Download Study Guide: Adjectives Please use this guide as a review for our

Study Guide: Adjectives
Please use this guide as a review for our upcoming Adjective test. Check our lesson plans for the test
date.
I.
Identify proper adjectives. *Remember to always capitalize any proper adjective in a
sentence, but not the ensuing noun! Concept explanation p.150
For example: We went to Easter service.
II.
Identify a predicate adjective. *Remember, we label a predicate adjective as P.A. in the
predicate of the sentence. A predicate (a describing word that describes the subject of the
sentence) only occurs in the predicate of the sentence. The predicate starts at the verb and
goes to the end of the entire sentence. In other words, the predicate will always follow after
the verb in the sentence. Concept explanation pp.154-155.
For example: The man in the blue shirt lives near me. lives near me= predicate
Steps in identifying a predicate adjective:
1- In the sentence you can also look for a linking verb (feel, taste, appear, become etc.) see
p.63 for a complete list of linking verbs (you already memorized these!) ** To check for
a linking verb, try replacing the verb with a form of to be: is, am, are, was, or were. If
you can do this without changing the meaning of the sentence, the verb is usually
linking.
For example:
Joe looks happy today. Joe is happy today.
2- Things to remember when identifying the predicate or predicate adjective in the
sentence.
a. Is there a possible linking verb?
b. Is there an adjective in the predicate (after the verb)?
c. Does the adjective in the predicate go back and describe the subject?
If there is a linking verb and the adjective in the predicate (after the verb) describes the
subject, the word id a predicate adjective.
For example:
a. This bread tastes delicious. Your P.A. of the sentence is “delicious” because it
describes the subject (delicious bread). Remember, the describing word will always
come after the verb!
b. That girl is very funny. Your P.A. is “funny” because it describes the subject (funny girl).
III.
Identifying different types of adjectives. *Remember, we learned that there are two types
of adjectives; descriptive adjectives and limiting adjectives. Concept explanation p.142.
a. Descriptive Adjective: Describing words. They often tell what kind.
For example: pumpkin pie.
What kind of pie? Pumpkin
b. Limiting adjectives: Include determiners. Determiners are actually called determining
adjectives. We must memorize this list! We’ve completed many examples, and have
practiced during our warm ups. *Remember, the list is comprised of 6 categories.
1. Articles: a, an, the
2. Demonstratives: this, that, these, those
3. Numbers: twenty, thirty, five (spell out the number!)
4. Possessive pronouns (used as adjectives): my, his, her
5. Possessive nouns (used as adjectives): Jack’s bike
6. Indefinites: many, some, no, few, several
For example: Identifying all adjectives, limiting and describing in a sentence. (in bold).
Several lovable dogs played near the French doors.
v. Degree of Adjectives: Adjectives are used also to make a comparison. We learned two forms.
1. Comparative form: compares two.
2. Superlative form: compares three or more.
Things to know:
Comparative:
a. Add er to most one-syllable adjectives: low/lower strong/stronger
b. Add er to some two-syllable adjectives: sincere/sincerer pretty/prettier
c. Place more (or less) before some two-syllable adjectives: famous/more famous
Superlative:
a. Add est to most one-syllable adjectives: low/lowest strong/strongest
b. Add est to some two-syllable adjectives: sincere/sincerest pretty/prettiest
c. Place most (or least) before some two-syllable adjectives famous/most famous
** Remember, some adjectives totally change form: good/best bad/worst
Use the comparative form when comparing 2 items.
Example: He is friendlier than his sister.
Use the superlative form when comparing 3 items.
Example: He is the tallest of the five boys.
You got this!