Sometimes a group of words can does the work of an adjective. Read the sentences given below:

a)    My grandfather was a wealthy man.
b)    My grandfather was a man of great wealth.

In sentence (a), the word wealthy modifies the noun man. It therefore does the work of an adjective. In sentence (b), the group of words of great wealth tells us what sort of a man my grandfather was. It qualifies the noun man just as an adjective does. A group of words which does the work of an adjective is called an adjective phrase.

More examples are given below:

The chief lived in a wooden house. (Adjective – wooden)
The chief lived in a house built of wood. (Adjective phrase – built of wood)
They belong to a hill tribe. (Adjective – hill)
They belong to a tribe dwelling in the hills. (adjective phrase – dwelling in the hills)

Exercise

In each of the following sentences replace the adjective in bold letters by an adjective phrase of the same meaning.

1.    The King wore a golden crown.
2.    It is a white elephant.
3.    He lived in a stone house.
4.    There was an earthen pot on the table.
5.    She wore a diamond necklace.
6.    Much has been said about the Swiss scenery.
7.    The Spanish flag flew at the top of the mast.
8.    That was a brave act.
9.    It was a horrible night.
10.    Heroic deeds are worthy of admiration.
11.    They went by Siberian railway.
12.    I have passed several sleepless nights.

Answers

1.    The King wore a crown made of gold.
2.    It was an elephant with a white skin.
3.    He lived in a house built of stone.
4.    There was a pot made of earth on the table.
5.    She wore a necklace made of diamond.
6.    Much has been said about the scenery of Switzerland.
7.    The flag of Spain flew at the top of the mast.
8.    That was an act of bravery.
9.     It was a night full of horror.
10.    Deeds of heroism are worthy of admiration.
11.    They went by the railway running through Siberia.
12.    I have passed several nights without sleep.