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what is a weak adjective

by Bettie Christiansen Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Weak Adjectives T he weak form of an adjective is used when the adjective is preceded by a demonstrative pronoun, such as ' se ' or ' þes ', or the possessive pronouns 'min', 'þin', 'ure', 'eower'. For example, ' se goda mann geaf to me hund – the good man gave a dog to me ' or ' heo lufaþ ure godan hundas - she loves our good dogs '.

Weak Adjectives do not stand on their own; they come paired with a demonstrative. Alfred the wise king ruled Wessex. In the example sentence "old" is a weak adjective; the demonstrative pronoun "the" is paired with it.

Full Answer

What are some examples of weak adjectives?

  • She is still weak after her illness.
  • His legs felt weak.
  • She suffered from a weak heart.
  • weak with/from something I was exhausted and weak with hunger.

What are words that mean weak?

weary. disable. immobilise UK. immobilize US. impair. incapacitate. indispose. make feeble. paralyse UK.

What are some synonyms for weak?

Some common synonyms of weak are decrepit, feeble, fragile, frail, and infirm. While all these words mean "not strong enough to endure strain, pressure, or strenuous effort," weak applies to deficiency or inferiority in strength or power of any sort.

What are adjectives of weaknesses?

tired, exhausted, weary, dog-weary, knackered, wearied, burned-out, depleted, drained, enervated, pooped, sapped, shot, spent, wasted, weakened, weariful, aweary, beat, beaten, bedraggled, bleary,...

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What is the difference between strong and weak adjectives?

If an adjective has a demonstrative assisting it, it will be weak. If the same adjective has no demonstrative, it will be strong. (If the sentence read: "The wise king is kind to his subjects," "wise" would be a weak adjective).

Is good a weak adjective?

Adjectives such as "cold" or "good" are weak because they are gradable.

What are examples of weak?

The definition of weak is lacking in strength. An example of weak used as an adjective is a weak argument which means an argument that has no evidence to back it up. Lacking physical strength, energy, or vigor; feeble.

What word type is weak?

Weak is an adjective - Word Type.

What is a strong adjective?

1 mighty, sturdy, brawny, sinewy, hardy, muscular, stout, stalwart. 4 talented, capable, efficient. 5 valiant, brave. 7 bold, intense. 8 persuasive, cogent, impressive; conclusive.

What adjective is used to describe a very weak pulse?

A faint sound, colour, mark, feeling, or quality has very little strength or intensity. [...]

Is weak an adjective or adverb?

weak. / (wiːk) / adjective. lacking in physical or mental strength or force; frail or feeble. liable to yield, break, or give waya weak link in a chain.

What is the adverb of weak?

/ˈwiːkli/ ​in a weak way. She smiled weakly at them. 'I'm not sure about it,' he said weakly. The patient tried to sit up but fell back weakly onto his pillows.

What is a weak person called?

Some common synonyms of weak are decrepit, feeble, fragile, frail, and infirm.

What is the adjective for strength?

The adjective form of strength is strong. The adverb form of strength is strongly.

What is weak form in English language?

Weak forms are syllable sounds that become unstressed in connected speech and are often then pronounced as a schwa. In the sentence below the first 'do' is a weak form and the second is stressed.

What is the suffix of weak?

-ed 1. a suffix forming the past tense of weak verbs: he crossed the river.

How does the adjective 'weak' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of weak are decrepit, feeble, fragile, frail, and infirm. While all these words mean "not strong enough to endure strain, pres...

When is it sensible to use 'decrepit' instead of 'weak'?

The synonyms decrepit and weak are sometimes interchangeable, but decrepit implies being worn-out or broken-down from long use or old age. // the d...

In what contexts can 'feeble' take the place of 'weak'?

Although the words feeble and weak have much in common, feeble suggests extreme weakness inviting pity or contempt. // a feeble attempt to walk

When might 'fragile' be a better fit than 'weak'?

