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Adjectives are used to describe nouns and sometimes pronouns. Adjectives can also describe other
adjectives. They tell how many, what kind, or which ones.
pretty bird
six trees
blue dress
handsome guy
good idea
He is handsome
*Notice that the structure is a little different here . When describing a pronoun, the adjective is usually
after the verb rather than right before the pronoun.
*Notice that when the adjective comes after the verb the verb is always a linking verb (is, in the sentence
above). Sometimes, of course, the adjective can come before the pronoun.
For example: Silly me! Vs. I am silly. (am is the linking verb. Linking I to silly)
*The adjective blue is describing the noun dress. However; the adjective bright is describing the type of
blue (not the dress).
*What if you said old, torn dress? Old and torn are both adjectives, but they both describe the noun dress.
It is an old dress, and it is a torn dress.
*When both adjectives describe the noun (as in old, torn dress), you generally put a comma between the two
adjectives. When one adjective describes the other adjective (as in bright blue dress), do not use a comma.
One way to figure this out is to put the word and between the two adjectives. If it makes sense, use a
comma.
Old and torn dress makes sense. Use a coma: Old, torn dress
Other Types of Adjectives
There are a couple of special types of adjectives. However, they have the same function as any other
adjective.
1. Demonstrative Adjective: We discussed demonstrative pronouns. They are this, that, these, those.
These same four words, when placed right before a noun, are demonstrative adjectives.
2. Proper Adjectives: Proper adjectives, like proper nouns, begin with a capital letter. Here are a few
examples:
3. Articles: The words a, an, and the are called articles. Sometimes they are thought of as a separate part
of speech, but they are really adjectives.
*Some words can be used as more than one part of speech, depending on how they are used in a particular
sentence. Nouns can often be used as adjectives.
Here are some examples: beef stew, bread pudding, prom dress, Christmas vacation.
PracticeIdentifying Adjectives
Each of the following sentences contain three adjectives. See if you can identify them by circling each
adjective. These adjectives may include articles, proper adjectives, and demonstrative adjectives.
Boring: I am sad.
Boring: He is tired.