HONORS ENGLISH 9 ADJECTIVES

What do adjectives describe? Adjectives can describe nouns or pronouns Adjectives answer the following questions...

What kind is it? Example: Dan decided that the fuzzy, green bread would make an unappetizing sandwich. After identifying the nouns, what adjectives answer the question “What kind is it?” Fuzzy, green, unappetizing

How many? Seven space aliens slithered into the diner and ordered many milkshakes. After identifying the noun, what adjectives answer the question “How many are there?” Seven and many

Which one? The unhealthy banana remained on the floor. After identifying the nouns, which adjectives answer the questions “Which one is it? unhealthy

Punctuating a series of adjectives To describe a noun fully, you might need two or more adjectives. Sometimes a series of adjectives requires commas, but sometimes it doesn’t. So how do you tell the difference?

Coordinate adjectives If adjectives are coordinate, you must use commas between them. Coordinate adjectives can pass one of two tests. When you rearrange their location in the series or when you insert AND between them, they still make sense.

Example of Coordinate Adjectives Ex: The tall, creamy, delicious milkshake melted. The creamy, tall, delicious milkshake melted. The creamy and tall and delicious milkshake melted.

Noncoordinate Adjectives Do not require commas Do not make sense when you rearrange their location in the series OR when you insert AND between them.

Noncoordinate Example Ex: Two fat Siamese cats hog the blanket. Fat two Siamese cats hog the blanket. Two and fat Siamese cats hog the blanket.

Practice! Is the following sentence punctuated correctly? The cute, soft, frisky ferret will bite your fingers if you try to pick him up. YES (you can rearrange the adjectives or insert “and” between them and it still makes sense)

Practice! Is the following sentence punctuated correctly? Many red berries were ready to be picked. YES (The sentence doesn’t make sense if you said “Red many berries” or “Many and red berries,” so no comma is needed)

List the adjectives in the following sentence: Several of us went to the new restaurant to try the delicious, mouth-watering desserts. New, delicious, mouth-watering

List the adjectives in the following sentence: The large and angry man charged the two umpires after hearing the bad call. Large, angry, two, bad

Comparative and superlative adjectives Depending on the number of syllables an adjective has, you can either add an ‘er’ or ‘est’ to the end of it, or you can insert the words ‘more’ or ‘most.’ NEVER use both!! Ex: most happiest or more prettier Here are the rules…

Rules for comparative and superlative adjectives  One syllable adjectives generally take ‘er’/’est’ at the end  Ex: smaller; bigger; tallest  Two syllable adjectives vary  Ex: lazier; more handsome; crispiest  Three syllable adjectives use ‘more,’ ‘less,’ most,’ or ‘least’  Ex: less colorful; more compassionate; most frustrating, least believable

The Adjective Clause  An adjective clause – also called an adjectival or relative clause – will meet three requirements:  1) It will contain a subject and verb  2) Next, it will begin with a relative pronoun [who, whom, whose, that, or which] or a relative adverb [when, where, or why]  3) It will function as an adjective, answering the questions what kind? How many? Which one?

Examples of adjective clauses Diane felt manipulated by her beagle Santana, whose big, brown eyes pleaded for another cookie. Chewing with her mouth open is one reason why Fred cannot stand sitting across from his sister Melanie. Laughter erupted from Annemarie, who hiccupped for seven hours afterward.

Punctuate an adjective clause correctly  Essential clauses do NOT require commas. An essential clause is a relative clause that limits a general, ambiguous noun. The essential clause tells the reader which one of many the writer meansrelative clausenoun  Ex: The man who ordered another double anchovy pizza claims to have a pet dolphin in his backyard pool.  We need that essential information to identify which man the speaker is referencing.

Punctuate an adjective clause correctly  Non-essential clauses DO require commas if the clause is NOT necessary to understanding the sentence.  Mr. Hall, who ordered another double anchovy pizza, claims to have a pet dolphin in his backyard pool.  Even without the adjective clause, we can still identify which man the speaker is referencing.

Which contains the essential clause? The car that Madeline purchased from a newspaper ad belches black smoke whenever she accelerates. The ancient Buick which Madeline purchased from a newspaper ad belches black smoke whenever she accelerates.

Which contains the essential clause? The rats are nesting in the master bedroom closet where Grandma hides her money. The rats are nesting in the closet where Grandma hides her money.

Which contains the essential clause? The waiter who served the salad did not notice the caterpillar nibbling a lettuce leaf. Javier who served the salad did not notice the caterpillar nibbling a lettuce leaf.