While in some cases nearly identical to weak, fragile suggests frailty and brittleness unable to resist rough usage. // a reclusive poet too fragil...

When is 'frail' a more appropriate choice than 'weak'?

The meanings of frail and weak largely overlap; however, frail implies delicacy and slightness of constitution or structure. // a frail teenager un...

Where would 'infirm' be a reasonable alternative to 'weak'?

The words infirm and weak are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, infirm suggests instability, unsoundness, and insecurity due to old...

How does the adjective weak contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of weak are decrepit, feeble, fragile, frail, and infirm. While all these words mean "not strong enough to endure strain, pressure, or strenuous effort," weak applies to deficiency or inferiority in strength or power of any sort.

When is it sensible to use decrepit instead of weak?

The synonyms decrepit and weak are sometimes interchangeable, but decrepit implies being worn-out or broken-down from long use or old age.

In what contexts can feeble take the place of weak?

Although the words feeble and weak have much in common, feeble suggests extreme weakness inviting pity or contempt.

When might fragile be a better fit than weak?

While in some cases nearly identical to weak, fragile suggests frailty and brittleness unable to resist rough usage.

When is frail a more appropriate choice than weak?

The meanings of frail and weak largely overlap; however, frail implies delicacy and slightness of constitution or structure.

Where would infirm be a reasonable alternative to weak?

The words infirm and weak are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, infirm suggests instability, unsoundness, and insecurity due to old age or crippling illness.

What are weak adjectives?

Ineffective describing words are often referred to as being “gradable.” That is, they can be interpreted in a range of ways. Let’s look at an example.

Is buying a thesaurus the answer?

Getting rid of weak adjectives is not something that is particularly difficult. You could buy a thesaurus and learn a swathe of new words.

How do I fix it?

The good news is, you already know plenty of strong adjectives. For simplicity’s sake, let’s say that any adjective that is not gradable is strong. The easiest way to pick a non-gradable (and thus strong) adjective is by putting “very” in front of it and seeing if it 'sounds' correct. For example; the phrase “very good” sounds completely fine.

How to make weak adjectives stronger?

Making weak adjectives stronger. Weak adjectives should not be made stronger by adding words like "very", "so", or "really", but by being replaced with an entirely new adjective which is , on its own , stronger than the weak adjective.

Why are adjectives such as "cold" and "good" weak?

Avoiding Weak Adjectives. Adjectives such as "cold" or "good" are weak because they are gradable. This means that they alone do not tell us how cold or how good something it. "Cold " could mean below zero degrees, but it can also be cold when the temperature is higher. On the other hand, "freezing" is not a gradable adjective.

Is freezing a good adjective?

On the other hand, "freezing" is not a gradable adjective. On the contrary, it is considered a strong adjective because it specifically relates to low temperatures and provides a precise description. Similarly, something can be "good", meaning "not bad", or it can be so good, meaning "great" or even "the best".

Do you use weak adjectives in an article?

In conclusion, every writer may need to use weak adjectives sometimes. Some things and people are, of course, "good" and others are simply "bad". However, to avoid making your article repetitive, simplistic, or vague, you should always:

Why are adjectives of quality descriptive?

Adjectives of quality are also called descriptive adjectives because they give information about color, age, size, origin, shape, value, or material. They can also describe emotions. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, for example, Romeo uses the adjectives fair and envious to modify the nouns sun and moon, respectively: “Arise, fair sun, ...

What are the three forms of adjectives?

Forms of Adjectives. Adjectives also come in three forms: positive, comparative, and superlative. When an adjective relates to a single noun, it is a positive adjective. For example, in the sentence “Betty is a smart student,” smart is a positive adjective because it describes the noun Betty.

What is the superlative form of adjectives?

Superlative adjectives are preceded by the definite article the. Single-syllable superlative adjectives typically end in -est. For adjectives that are two or more syllables, the superlative form is created by adding most before the adjective, as in the most handsome.

