Adjectives

Modify nouns and pronouns tell: Which one? What kind? How many? How much?

ModifyMeans “to change.” In grammar, when a word modifies another, it adds to the meaning of or changes that word in some way. In regard to adjectives, it can make nouns and pronouns more specific. Most of the time, adjectives will appear in front of the word(s) they modify.

Blue car Big relief

Nervous feelingLast one

Ten books

My roomSome water

Iowa corn

Where adjectives can appearAdjectives can be right by the word(s) they modify, or they can also be set apart. Sometimes adjectives follow linking verbs. Many times you can tell these are adjectives by putting them right in front of the word they modify and seeing if it does seem to be describing that word.

Brian is very tired today. (Tired Brian)

The game was really exciting. (Exciting game)

Adjectives may modify more than one word.

Cold morning and day (Cold morning, cold day)

You might have more than one adjective modifying the same word

Long, winding road. (long road, winding road)

Pronouns and nouns used as adjectives

Pronouns may be used as adjectives as well. If they’re placed in front of another noun or pronoun, then they are functioning as adjectives and should be called such.

One time Some water Few chances That house

Nouns may also be used to make other words more specific. Again, if they’re functioning as adjectives, then we would call them adjectives.

Business letter School property Food fight Cow pasture

Proper AdjectivesThese are adjectives created from proper nouns, which we already learned.

American food (the proper noun sometimes changes form slightly when being created into a proper adjective

Christmas card

Victorian costume

Midwestern work ethic

PracticeIdentify the ten adjectives in the following paragraph. DO NOT COUNT ARTICLES (A, AN, THE)

Soft music played in the background as Dan waited in the deserted room. Dan was nervous as time went on, mainly because he had a dentist phobia and disliked going to dental appointments. In no time at all, he was back in the room for the teeth cleaning. The kind hygienist made pleasant conversation, and he soon relaxed during the quick procedure.

Soft music played in the background as Dan waited in the deserted room. Dan was nervous as time went on, mainly because he had a dentist phobia and disliked going to dental appointments. In no time at all, he was back in the room for the teeth cleaning. The kind hygienist made pleasant conversation, and he soon relaxed during the quick procedure.

Did you find them all?

Assignment

Practice:

Homework: