The Parts of SpeechThe Parts of Speech

Warriner, John E., Mary E. Whitten and Francis Warriner, John E., Mary E. Whitten and Francis Griffith. Griffith. Warriner’s English Grammar and Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition Third CourseComposition Third Course. New York: . New York: Harcourt Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1977. Print. Brace Jovanovich, 1977. Print.

The The AdjectiveAdjective

DefinitionDefinitionAn adjective modifies a An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun.noun or a pronoun.

Sometimes we wish to Sometimes we wish to

describe, or make more describe, or make more

definite, a noun or pronoun we definite, a noun or pronoun we

use. We then use. We then modifymodify the word the word

by using an adjective.by using an adjective.

• To modify a word means to describe To modify a word means to describe the word or to make its meaning more the word or to make its meaning more definite.definite.

• An adjective modifies a noun or An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun by answering one of these pronoun by answering one of these questions:questions:

–What kind?What kind?–Which one?Which one?–How manyHow many??

Notice how the Notice how the underlinedunderlined adjectives adjectives which follow answer these questions which follow answer these questions

about the nouns modified.about the nouns modified.

What kind?white carnylon ropewise personbig desk

How many?one minutethree girlsfew peopleseveral days

Which One?this roadlast weekthe first daythe other man

Pronoun or Adjective?Pronoun or Adjective?• Notice that in the phrases we just Notice that in the phrases we just

saw, saw, one, this, other, few one, this, other, few andand several several – – words which may also be used as words which may also be used as pronouns – are actually used as pronouns – are actually used as adjectives, because they adjectives, because they modifymodify the the nouns in the phrases rather than take nouns in the phrases rather than take the place of the nouns.the place of the nouns.

What kind?white carnylon ropewise personbig desk

How many?one minutethree girlsfew peopleseveral days

Which One?this roadlast weekthe first daythe other man

A possessive pronoun actually acts as an adjective when it tells

which one?which one? about a noun.

• mymy sister sister• youryour book book• ourour team team• theirtheir tents tents

ArticlesArticles• The most frequently used adjectives

are the little words a, an and the.• These little adjectives are usually

called by a special name: articles.

Some examples…Some examples…• A woman arrived.• An automobile went by.• She waited an hour.• The woman arrived.• The automobile went by.• The hour passed quickly.

An adjective usually comes in An adjective usually comes in front of the word it modifies.front of the word it modifies.• Mrs. Russell gave each boy here hot

tea and apple pie.• The ancient, battered manuscript was

found in her desk.

Sometimes, however, adjectives Sometimes, however, adjectives follow the word they modify or are follow the word they modify or are separated from it by other words..separated from it by other words..• Magazines, old and dusty, cluttered

her desk.• Anna seemed unhappy.• She was not optimistic.• Courageous in battle, he deserved his

medals.

Fill in the blanks below with Fill in the blanks below with appropriate adjectives.appropriate adjectives.

1.1. My family visited the ____ zoo on My family visited the ____ zoo on Sunday.Sunday.

2.2. ____ monkeys were chattering in their ____ monkeys were chattering in their ____ cages.____ cages.

3.3. My sister heard the ____ lion roaring My sister heard the ____ lion roaring and immediately became ____.and immediately became ____.

4.4. She laughed, though, when she saw the She laughed, though, when she saw the ____ birds with ____ feathers on their ____ birds with ____ feathers on their heads.heads.

5.5. The ____ birds made ____ squawks.The ____ birds made ____ squawks.6.6. The seals, ____ and ____ , performed The seals, ____ and ____ , performed

stunts.stunts.7.7. The ____ elephants appeared ____ for The ____ elephants appeared ____ for

our peanuts.our peanuts.

8.8. The bears were begging for food on their The bears were begging for food on their ____ feet.____ feet.

9.9. By ____ afternoon, the sky was By ____ afternoon, the sky was becoming ____ .becoming ____ .

10.10.After a ____ day, we finally arrived After a ____ day, we finally arrived home, ____ and ____ .home, ____ and ____ .