What are some examples of indefinite adjectives?

All, any, each, every, few, many, and some are examples of indefinite adjectives. As an example, in the phrase “a few minutes later,” the indefinite adjective few refers to an unspecified quantity of minutes

What is comparative adjective?

Comparative adjectives are used to compare two items or people with each other. Sentences containing comparative adjectives usually require the addition of the conjunction than after the adjective, as in “Betty is smarter than John.”. Single-syllable adjectives are usually made comparative by adding the suffix -er.

When to use demonstrative adjectives?

Demonstrative Adjectives are used in place of articles ( the or a ). This, that, these, and those are demonstrative adjectives. In this sentence, for example, those indicates which books we’re talking about: “Please bring those books back to the library.”

Can an adjective be placed before or after a noun?

Adjectives can be placed either before or after the nouns they modify. For example, you may say either “The hungry baby wants his bottle” or “The baby is hungry, and wants his bottle.”. Both examples illustrate correct use of the adjective hungry.

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1.Weak Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Url:https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weak

31 hours ago weak. Lacking in force (usually strength) or ability. Unable to sustain a great weight, pressure, or strain. Unable to withstand temptation, urgency, persuasion, etc.; easily impressed, moved, or overcome; accessible; vulnerable. Dilute, lacking in taste or potency.

2.291 Synonyms & Antonyms of WEAK | Merriam-Webster …

Url:https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weak

8 hours ago weak. adjective. Save Word. \ˈwēk\. Definition of weak. 1: lacking strength: such as. a: deficient in physical vigor : feeble, debilitated. b: not able to sustain or exert much weight, pressure, or strain. c: not able to resist external force or withstand attack.

3.weak adjective - Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Url:https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/weak

34 hours ago weak adjective Synonyms & Antonyms of weak 1 lacking bodily strength the little boy was simply too weak to lift the box Synonyms for weak asthenic, debilitated, delicate, down-and-out, effete, enervated, enfeebled, faint, feeble, frail, infirm, languid, low, prostrate, prostrated, sapped, slight, soft, softened, tender, unsubstantial, wasted,

4.Weak Adjectives - UMass

Url:https://people.umass.edu/sharris/in/gram/GrammarBook/WeakAdjectives.html

9 hours ago Definition of weak adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary weak adjective /wiːk/ /wiːk/ (comparative weaker, superlative weakest) Idioms not physically strong not physically strong She is still weak after her illness. His legs felt weak. She suffered from a weak heart. weak with/from something I was exhausted and weak with hunger.

5.What are some examples of weak adjectives? - Quora

Url:https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-examples-of-weak-adjectives

29 hours ago Almost all Old English adjectives can be either strong or weak, depending on how they are used in a sentence. "Strong" and "weak" are just labels that tell you what ending the adjective takes depending on the case (which, you'll remember, marks the grammatical function) of the noun it is modifying, Weak Adjectives do not stand on their own; they come paired with a …

6.How to make weak adjectives strong - Outwrite Blog

Url:https://blog.outwrite.com/how-to-make-weak-adjectives-strong/

12 hours ago Stylistically, a weak adjective is one that is so generic that it doesn’t help the reader get a clear sense of the intended meaning. This is often because it talks about the writer’s reaction rather than what caused the reaction.

7.Avoiding Weak Adjectives - Really Learn English

Url:https://www.really-learn-english.com/avoiding-weak-adjectives.html

36 hours ago  · Weak adjectives are easy to identify and eradicate from your work. What are weak adjectives? Ineffective describing words are often referred to as being “gradable.”

8.What Is An Adjective? Definition & Examples

Url:https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/whats-an-adjective/

4 hours ago Adjectives such as "cold" or "good" are weak because they are gradable. This means that they alone do not tell us how coldor how goodsomething it. "Cold" could mean below zero degrees, but it can also be cold when the temperature is higher. …

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