Adjectives The crayons of the Grammar World

Adjectives The “crayons” of the Grammar World

Adjectives are words that describe nouns by telling what kind, how many, or which one. The old boat sat on the purple whale. ______ One man fished from the boat. ___ That ____ whale looks very tame.

Adjectives answer the questions: How many? n What kind? n Which one? n

The yellow house is for sale. Find the noun. house Ask the question: What kind of house? yellow house Yellow is the adjective.

Two dogs ran outside. Find the noun. dogs Ask the question: How many dogs? two dogs Two is the adjective.

That cow fell down. Find the noun. cow Ask the question: Which cow? That cow That is the adjective.

Let’s Try Some! n n The magnificent butterfly flew under the branch. The butterfly with the colorful wings rested. One butterfly flew quietly beneath the tree. The butterfly fluttered its delicate wings.

There are special types of adjectives: Articles Demonstrative Adjectives Comparative Adjectives Superlative Adjectives

Articles A n. An n. The n

A a book Use before words beginning with a consonant sound. n Use with singular nouns. n a cat a key

An an onion Use before words beginning with a vowel sound and the silent h. n Use with singular nouns. n an island an honest man

Demonstrative Adjectives These adjectives point out specific things. this nthat nthese nthose n

This, that use with singular nouns nanswers the question which one? n This boy is my friend. I want this boy on my team. That soccer ball belongs to me. I bought that ball yesterday.

These, those n n use with plural nouns answers the question which ones? These people are working. They are working on these problems. Those books are on the table. The boys used those books to help them.

Comparative Adjectives n n used to compare two nouns or pronouns. Add –er to the end of one syllable words. Add more to the beginning of multisyllable words. NEVER use –er and more together.

Let’s try some! n n n taller Joe is ______ than Bill. (tall) Bill works _______ than Joe. (hard) harder This car is ______to drive than more difficult that one. (difficult)

Superlative Adjectives n n Used to compare three or more nouns or pronouns Add –est to the end of one syllable words. Add most to the beginning of multisyllable words. NEVER use -est and most together.

Let’s try some! n n Mary has the brightest shirt. (bright) ______ Mark is the _____ boy. (tall) tallest most honest They are the ____ children. (honest) Chrissy is the ____ girl I know. (helpful) most helpful