Adjectives Much maligned by professional writers adjectives and

Adjectives “Much maligned by professional writers, adjectives and adverbs do have their place. A powerful verb is better than a weak one paired with an adverb. A list of features that make some thing beautiful or ugly is better than the simple adjectives. Yes, a precise adjective or deftly used adverb sings. ” -Jeff Anderson

Adjectives An adjective is a word that describes a noun or pronoun. They make nouns more specific They are often called modifiers – they modify or change the meaning of a noun or pronoun You can use more than one adjective to modify a noun or pronoun EXAMPLES: old-fashioned game new video game children’s word game first baseball game

Adjectives continued… Adjectives answer questions about nouns and pronouns Ø Ø What kind? Which one? How many? How much? WHAT KIND? WHICH ONE? HOW MANY? HOW MUCH? brick house that judge one daffodil no time white paper each answer several roses enough raisins serious argument those sisters both brothers many hobbies colorful shirts this student four books some teams

Adjectives continued… An adjective usually comes before the noun it modifies; sometimes they come after the nouns they modify EXAMPLES: modifies The legal system, serious and complex, is sometimes hard to understand. noun adjective modifies The room, narrow and dark, frightened us. noun adjective modifies Graphics, large and colorful, covered the screen. noun adjective

Adjectives continued… Adjectives that modify pronouns usually come after linking verbs; sometimes adjectives may come before the pronoun AFTER: modifies They were quiet and thoughtful. pronoun adjective modifies They are happy and talkative. pronoun adjective modifies She is talented. pronoun adjective

Adjectives continued… BEFORE: modifies Tall and elegant, she walked into the room. adjective pronoun modifies Quiet and sullen, he sat in a corner. adjective pronoun modifies Intelligent and active, they won the tournament. adjective pronoun

Articles Three frequently used adjectives are a, and the. They are called articles. Articles can be definite or indefinite. Both types indicate that a noun will soon follow. The is a definite article; it points to a specific person, place, thing, or idea A and an are indefinite articles; they point to any member of a group of similar people, places, things or ideas DEFINITE: Mr. Ryan is the man to call. (specific person) Go into the gym. (specific place) I want to play the game. (specific thing) INDEFINITE: I want to see a game. (any game) Please take an apple. (any apple) You should see a teacher for help. (any teacher)

Articles continued… A is used before consonant sounds; an is used before vowel sounds You choose between a and an based on sounds USING A AND AN A WITH CONSONANT SOUNDS AN WITH VOWEL SOUNDS a blue hat an endangered water bird a happy time (h sound) an honest person (no h sound) a one-way street (w sound) an old map (o sound) a unicorn (y sound) an uncle (u sound) a taxi an opportunity a pineapple an angry look A university (y sound) an eraser

Using Proper Adjectives A proper adjective is (1) a proper noun used as an adjective or (2) an adjective formed from a proper noun Begins with a capital letter A proper noun used as an adjective does not change its form; it is just placed in front of another noun. PROPER NOUNS USED AS PROPER ADJECTIVES Thanksgiving dinner (Which dinner? ) Florida wetlands (Which wetlands? ) December weather (What kind of weather? )

Using Proper Adjectives continued… When an adjective is formed from a proper noun, the proper noun will change its form. PROPER NOUNS PROPER ADJECTIVES FORMED FROM PROPER NOUNS American history (Which kind of history? ) Japanese cities (Which cities? ) Norway Norwegian legends (Which legends? ) Incan empire (Which empire? ) Southern hospitality (Which hospitality? )

Using Nouns as Adjectives Nouns can sometimes be used as adjectives It usually comes directly before another noun Answers the question What kind? or Which one? NOUNS USED AS ADJECTIVES shoe a shoe salesperson (What kind of salesperson? ) waterfowl the waterfowl refuge (Which refuge? ) court a court date (What kind of date? ) morning appointment (What kind of appointment? )

Using Compound Adjectives, like nouns, can be compound. A compound adjective is made up of more than one word. Most are written as hyphenated words Some are written as combined words HYPHENATED COMBINED a well-known actress a featherweight boxer a full-time job a freshwater lake snow-covered a sideways glance one-sided opinions heartbreaking news so-called experts a nearsighted witness

Using Pronouns as Adjectives Pronouns, like nouns, can sometimes be used as adjectives A pronoun becomes an adjective if it modifies a noun. EXAMPLES: We see the ducklings on this side of the pond. Which ducks are the males?

Using Possessive Nouns and Pronouns as Adjectives Personal pronouns are often possessive adjectives (my, your, her, his, its, our, their) because they come before nouns and answer the question Which one? EXAMPLES: refers to modifies The ducks flapped their wings. antecedent pronoun refers to modifies The club wants to increase its membership. antecedent pronoun Possessive nouns function as adjectives when they modify a noun. EXAMPLES: The pond is on Mrs. Smith’s property. The duck’s feathers are colorful.

Using Demonstrative Adjectives This, that, these, and those – the four demonstrative pronouns – can also be demonstrative adjectives. PRONOUN: We saw that. ADJECTIVE: That lake is home to many geese. PRONOUN: What are these? ADJECTIVE: These gulls are searching for food.

Using Interrogative Adjectives Which, what, and whose – three of the interrogative pronouns – can be interrogative adjectives. PRONOUN: Which do you think he will choose? ADJECTIVE: Which parrot do you think he will buy? PRONOUN: Whose can that be? ADJECTIVE: Whose macaw can that be?

Using Indefinite Adjectives A number of indefinite pronouns – both, few, many, each, most, and all, among others – can also be used as indefinite adjectives. PRONOUN: I bought one of each. ADJECTIVE: Each judge writes an opinion. PRONOUN: I don’t want any. ADJECTIVE: I don’t want any help.