Parts of Speech · Today with Jake

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I'm Jake, and I modify nouns and pronouns. I tell what kind, which one, how many, or how much. Stick with me, and the whole world gets more colorful. Watch.

Meet the Adjectives!

An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun. It answers one of four questions: what kind, which one, how many, or how much.

What kind

Tells what kind.

Peter bought me a green umbrella.

Which one

Tells which one.

Please sit in the back seat.

How many

Tells how many.

Lee Ann wrote thirteen letters.

How much

Tells how much.

Ask the teacher to give us less homework.

Identifying Adjectives

Every adjective answers one of Jake's four questions: what kind, which one, how many, or how much. Find the word doing the answering. When you are stuck, borrow a sense: tell what a thing looks, sounds, smells, tastes, or feels like.

In a sentence

Each sentence carries a crew. The highlighted adjective answers its question; round up the rest yourself.

The tall green trees grew along the deserted highway.

The nine puppies ate more food today.

Library

Now you try

What kind of lantern is it? You could try golden, or crimson, or lopsided. Paint me a picture.

Where the Adjective Sits

Adjectives can come before a noun (the playful children) or after a linking verb (the children seem playful). When multiple adjectives describe one noun, separate them with commas (the big, red barn).

In a sentence

One adjective rides ahead of its noun, and one waits past the linking verb.

The bright sunshine filled me with genuine happiness.

Kyle was very gracious after his team lost the game.

Now you try

Describe how the crowd feels by the last song. You could try peaceful, or joyful, or dreamy. Any describing word works.

Articles: Jake's Little Ones

In a sentence

Three little words, three little jobs. Watch them point the way to their nouns.

Jake squeezed a fresh tube of paint.

Nelson filed an orange folder.

The paisley shirt hung by the door.

Now you try

Try a or the. Save an for words that start with a vowel sound, like an easel.

Demonstrative, Possessive, and Interrogative Adjectives

Demonstrative

Demonstrative adjectives point at a noun: this, that, these, those.

Sammie gave me these balloons.

Those chocolate bars belong to Salvatore.

Possessive

Possessive adjectives claim a noun: my, your, his, her, our, their.

You should really finish your homework before the movie starts.

Interrogative

Interrogative adjectives ask about a noun: which, what, whose.

Which car do you want to drive?

Now you try

An interrogative adjective opens the question. You could try Which, or Whose. It asks about the recipe.

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Comparative

A comparative adjective judges a match between two: add -er or use more.

Between two hamsters, I always choose the faster one.

Superlative

A superlative adjective crowns a winner among three or more: add -est or use most.

In a big race, we found who had the fastest hamster in the land.

Now you try

An -est adjective crowns the winner of all. You could try biggest, or brightest, or fanciest. Any superlative works.

Order of Adjectives

In a sentence

Each sentence seats two describers in front of one noun, and the seats never trade. Read each one aloud and feel your ears agree.

Mateo found a small brown key under the doormat.

Connie hemmed that long purple coat before lunch.

A soft gray kitten sleeps in the shop window.

Now you try

Try tiny, small, or huge. The size word sits before the color word.

Proper Adjectives

In a sentence

Three describing words, three hometowns, one job: telling you exactly where the flavor comes from.

Dad flips French toast every Sunday morning.

The cook ladled New Mexican green chile onto the burrito.

The museum keeps its Martian rocks behind thick glass.

Now you try

A proper adjective names where it comes from, love. You could try Italian, or Korean, or Japanese. Capitalize it, always.