing a fact (a generalisation) about relative size.

Examples for People (Simpler Examples)
Fact (Exact & Specific): My brother is 6 feet tall.
Fact (General Adjective): She is the tallest player on the volleyball team.

Yes, those sentences are both factual, and can be objectively measured. The second sentence expresses a fact about relative height. (I can't see why you want to call this 'general'.)

Opinion (Subjective): He looks huge in his winter coat. To the 3 years old, he seemed like a giant.

Well, I don't think 'opinion' is quite the right word, but I do see what you mean. What you're talking about here is an impression that something has on someone. This is shown by the linking verbs 'look' and 'seem', both of which are used to express impressions. Yes, impressions are certainly subjective.

What's your goal here? Are you trying to prepare some teaching material or is this just a personal interest in semantics? If I know what you're trying to do, I might be able to offer some ideas.

 

[learning54]

All of those adjectives that you're calling 'general' are relative, and not factual or based on evidence. Something is only big or small in comparison to something else. Two different people can easily disagree on whether something is big or not.

How to describe: Size & Scale
Applies to: People, Animals, Buildings, Things
Facts: objective descriptions based on evidence (what you can see / measure)
Exact / Specific: 6-foot, 2 metres tall, 50 sq. feet
Relative Adjectives: tall, short, big, small, long
Can I also call them "Contextual Adjectives"? If so, it will be easier for students.

These adjectives are not really subjective or about personal taste. They're also relative, like 'big' and 'small' but this time with a non-gradable sense. If I understand you correctly, an example of the kind of adjective you're thinking about is 'ugly'. I think a particular building is ugly and you think it isn't. That's a difference in taste.

Opinions: subjective descriptions based on what you think or feel about it.
Can I call them as follows?
Size Extreme Adjectives: huge, tiny, enormous, gigantic, massive

Not facts, no, but their meaning is relative, yes.

Did I grasp your explanation?
The meaning of the “Adjectives” (tall, short, big, small, long) depends on comparison. (e.g., the adjective big changes depending on what you are describing: a big cat or a big elephant).

Well, I don't think 'opinion' is quite the right word, but I do see what you mean. What you're talking about here is an impression that something has on someone.

Then the result has to be as follows; right?
Impression (Subjective Effect): He looks huge in his winter coat. To the 3 years old, he seemed like a giant.

 

[jutfrank]

Can I also call them "Contextual Adjectives"? If so, it will be easier for students.

Use whichever terminology you think would be most useful.

Can I call them as follows?
Size Extreme Adjectives: huge, tiny, enormous, gigantic, massive

Yes, they're usually called 'extreme' or 'ungradable' or 'non-gradable'.

Did I grasp your explanation?
The meaning of the “Adjectives” (tall, short, big, small, long) depends on comparison. (e.g., the adjective big changes depending on what you are describing: a big cat or a big elephant).

Right. A small elephant is much bigger than a big cat.

Then the result has to be as follows; right?
Impression (Subjective Effect): He looks huge in his winter coat. To the 3 years old, he seemed like a giant.

Be careful because the choice of verb is equally instrumental as the adjective—they work together.

a) UY Scuti is huge.

This statement is about the size of UY Scuti relative to other stars. There's nothing impressionistic or subjective about this. It's a fact about relative size.

b) He looks huge in his winter coat.

This is impressionistic, and we know this primarily from the verb, not the adjective.

 

[learning54]

Use whichever terminology you think would be most useful.

Thanks. that helps.

Yes, they're usually called 'extreme' or 'ungradable' or 'non-gradable'.

Great.

Be careful because the choice of verb is equally instrumental as the adjective—they work together.

a) UY Scuti is huge.

This statement is about the size of UY Scuti relative to other stars. There's nothing impressionistic or subjective about this. It's a fact about relative size.

b) He looks huge in his winter coat.

This is impressionistic, and we know this primarily from the verb, not the adjective.

Then I have to think carefully about that. This meaning isn't just about the adjective, but also about the verb.

What about the following?
Size Extreme Adjectives: huge, tiny, enormous, gigantic, massive (Just like other size adjectives, their meaning depends on comparison).
Fact (using Be): "UY Scuti is huge." (A true fact about size.)
Impression (using Look/Seem): "He looks huge in his coat." (An impression of size)