Adjectives - an adjective describes a person, place, thing, or idea Adjectives - an adjective describes a person, place, thing, or idea. - an adjective provides information about the size, shape, color, texture, feeling, sound, smell, number, or condition of a noun or pronoun

- Most adjectives come before the noun they modify - Most adjectives come before the noun they modify. Ex: Good architects draw blueprints. - Modify means “to describe the word or to make its meaning more clear/definite.” Ex: the ferocious dog chased the rabbit.

Adjectives can be common Ex: The class copy is missing. Ex: The yellow flowers are my favorite.

Adjectives can be proper Ex: We purchased a bushel of Idaho potatoes. Ex: I really like that Hollister shirt.

Adjectives can be compound Ex: The hotdog stand had closed. Ex: Scientists say the earth is being polluted by greenhouse gas.

Adjectives can be possessive Ex: Mr. Gullion’s classes are very intelligent. Ex: Your house is too far away.

Predicate Adjectives - adjectives that follow linking verbs and modify/describe the subject of the sentence Ex: Some architects are skillful and creative

Adjectives answer the questions: What kind. Ex Adjectives answer the questions: What kind? Ex. The hairy dog ran the fastest. Which one? Ex. The tall girl is riding her bicycle down the road.

How many. / How much. Ex. Several people attended the meeting. Ex How many? / How much? Ex. Several people attended the meeting. Ex. Did you want some cereal?

Nouns Functioning as Adjectives When used to describe Nouns Functioning as Adjectives When used to describe. . . . - common nouns become common adjectives Ex. Light bulb - proper nouns become proper adjectives Ex. Spanish rice

- possessive nouns become possessive adjectives Ex. Mr - possessive nouns become possessive adjectives Ex. Mr. Gullion’s class - compound nouns become compound adjectives Ex. newspaper reporter Ex. four-foot table

Pronouns Functioning as Adjectives When used to describe. . . . Possessive pronouns become possessive adjectives Ex: My house Demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, & those) become demonstrative adjectives Ex: That shoe Indefinite pronouns become indefinite adjective Ex: Many students

Pronouns Functioning as Adjectives Cont’d Interrogative pronouns (what, which, who, whom, whose) become interrogative adjectives Ex: Which game?

Coordinate Adjectives Coordinate adjectives are simply two or more adjectives that describe the same noun. Ex: It was a beautiful, sunny day last Saturday. Ex: The ghosts came out on a dark and stormy night.

Deciding when a comma is necessary If two or more adjectives are coordinate, a comma is used to separate them to provide clarity. If you can replace the comma with the word “and” and reverse the order of the adjectives, then the comma is necessary. Check out the below examples: Example 1 (CORRECT): Slippery, treacherous roads are common after a big snowfall. Slippery and treacherous roads are common after a big snowfall. Treacherous, slippery roads are common after a big snowfall.

Rules to Remember If you cannot reverse the order of the adjectives, then you do not need a comma. Ex: the white police car sped down the highway. In the sentence above, you could not say: “the police white car. . .,” so no comma is needed between the adjectives. Ex: the yellow yield sign was broken. In the sentence above, you could not say: “the yield yellow sign. . .,” so no comma is needed between the adjectives.