2. A descriptive adjective tells which one or what kind of noun
or pronoun is in a statement.
• Adjectives often come before the word they modify or
describe.
• An adjective may follow the noun
– 1. My old, red sweater is very warm.
– 2. People young and old enjoy the circus.
• An adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the
subject of the sentence is a predicate adjective
– 3. My grandmother looks younger than ninety.
– 4. Flora is happy most of the time.
– *BE CAREFUL! Remember, a word’s PART OF SPEECH
depends on HOW IT IS USED in the sentence
• The narrow street was crowded. (street is a noun)
• Street cleaners are working near my house. (street is an adjective)
3. A PROPER ADJECTIVE is formed from a proper noun and always
begins with a CAPITAL LETTER
• NOUN | ADJECTIVE
• America American
• Ireland Irish
• China Chinese
• Pythagoras Pythagorean
• A LIMITING ADJECTIVE points out an object or denotes number
– Limiting adjectives tell which, whose, how many or how much
LIMITING ADJECTIVES INCLUDE:
• Articles – a, an, the
• Cardinal numbers – one, two, ten, fifty . . .
• Ordinal numbers – first, second, next, last . . .
• Possessive nouns and pronouns – his, my, Jen’s . . .
• Demonstrative pronouns – this, that, these, those . . .
4. COMPARISON of ADJECTIVES
Positive, Comparative and Superlative Degrees
• The positive degree shows the quality of one person or thing
– Sam is a tall boy
– This is an interesting article.
– The comparative degree compares two people or things. To
form the comparative, add –er to short words, or more to longer
adjectives
• Jack is taller than Sam.
• The Giver was more interesting than Holes.
• The superlative degree compares three or more people or
things. To form the superlative, add –est, or most
– Chris is the tallest student in the class.
– Roots is the most interesting book I have read.
» (text pg. 420)
