1. Adjectives
Mrs. Prange

2. Definition Adjectives- modifies a noun or pronoun answers questions:
What kind?
Gray clouds, stormy weather
Which one?
That mountain, this rain
How many(much)?
three rivers, less snow

3. Descriptive Adjectives
Descriptive adj- describe or characterize
Common
Ex. blue skies, lone pine, new jeans
Proper-most are capitalized
Ex. Japanese garden, Swiss mountains, Scotch pine

4. Placement
Placement of adjectives- usually before the word it modifies.
Tall buildings, narrow streets
Placement can create emphasis
Hot and humid, the climate stifled her.
The climate, hot and humid, stifled her.
*NO-Hot and humid, she was stifled by the climate.
*NO-The climate stifled her, hot and humid.

5. Limited Adjectives
Limiting adjectives- restrict the meaning of the word they modify
Definite article is “the”
used before adj., turns adj. Into a noun
Only the brave should climb here.

6. Limited cont. Indefinite articles is “a” and “an”
“a” used before consonant or vowel with consonant sound.
“an” used before vowel or consonant with a vowel sound.
Do NOT use articles after phrases like “that kind of”
NO- This type of a tree
YES- This type of tree

7. Pronouns as Adjectives
Pronouns can be used as adjectives if it is followed by a noun
ADJ-Both snakes are poisonous.
P-Both are cold blooded.
ADJ-Most birds have feathers.
P-One does not.

8. Nouns as Adjectives Nouns can modify another noun a stone wall
the tent flap
a logging camp

9. Compound Adjectives Compound adjectives- may be one word or hyphenated
Careful, downhearted, worldwide, up-to-date, down-to-earth, star-crossed
Before noun, use ‘-‘
After noun, leave ‘-‘ out
Ex. A one-inch splinter was removed.
The splinter was one inch long.
He had an out-of-date guidebook.
The survey was out of date

10. Degrees of Comparison
Degrees of comparison-amount of the qualities described by adjective.
positive
comparative -er
Superlative -est
positive- used when speaking about 1 thing.
This tree is tall.
This road is dangerous.

11. Degrees cont.
Comparative- used when describing and comparing 2 things.
use ending –er with words of 1 syllable
use words ‘more’ or ‘less’ with words of 2 or more syllables.
This tree is taller than that one.
This road is more dangerous than that one.

12. Degrees cont.
Superlative-used when describing and comparing 3 or more things.
use ending –est with words of 1 syllable
use words ‘most’ or ‘least’ with words of 2 or more syllables.
This tree is the tallest of all.
This road is the most dangerous of all.
*Of course, there are exceptions to these rules.

13. Degrees Cont. Positive Comparative Superlative Bad, ill Worse Worst
Far
Farther, further
Farthest, furthest
Good, well
Better
Best
Little
Less, lesser, littler
Least, littlest
Much, many
More
Most
Old
Older, elder
Oldest, eldest