These are informal terms that might be used in teaching, but they don't represent formal categories in linguistics. Here's why:
* Descriptive Adjectives: These are adjectives that describe the qualities of a noun. Examples: *red car*, *tall building*, *delicious cake*. These adjectives give us information about the noun's color, size, or taste.
* Limiting Adjectives: These adjectives limit the number or quantity of the noun. Examples: *three apples*, *some water*, *that book*. These adjectives tell us how much or how many of the noun there are.
The Problem: The issue is that these categories overlap. Many adjectives can be both descriptive and limiting depending on the context. For example:
* "This" can be considered limiting, as it points out a specific item ("this book"), but it can also describe its location ("this chair here").
* "Big" can describe the size of something ("big dog") but also limit the quantity ("big changes").
What to Focus on:
Instead of trying to differentiate between these two categories, it's more helpful to understand the function of adjectives in general. They:
1. Modify nouns: They add detail and information to the noun.
2. Provide more specific information: They make the meaning of the noun more precise.
3. Can be classified in other ways: Adjectives can be further classified based on their grammatical function (e.g., demonstrative, possessive, interrogative) or their semantic function (e.g., color, size, quality).
So, instead of focusing on "descriptive" vs. "limiting," concentrate on how the adjective modifies the noun and what kind of information it adds to the sentence.