The rule that governs the spelling of NOT with adjectives is very simple. It says that if you can pick up a synonym for a word without a particle NOT, then you should choose a continuous spelling. NOT turns from a prefix into a negative particle, provided that the sentence contains an adversative conjunction A, or when opposition is implied. Separate spelling is always indicated by the words: far NOT, NOT at all, NOT at all, NOT at all.
As in other parts of speech, NOT is written together with adjectives if included in the root morpheme: inconspicuous, careless, ridiculous.
But often clear, at first glance, the wording introduces great confusion. The limited vocabulary of modern schoolchildren does not allow choosing a synonym or a synonymous expression for a word, and sometimes such a selection occurs erroneously.
To clarify the rule NOT with adjectives, we must remember that this part of speech has digits by value.
Extremely importantto distinguish between them, because NOT with adjectives has the choice of writing with only one of the digits. There are three such categories in the Russian language. Let's take a closer look at them.
Possessive adjectives indicate that an object belongs to a person. Typical examples of such words are: mother's car, toy cars, grandfather's jacket, fox holes, cat's paw, etc. Children easily distinguish possessive adjectives from other words by characteristic questions: “whose?” "whose?" "whose?" "whose?"
The particle NOT with adjectives from this category is always written separately, since it is impossible to find a synonym without a particle. Simplifying somewhat, we can argue as follows: if the object is not someone else's, then it belongs to another person: NOT the belt of the fathers, but the uncles.
Adjectives denoting time, material, temperature and a number of other signs are called relative. They are easy to recognize, because in the defined object there cannot be more or less of such a feature. That is, the degree of comparison, as well as the short form, this category does not have. NOT with adjectives from this group also has a separate spelling: NOT a wooden shelf, NOT a glass coaster, NOT forty-degree heat.
And finally, the last category - quality adjectives. The main sign of such words is the possibility of forming degrees of comparison and / or a short form: high - high - higher - less high - the highest - the highest.
It is easy to distinguish a quality adjective by its ability to combine with adverbs of measure and degree: veryhandsome, extremely smart, too kind.
It is quality adjectives that leave the choice in continuous or separate spelling with the particle NOT. Moreover, short forms are usually written with NOT according to the same algorithm, except for words in which the full form is absent or differs in lexical meaning: not ready to answer, not obliged to listen, do not intend to leave.
In conclusion, I would like to note that in spelling NOT with adjectives, as in other spelling rules, there are other nuances. But if you are guided by knowledge about digits by value, using this rule, you can minimize the number of errors.
