1. Adjectives Notes Definition: a word that modifies a noun or a pronoun
Modifies = change
Why modify? To improve something or make it more precise
How to find Adj.:
Find each noun or pronoun.
Then, ask these questions:
What Kind?
Which One(s)?
How Many?
How Much?

2. Position of an Adjective
Before the Noun
Ex: She wore the latest fashion.
After the Noun
Ex: Mr. Mitchell, smart and sweet, gave us no homework over Winter Break.
After a Linking Verb/Verb Phrase
Ex: She looked beautiful in her prom dress.

3. Adjective Practice
Example 1 The silent crowd watched the film. Example 2 That role was written for the actress. Example 3 Few seats in the theatre were empty.

4. Adjectives
Example 4 Ariana Hawk heated a bowl of distilled water in the microwave, dipped a washcloth in it and wiped her 2-year-old son’s itchy, irritated skin. Example 5 Samuel has rough patches of skin on his legs, arms and face, she explained, adding that his skin condition started with a rash on his stomach after Flint switched its water supply source from Lake Huron to the more polluted and eroding Flint River in April 2014 while under control of a state-appointed emergency manager.

5. Punctuation with Two or more Adjectives
Sometimes a sentence may have two or more adjectives before the noun they describe.
If the adjectives are not connected by a conjunction- such as and or nor- you might need to put a comma b/w them.
Test 1: To decide whether a comma belongs, read the adjectives and add the word and between them.
If the adjectives make sense, put a comma to replace the and.
If the adjectives don’t make sense with the word and b/w them, don’t add a comma.

6. Punctuation with Two or more Adjectives
Test 2: WHEN YOU REVERSE THE ORDER OF THE ADJECTIVES, AND THE SENTENCE MAKES SENSE, COMMAS ARE NEEDED.
Example:
The hungry, slimy, green Martian entered the classroom, grabbed Claudette, and took her to lunch at Bernie’s Burger Emporium.
The slimy, hungry, green Martian entered the classroom …
The hungry, green, slimy Martian entered the classroom …
The green, slimy, hungry Martian entered the classroom …

7. Adjectives w/ or w/o commas
Example 1 The soft furry vest is on the hanger. Example 2 The red knickers vest is in the drawer.

8. Adjectives Notes cont’d
Proper Adjectives
Definition: adjectives formed from a proper noun. Like a proper noun, a proper adjective begins with a capital letter.
Compound Adjectives
Definition: are made up of two or more words, just like compound nouns.
Articles
A, an, & the form a special group of adjectives called articles.

9. Articles: a, an, & the
the = specific article a/an = nonspecific article Example: Let's read the book. (specific book) vs. Let's read a book. (any book)

10. Articles: a, an, & the Purpose: To indicate a noun is approaching
Using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next word. So...
a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy; a car;
an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg

11. Articles: a, an, & the
a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is used); a university
an + nouns starting with silent "h": an hour
a + nouns starting with a pronounced "h": a horse

12. Adjective or Noun?
The same word can be an adjective in one sentence and a noun in another sentence. In order to determine if a word is an adjective or a noun, you must see how it is functioning in a sentence. Example 1 I hope to finish my school assignment before dinner. Example 2 I left my English book at school.

13. Adjective or Pronoun?
Just like nouns, there are pronouns that can function as adjectives, showing possession. These are called Possessive Adjectives.
This
What
All
Either
Neither
These
Which
Another
Few
Some
That
Whose
Any
Many
Other
Those
Each
Both
More/
Most
Several
His
Her
Their
Our
Your

14. Adjective or Pronoun? I have been to this camp before. vs.
Example 1
I have been to this camp before.
vs.
Do you like this?
Example 2
What time is it?
What is planned for today?

15. Adjectives & Apostrophes
Definition of Apostrophe:
used to show that someone or something owns something else
Apostrophe= ownership
Example 1:
Michaels house was not visible from the position we were standing on.
Example 2:
I love spending summers at my Aunt Bettys farm.

16. Possessive Forms of Nouns= Possessive Adjective
Singular Nouns
Rule 1: Add ‘s to form the possessive of a singular noun.
Examples
Baby= baby’s
Sister-in-law= sister-in-law’s
Georgia= Georgia’s
Rule 2: Add only an apostrophe to a singular noun that ends in s.
Jess= Jess’
cross= cross’
James= James’

17. Possessive Forms of Nouns= Possessive Adjective
Plural Nouns
Rule 1: Add only an apostrophe to form the possessive of a plural noun that ends in s. Examples -babies= babies’ -foxes= foxes’ Rule 2: Add ‘s to form the possessive of a plural noun that does not end in s. -mice= mice’s -children= children’s