The “crayons” of the Grammar World Adjectives The “crayons” of the Grammar World

Adjectives Adjectives are words that describe nouns by telling what kind, how many, or which one. The old boat sat on the purple whale. One man fished from the boat. That whale looks very tame. ______ ___ ____

Adjectives answer the questions: How many? What kind? Which one?

The yellow house is for sale. Find the noun. house Ask the question: What kind of house? yellow house Yellow is the adjective.

Ask the question: How many dogs? Two dogs ran outside. Find the noun. dogs Ask the question: How many dogs? two dogs Two is the adjective.

That cow fell down. cow That cow Find the noun. Ask the question: Which cow? That cow That is the adjective.

Let’s Try Some! The magnificent butterfly flew under the branch. The butterfly with the colorful wings rested. One butterfly flew quietly beneath the tree. The butterfly fluttered its delicate wings.

There are special types of adjectives: Articles Demonstrative Adjectives Comparative Adjectives Superlative Adjectives

Articles A An The

a book A Use before words beginning with a consonant sound. Use with singular nouns. a cat a key

an onion An Use before words beginning with a vowel sound and the silent h. Use with singular nouns. an island an honest man

Demonstrative Adjectives These adjectives point out specific things. this that these those

This, that This boy is my friend. I want this boy on my team. use with singular nouns answers the question which one? This boy is my friend. I want this boy on my team. That soccer ball belongs to me. I bought that ball yesterday.

These, those use with plural nouns answers the question which ones? These people are working. They are working on these problems. Those books are on the table. The boys used those books to help them.

Comparative Adjectives used to compare two nouns or pronouns. Add –er to the end of one syllable words. Add more to the beginning of multi-syllable words. NEVER use –er and more together.

Let’s try some! Joe is ______ than Bill. Bill works _______ than Joe. This car is ___________to drive than that one. (tall) taller (hard) harder more difficult (difficult)

Superlative Adjectives Used to compare three or more nouns or pronouns Add –est to the end of one syllable words. Add most to the beginning of multisyllable words. NEVER use -est and most together.

Let’s try some! Mary has the ______ shirt. Mark is the _____ boy. They are the ________ children. Chrissy is the ________ girl I know. (bright) brightest (tall) tallest (honest) most honest (helpful) most helpful