Grammar UnitAdjectives

Let’s Review . . .The adjective is the third of the eight parts of

speech. Just for the record, here are all eight:

• Noun• Pronoun• Adjective• Verb• Adverb• Preposition• Conjunction• Interjection

First, let's start with a basic definition:

• Adjectives modify nounsand pronouns.

• mod·i·fy = To change in form or character; alter. To make less extreme, severe, or strong: refused to modify her stand on the issue.

• In grammar: To qualify or limit the meaning of. For example, summer modifies day in the phrase a summer day.

Possessive pronouns can be used as adjectives.

• Example: That is his book.

Adjectives answer these questions

about the noun:

• WHAT KIND of noun is it?• WHICH noun is it?• HOW MANY of that noun are there?

The, A, and An are called articles.Articles are always adjectives.

They modify nouns and pronouns.

Now, you have 2 minutes . . .

See how many Adjectives you can come up with.

Identify the adjectives in the following sentence and explain WHY each one is an adjective.

The two dark cats were walking on the fence.

The - adjective because it modifies the noun cats and is an article.

Two - adjective because it modifies the noun cats & answers the question HOW MANY.

Dark - adjective because it modifies the noun cats & answers the question WHAT KIND.

The - adjective because it modifies fence & is an article.

Let’s try another . . .

These southern countries have dry weather.

• These - adjective because it modifies the noun countries & answers the question WHICH.

• Southern - adjective because it modifies the noun countries & answers the question WHAT KIND

• Dry - adjective because it modifies the noun weather & answers the question WHAT KIND.

Do this one on your own…

The chocolate one is his last cookie.

The - adjective because it modifies the pronoun one and is an article.

Chocolate - adjective because it modifies the pronoun one & tells WHAT KIND.

His - adjective because it is a possessive pronoun that modifies the noun cookie and answers the question WHICH ONE.

Last - adjective because it modifies the noun cookie and tells WHICH ONE.

CIRCLE the nouns FIRSTThen UNDERLINE the adjectives and EXPLAIN

More Practice…1. Four people went to the small meeting.

2. A big, red truck is stuck in the muddy road.

3. The cold and wet snow was all over her tiny jacket.

4. The brown dog slept until Tuesday.

CHECK YOURSELF…Four The SmallA Big Red The MuddyThe Cold Wet Her TinyThe Brown

Please take a fewminutes to review.

Your quiz will begin shortly.

Adjective Homework

In a newspaper or magazine, or on the internet, find an article that interests you and is at least 10 lines long.

Tape the article to a clean sheet of paper.

Underline and identify all the adjectives in the article.

Due Tomorrow at the beginning of class.