Adjectives By Ellyn Ball and Lilly Jenkins

Adjectives Review  What is an adjective?

Adjectives  Adjectives are words that describe. When used properly, they sharpen and polish the meaning of nouns and pronouns. Adjectives help a writer paint a picture with words. Adjectives modify two different parts of speech- nouns and pronouns.  Example adjectives: ugly, pretty, blue, colorful

Quick Check  What does an adjective do?  It describes and/or paints a picture  What two parts of speech does an adjective modify?  Noun and pronoun

Adjectives  To modify means to “change slightly.” Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns by slightly changing their meanings.  When adjectives modify nouns, they usually come directly before the nouns, but occasionally, they may come after.  Example: The room, narrow and dark, frightened us. (after)  Adjectives usually answer one of these four questions about the noun or pronoun they modify.

Adjectives What kind? new carstriped tie Which One? this swanevery page How Many? one hamburgermany geese How Much? no foodlittle rain

Quick Check  What does modify mean?  To “change slightly”  What four questions does an adjective answer?  What kind? Which One? How many? How much?

Adjectives  Three common adjectives-the, a and an- are known as articles. Unlike other adjectives, which may sometimes come after nouns or pronouns they modify, articles always come before nouns.  Articles answer the question which one?  The definite article the refers to a specific person, place or thing. Example: the canoe or the trumpeter swan  A and an, the other two articles, are called indefinite articles. They point out a type of person, place or thing, but they do not refer to a specific one. Example: a pond (perhaps one of several) or an old sweater (any one of many)  You should also know when to use a and when to use an  A is used before consonant sounds and an is used before vowel sounds.  Letters H, O and U maybe problem areas, they can sound like either vowels or consonants sometimes.

Quick Check  Three common adjectives are?  The, a and an  They are known as?  Articles  They always come _____ nouns.  Before  The definite article ___ refers to a ________________?  The a specific person, place or thing  The other two articles are ___ and ___ and they are called___________?  A and an, indefinite article

Using A and An A With Consonant SoundsAn With Vowel Sounds a yellow hatan endangered water bird a happy time (H sound)an honest person (no H sound) a onetime nesting area (W sound) an old map (o sound) a unicorn (Y sound) an uncle (U sound)

Using Noun and Proper Nouns as Adjectives NounsUsed as Adjectives shoeA shoe salesperson (What kind of salesperson?) waterfowlthe waterfowl refuge Which refuge?) Proper NounsUsed as Proper Adjectives Trumanthe Truman library (Which library?) FloridaFlorida wetlands (What kind of wetlands?) DecemberDecember weather (What kind of weather?) Proper NounsProper Adjectives Formed From Proper Nouns AmericaAmerican history (Which kind) VictoriaVictorian ideas (What kind?)

Using Compound Adjectives  A compound adjective is made up of more than one word.  Most compound adjectives are written as hyphenated words. Some are written as combined words, as in “a runaway horse.” If you are unsure about how to write a compound adjective, look up the word in the dictionary. HyphenatedCombined a well-known actressa featherweight boxer a full-time jobA freshwater lake

Quick Check  You use _____ with a consonant sound and use ____ with a vowel sound?  A, an  Can nouns and proper nouns be used as adjectives?  Yes  What is a compound adjective?  It is made up of more than one word

Using Nouns and Pronouns as Adjectives  A noun or pronoun is used as an adjective if it modifies a noun.  Example: The duck pond sometimes freezes in winter.  The noun duck functions as an adjective modifying pond.  Example: Which ducks are the males?  The interrogative pronoun “which” modifies ducks

Using Possessive Nouns and Pronouns as Adjectives  These personal pronouns are often called possessive adjectives: my, your, his, her, its, our and their.  They are adjectives because they are used before nouns and answer the question Which one? They are pronouns because they have antecedents.  Example: The ducks flapped their wings.  Their is an adjective because it modifies wings. At the same time, it is a pronoun because it stands in for the antecedent ducks.

Demonstrative Adjectives  This, that, these and those- the four demonstrative pronouns-are often used as demonstrative adjectives.  Examples: Pronoun; We saw that. Adjective: That lake is home to many geese.

Interrogative Adjectives  Which, what, and whose-three of the interrogative pronouns-can be used as interrogative adjectives.  Examples:  Pronoun; Which do you think he will choose?  Adjective; Which parrot do you think he will buy?

Quick Check  A noun or pronoun is used as an adjective if it modifies a _________.  Noun  Personal pronouns are often called __________?  possessive adjectives  Give me several examples of a possessive adjective.  my, your, his, her, its, our and their.  What question does a possessive adjective answer?  Which One?  This, that, these and those- the four demonstrative pronouns-are often used as _____________?  demonstrative adjectives.  Which, what, and whose-three of the interrogative pronouns-can be used as__________?  interrogative adjectives.

We Do?  As a group fill in the correct kind of article indicated in the parentheses. 1.Swans nest along (definite) shores of ponds and marshes during summer. 2.Some move to (indefinite) large lake or bay for (indefinite) winter season. 3.Swans feed mostly on plants that they find under (definite) the water. 4.Because of its webbed feet, (indefinite) swan is (indefinite) excellent swimmer. 5.The swan’s long neck helps it locate (indifinite) underwater meal.

You Do  On the left side of your interactive notebook, list one of each kind of adjective learned today (do not use any examples given today). Make sure to illustrate and color code.