1. Adjectives

2. Adjectives
An adjective is a word that modifies, or describes, a noun or a pronoun.
The eager, large crowd of visitors
examines the huge painting.

3. Questions That Adjectives Answer
What Kind?
brick house
white paper
Which One?
that judge
each answer
How Many?
one daffodil
several roses
How Much?
no time
enough raisins

4. Find the Adjectives The endless landscape seemed filled with
strange objects and ghostly figures.
The silent woman was aware of everything around her.
endless, filled (PA), strange, ghostly
silent, aware (PA)
bright, whitened
red, eye-catching (PA)

5. Articles
The articles a, an, and the are always considered to be adjectives.
Indefinite articles = a and an
refer to one of a general group of people, places, things, or ideas
A is used before words that start with a consonant sound; an is used before words that start with a vowel sound.
Definite article = the
identifies specific people, places, things, or ideas
A tiger and an antelope ran through the clearing.

6. Compound Adjectives
A compound adjective is made up of more than one word.
usually written in hyphenated form
one-sided opinion
so-called expert
sometimes written in combined form
heartbreaking news
nearsighted witness

7. Nouns Used as Adjectives
Nouns are sometimes used as adjectives. When this happens, the noun is used immediately in front of another noun and answers the question What Kind? or Which One?
Noun = court Adjective = court date
Noun = morning Adjective = morning meal
Noun = chalk Adjective = chalk tray

8. Pronouns Used as Adjectives
Possessive pronouns (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) followed by nouns are often called possessive adjectives.
They are pronouns because they have antecedents, and they are adjectives since they answer the question Which One?
my book your friend his idea her courage
its surface our destination their reservation

9. Pronouns Used as Adjectives
The four demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those) are actually demonstrative adjectives when they are followed by nouns.
They also answer the question Which One?
this painting that portrait
these pictures those sculptures

10. Pronouns Used as Adjectives
Some interrogative pronouns (which, what, whose) are followed by nouns. When this happens, they’re actually interrogative adjectives, and they modify the nouns that follow them.
Which student borrowed the library book today?
What time are we leaving for the train station?
Whose project is posted on the bulletin board?

11. Pronouns Used as Adjectives
A number of indefinite pronouns (both, few, many, each, most, some, all, etc.) can be followed by nouns, which makes them indefinite adjectives.
They often tell How Much?
both representatives few complications
many circumstances each attraction
most phenomena some predicaments
all experiments

12. Bibliography
Carroll, Joyce A., Edward E. Wilson, and Gary Forlini. Prentice Hall Writing and Grammar. Vol. Grade 8. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc., 2008.
Royster, Jacqueline J., and Mark Lester. Writer's Choice Grammar Workbooks : Teacher's Wraparound Edition. Vol. Grade 8. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1996.
Writer's Choice Grammar Workbook 1996 : Grade 8. Vol. Grade 8. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1999.