What do they do?  Adjectives are modifiers.  They are the parts of speech that slightly changes the meaning of other words by adding description or by making them ore specific.

What is an adjective?  An adjective is a word used to describe a noun or pronoun or to give a noun or pronoun a more specific meaning.  The adjective will provide information that answers the following questions about the noun or pronoun: What kind? (Big nest. = big) Which one? (That bird. = that) How many? (seventeen flocks. = seventeen) How much? (more bird seed. = more)

Is it always in front?  Sometimes adjectives will be located after the noun or pronoun it is describing. Example: He was tired after the long flight. Tired after the flight, he rested.  Sometimes there might be more than one adjective that modifies a noun or pronoun. Example: The quick, darting falcon captured its prey.

Nouns used as adjectives  Occasionally, words that are usually nouns will function as adjectives modifying another noun and answering what kind or which one.  Example: I ate the vegetable soup. I had to purchase the bird food.

Proper adjectives  Like nouns, some adjectives can be proper.  Proper adjectives are proper nouns used as adjectives or adjectives formed from proper nouns.  They modify other nouns and begin with a capital letter. Examples:  Picasso painting  Florida sunshine  North American birds  Spanish language

Compound Adjectives  Adjectives can also be compound, or made up of more than one word.  Some compound adjectives are hyphenated  Some are written as combined words.  Compound proper adjectives are usually written as two separate words. Check the dictionary when in doubt! Examples:  Hyphenated: long-term mates oval-shaped nest  Combined: Warmblooded animals Lifelong partners  Separated: South American birds

Pronouns used as adjectives Possessive Pronouns or Adjectives (Have antecedents and modify the noun by answer which one.) my, your, his, her, its, our, theirThe bird built its nest. (antecedent) Demonstrative Adjectives (stands before a noun and answers which one) this, that, these, thoseThat hummingbird flew to the flowers. Those roses wilted in the sun. Interrogative Adjectives (modifies nouns in questions and answers which or what one) which, what, whoseWhich parakeet will you take? Whose money is on the table? Indefinite Adjectives (indefinite pronoun that are used as adjectives) Used with singular nouns: another, each, either, little, much, neither, one Used with plural nouns: both, few, many, several Used with singular or plural nouns: all, any, more, most other, some Give me another chance. Many crows raided the garden. Give me some birdseed, please. I received some gifts.

Verb forms used as Adjectives  Verb forms ending in –ing or –ed can be used as adjectives Verbs Used As Adjectives The rippling water felt refreshing to the herons The washed clothes were neatly folded.

Remember:  Nouns, pronouns, and verbs are adjectives only when they modify nouns or pronouns. Notice how their function can change from one sentence to another. Regular FunctionAs an Adjective NounThe blood coursed through his veins. His blood count was fine. PronounThat is my lovebird.That lovebird is beautiful. VerbThe President vetoed the billThe vetoed bill was reintroduced.

Homework Pages 11 and 12 due Friday, October 9 th.