1. What Is an Adjective?
Lesson 5.1

2. Here’s the Idea
An adjective is a word that modifies, or describes, a noun or a noun.
A heavy rainstorm soaked the campsite.
Adjectives help you see, feel, taste, hear, and smell all the experiences you read about.
Notice how adjectives make the second sentence in this pair more descriptive.
Coyotes startled the campers.
Noisy coyotes startled the sleepy campers.
modifies
adjective
noun
Adjectives answer the questions what kind, which one, how many, and how much.

3. Adjectives What kind? Which one or ones? How many or how much?
green backpack
last hamburger
two flashlights
sturdy tent
third hike
many insects
spicy stew
every lantern
little moonlight

4. Articles
The most commonly used adjectives are the articles a, an, and the.
A and an are used with singular nouns.
Use a before a word beginning with a consonant sound.
a tent a candle a lamp
The is an article that points to a particular person, place, thing, or idea.
You can use the with singular or plural nouns.
The hiker tripped on the trail and dropped the cameras.

5. Use a and an when you want to be less specific.
Use the when you want to refer to a specific person, place, thing, or idea.
Use a and an when you want to be less specific.
Did the team leader bring a first-aid kit?
Any First-aid Kit
One Specific Leader

6. Nouns & Adjectives Noun rain scene beauty Adjective rainy scenic
Many adjectives are formed from common nouns.
Nouns & Adjectives
Noun
rain
scene
beauty
Adjective
rainy
scenic
beautiful

7. Proper Nouns & Proper Adjectives
A proper adjective is formed from a proper noun.
Proper adjectives are always capitalized.
Proper Nouns & Proper Adjectives
Proper Noun
China
Ireland
Mars
Proper Adjective
Chinese
Irish
Martian

8. Practice Time! Underline each adjective once and the noun or pronoun it modifies twice.
Central Park is now an American landmark.
In 1858 there was a national competition for a plan to turn the spot into an attractive park.
People tried to imagine a place where New Yorkers could enjoy the great outdoors.
The park took the builders sixteen years to complete.
There is also an Egyptian statue.
Other attractions include a colorful carousel and a zoo.
Many monuments are scattered throughout the park.