An adjective is a word that describes or limits a noun or pronoun. Adjectives often come before the noun they modify but can also follow nouns or appear after linking verbs. Proper adjectives are formed from proper nouns and are capitalized. Limiting adjectives point out objects or denote number using articles, numbers, possessives, and demonstratives. Adjectives have positive, comparative, and superlative degrees where the positive shows a quality, comparative compares two things, and superlative compares three or more.

1. ADJECTIVES
An adjective is a word that describes or
limits a noun or pronoun

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)