What is an adjective An adjective is a

� What is an adjective? ◦ An adjective is a word that modifies, or describes, a noun or a pronoun. �A heavy rainstorm soaked the campsite. �Heavy is the adjective describing the noun, rainstorm. ◦ Adjectives help you see, feel, taste, hear, and smell all the experiences you read about. Notice how the adjectives make the second sentence more descriptive. �Coyotes startled the campers. �Noisy coyotes startled the sleepy campers.

answer the questions what kind, which one, how many, and how much. � Adjectives ◦ What kind? �green backpack, sturdy tent, spicy stew ◦ Which one or ones? �last hamburger, third hike, every lantern ◦ How many or how much? �two flashlights, many insects, little moonlight

� Articles ◦ The most commonly used adjectives are the articles a, and the. ◦ Use a before a word that begins with a consonant �A tent, A candle, A lamp ◦ Use an before a word that begins with a vowel �An axe, An elephant, An unusual night ◦ Use the when you want to refer to a specific noun �The hiker, The camera, The trail

� Many adjectives are formed from common nouns: ◦ Rain=rainy ◦ Beauty=beautiful �A proper adjective is formed from a proper noun and is always capitalized: ◦ China=Chinese ◦ Ireland=Irish ◦ Mars=Martian

Comparative adjectives � The comparative form of an adjective is used when you compare a person or thing with one other person or thing. ◦ Mt. Rainier is higher than Mt. Hood. � If the adjective has one syllable, add an –er to make it comparative ◦ thin = thinner ◦ brave = braver � If the adjective has two or more syllables, add more to the beginning to make it comparative ◦ shallow = more shallow ◦ awful = more awful

Superlative adjectives � The superlative form of an adjective is used when you are comparing a person or thing with more than one other person or thing. ◦ Mt. Everest is the highest of the three mountains. � If the adjective has one syllable, add an –est to make is superlative ◦ thin = thinnest ◦ brave = bravest � If the adjective has two or more syllables, add most to the beginning to make it superlative ◦ shallow = most shallow ◦ awful = most awful