2. Adjectives An adjective is a word that describes a noun or pronoun. Many adjectives tell what kind or how many An adjective can appear before the noun it describes, or it can follow a linking verb, such as is, seems or appears. The article was important.

3. Let’s Practice What is the adjective in each sentence? Encyclopedias have several volumes. One volume is the index. The index gives important information. It tells you where to find interesting articles. Some articles have colorful pictures.

4. Articles Articles are special kinds of adjectives. The words a, an and the are articles. Examples a truckan airplanethe shoe factory Use a and an to refer to any person, place, thing or idea. A is used before words beginning with a consonant sound. An is used before words beginning with a vowel sound. Examples A leader is speaking against air pollution. An agency is working to stop pollution Use the to refer to a particular person, place, thing, or idea. The can also refer to plural nouns. Example The pollution of air, water, and land must be stopped.

5. Let’s Practice Which article would you choose for each sentence? How much daily trash does (a, an) person throw away? Think of all (a, the) wrappers, boxes, and cans you use. There is (a, an) overflow of trash at our dumps. Each person must make (a, an) effort to recycle. People should recycle (a, the) items they use.

6. Demonstrative Adjectives A demonstrative adjective comes before a noun. It tells which one or which ones. This and these point out nearby people or things. This glass next to me is transparent. These lenses over here magnify things. That and those point out people or things that are far away. Pick up that box over there. We can use those mirrors by the window.

7. Singular vs. Plural Nouns Use this (nearby) and that (far away) for singular nouns. this image (nearby) that mirror (far away) Use these (nearby) and those (far away) for plural nouns. these images (nearby) those mirrors (far away)

8. Let’s Practice together Which demonstrative adjective would you choose to complete the sentence? This, that, these or those? ________experiment requires three small mirrors. Tape ___________mirrors together to form a triangle. Make sure _______side faces toward the center. Pour _________clear plastic shapes into the triangle mirrors. Look through the kaleidoscope at _______light over there.

9. Proper Adjectives A proper adjective is formed from a proper noun. Proper NounEndingProper Adjective Japan -ese Japanese Africa -n African Egypt -ian Egyptian Italy -ian Italian England -ish English

10. Proper Adjectives Proper Adjectives start with a capital letter Example: Spanish guitarsFrench horn Some Examples Cuban music has an interesting sound. Spanish melodies are often used in Mexican music. African rhythms can also be heard in some Caribbean songs.

11. Comparative Vs. Superlative Comparative adjectives compare two nouns or pronouns. Add –er to most adjectives to compare two people, places, things or ideas. Sugar is sweeter than honey. Superlative adjectives compare more than two nouns or pronouns. Add –est to most adjectives to compare more than two people, places, things or ideas. That is the sweetest cake of the three cakes on the table.

12. Rules for adding the suffix For adjectives ending in e, drop the e before adding –er or –est wide—drop the “e” wid— add –er or –est= wider or widest For adjectives ending in a consonant and y, change the y to i and add –er or –est funny—change the “y” to an “i” add-er or –est = funnier or funniest For one-syllable adjectives that have a single vowel before the final consonant, double the final consonant and add –er or –est sad- double the final consonant = sadd Add –er or –est=sadder or saddest

13. Let’s Practice Salsa is _____________than ketchup. (hot) Blueberry cheesecake is _____________than pumpkin pie. (sweet) Lemon meringue pie is the ________________of all. (sweet) Steaks are often _______________than lamb chops. (tough) Fudge may be the _________________candy. (chew)

14. Comparing with More and Most Use more and most to compare most adjectives that have two or more syllables. Use more to compare two nouns or pronouns. Use most to compare three or more people, places, things or ideas. Example: The San Diego Zoo is more colorful that the London Zoo. Is the San Diego Zoo the most colorful zoo in the world? When you use more or most do not use the –er or --est form of the adjective.

15. Let’s Practice It is (more harder, harder) to fly to Taos than to Houston. Flights are (more numerous, numerouser) on Fridays. El Paso is the (more unusual, most unusual) city of all. This city is (closer, more closer) to Mexico than to Dallas. The (most splendid, more splendid) Mayan art of all is in Mexico.

16. Comparing with Good and Bad The word good has two forms for comparing: better and best. Use better to compare two nouns or pronouns. Example: Today’s weather was good. Yesterday’s weather was better. Use best to compare more than two people, places, things or ideas. Last week’s weather was the best of the month.

17. Comparing with Good and Bad The word bad has two forms for comparing: worse and worst. Use worse to compare two nouns or pronouns. Example: That storm was bad. It was worse than the one last summer. Use worst to compare three or more nouns or pronouns. Some people thought it was the worst storm of all.

18. Let’s Practice A tornado is _______________than a hailstorm. (bad) A hurricane is the ________________storm of all. (bad) Fog is ______________for driving than a light rain. (bad) A steady rain is ________________for plants than a quick, hard downpour. (good) Sunshine is the _________________weather of all. (good)