Modifiers: Adjectives

English Language Arts, Grade 8

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Modifiers–Adjectives Visit www.newpathlearning.com for Online Learning Resources. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. 92-4072 An adjective is a word that modifies, or tells about, a noun or pronoun. I prefer the blue T-shirt to the green one. A proper adjective is formed from a proper noun and always capitalized. Is that the German flag or the Austrian flag? (German is based on Germany and Austrian is based on Austria.) A compound adjective is when two or more words are used as a descriptive phrase directly in front of the noun it modifies. The words must be used together to modify the noun. Compound adjectives are always hyphenated. She signed a six-month lease for the apartment. Note: It’s not a six lease, and it’s not a month lease; it’s a six-month lease. Since you need both words together to describe the noun lease , six month is hyphenated. She signed an apartment lease for six months. (There’s no hyphen because the words come after the noun lease .) A predicate adjective always comes after the noun it describes. It always follows a linking verb. The linking verbs are forms of the verb to be (is, are, was, were, etc.) Other common linking verbs are appear, become, feel, grow, keep, look, prove, remain, seem, smell, sound, stay, taste, and turn . The linking verbs are underlined in the examples below: The baby appears hungry. (hungry describes the baby) We were too tired to argue. (tired describes the pronoun we) Her song sounds beautiful. (beautiful describes the song) A demonstrative adjective is a word such as this, that, these, and those used to describe nouns. Did Sally like that movie or this one? (that and this both describe movies) Are these the socks you’re looking for? (these describe the socks) LEASE
Visit www.newpathlearning.com for Online Learning Resources. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. 92-4072 Underline the adjective in each sentence. Circle the noun or pronoun it describes. Identify the type of adjective it is by writing its code on the line. A = adjective PR = proper adjective C = compound adjective PA = predicate adjective D = demonstrative adjective _____ 1. Greg wants Swiss cheese on his sub. _____ 2. These are the raspberry bushes I have for sale. _____ 3. The air in the room smelled stale. _____ 4. A well known celebrity stepped out of the limosuine. _____ 5. A homeless man pushed a shopping cart full of empty bottles. _____ 6. With time and rest the boy grew stronger. _____ 7. Would you like French fries with your order? _____ 8. Dawn is the blonde woman with the large sunglasses. _____ 9. Look at those clouds! We’d better take cover. _____ 10. Let’s order Chinese takeout for dinner. _____ 11. This drink tastes weird; I’m going to toss it out. _____ 12. He cried out when he discovered that the top-secret plans had been stolen from the safe. PR Modifiers–Adjectives