Adjectives
- Adjective
An adjective is a word used to describe, or modify, a noun or pronoun.
Descriptive adjectives can be used to describe the size, shape, color, or other attributes of a noun or pronoun.
| Descriptive adjectives can also describe a noun's purpose. |
Mom got a new sewing machine.
The gardening tools are in the garage.
| Descriptive adjectives can describe a noun's origin or nationality. |
Adjectives of origin or nationality describe where a person, place, thing, animal, or idea comes from, originated from, or lives.
Adjectives of origin are always capitalized.
St. Patrick's Day is an Irish holiday, but it is now also an American celebration. In fact, many European holidays are now celebrated in this country. We also celebrate some Mexican holidays here, such as Cinco de Mayo and Day of the Dead.
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Limiting adjectives define or limit a noun or pronoun. They may provide information such as which one(s) or how many.
| Limiting adjectives include the three articles, a, an, and the. |
The articles a and an are used to refer to one general thing.
The article the is used to refer to one specific noun or to a plural noun.
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Adjectives can also be used to make comparisons between nouns or pronouns.
Comparative Adjectives
- Comparative adjectives are used to compare two nouns or pronouns.
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Andrea is the taller twin.
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- Most short comparative adjectives are formed by adding -er to a one-syllable base adjective.
- Comparative adjectives are sometimes combined with the word than.
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Sharon is shorter than Karla.
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Superlative Adjectives
- Superlative adjectives compare more than two nouns or pronouns, showing the highest degree of the given adjective.
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Fran is the tallest student in the whole class. |
- Most short superlative adjectives are formed by adding -est to a one-syllable base adjective.
Special Cases for Forming Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
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| Base Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|
| thin |
thinner |
thinnest |
| dry |
drier |
driest |
| large |
larger |
largest |
| bad |
worse |
worst |
| good |
better |
best |
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| Comparatives and Superlatives from Adjectives with More Than One Syllable |
exciting → more exciting (Comparative)
exciting → most exciting (Superlative)
EXCEPTION: Two-Syllable Words Ending in -y
ugly → uglier (Comparative)
ugly → ugliest (Superlative)
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5th Grade Writing - Adjectives Lesson