Adjectives

Name:_______________

Adjectives are used to describe nouns and sometimes pronouns. Adjectives can also describe other
adjectives. They tell how many, what kind, or which ones.

Here are some examples of adjectives describing (or modifying) nouns.

pretty bird
six trees
blue dress
handsome guy
good idea

Here are some examples of an adjective that describes a pronoun:

He is handsome

*Notice that the structure is a little different here . When describing a pronoun, the adjective is usually
after the verb rather than right before the pronoun.

*Notice that when the adjective comes after the verb the verb is always a linking verb (is, in the sentence
above). Sometimes, of course, the adjective can come before the pronoun.

For example: Silly me! Vs. I am silly. (am is the linking verb. Linking I to silly)

Here is an adjective describing another adjective:

Bright blue dress

*The adjective blue is describing the noun dress. However; the adjective bright is describing the type of
blue (not the dress).

*What if you said old, torn dress? Old and torn are both adjectives, but they both describe the noun dress.
It is an old dress, and it is a torn dress.

*When both adjectives describe the noun (as in old, torn dress), you generally put a comma between the two
adjectives. When one adjective describes the other adjective (as in bright blue dress), do not use a comma.
One way to figure this out is to put the word and between the two adjectives. If it makes sense, use a
comma.

Old and torn dress makes sense. Use a coma: Old, torn dress
 Other Types of Adjectives

There are a couple of special types of adjectives. However, they have the same function as any other
adjective.

1. Demonstrative Adjective: We discussed demonstrative pronouns. They are this, that, these, those.
These same four words, when placed right before a noun, are demonstrative adjectives.

*Notice the difference:

This is my book. (demonstrative pronoun)

This book is mine. (demonstrative adjective)

2. Proper Adjectives: Proper adjectives, like proper nouns, begin with a capital letter. Here are a few
examples:

Thanksgiving dinner, Italian food, Catholic religion

3. Articles: The words a, an, and the are called articles. Sometimes they are thought of as a separate part
of speech, but they are really adjectives.

*Some words can be used as more than one part of speech, depending on how they are used in a particular
sentence. Nouns can often be used as adjectives.

Here are some examples: beef stew, bread pudding, prom dress, Christmas vacation.

PracticeIdentifying Adjectives
Each of the following sentences contain three adjectives. See if you can identify them by circling each
adjective. These adjectives may include articles, proper adjectives, and demonstrative adjectives.

1. I had three books, but I gave one book to my younger brother.

2. The tall three in the yard has fallen.

3. This cat is mine, but that cat is from the shelter.

4. Which of these two cookies looks good to you?

5. We had a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner!

Using adjectives help create a better mental image for your reader or to emphasize a point.

Boring: I was hungry.

Meaningful: My stomach was growling like a dog.

Boring: I was scared.

Meaningful: My body was shivering with goosebumps.

Boring: I was happy.

Meaningful: My smile was as big as the sun.

Boring: She ran.

Meaningful: She was as fast as a shooting star.

Boring: I am sad.

Meaningful: My tears could fill a cup.

Boring: He is tired.

Meaningful: He cannot lift head off the pillow.