DESCRIPTIVE MODIFIERS
If adjectives serve to describe nouns, they themselves can also be described, by reference to (a) a quality or (b) a specific context:
(a) Qualitative modification of adjectives is realized by the following classes of units:
-ly adverbs: strangely attractive; deathly pale; reasonably friendly
adjectives: light brown; deep red; dark blue; vivid green; bright yellow
nouns: pitch black; emerald green; rose pink; paper-thin; feather-light; day-long;
world-wide
Note that an expression like a strangely attractive city does not mean ‘a strange and attractive city’ but ‘a city which is attractive in a strange way’; it is the adjective (attractive) which is modified, not the noun (city). The structure ‘adj + adj’ (e.g. light brown) is used especially with color adjectives. When it modifies a noun, ambiguity may occur: The deep blue sea (a sea of deep blue? or a deep sea which is blue?)
(b) Relational modification indicates the sense in which the adjective is to be understood. It is realized by:
-ly adverbs: socially acceptable; economically difficult; technologically impressive; financially
independent; physically challenged
nouns: music-mad; foot-weary; duty-free
