The words that make language more specific Adjectives defined An adjective is a word that is used to describe (or modify) a noun or pronoun in a sentence Because of this, adjectives are often called modifiers To modify something means to change it somehow. Adjectives change the meanings of simple nouns or pronouns. The adjective questions Adjectives can answer the following questions in a sentence: oWhat kind? oExpensive toys oColorful caps oHow many? oFew cars oWhich one? oThis man oThese paddles oHow much? oMany people Adjective positioning Adjectives will usually come before the nouns they modify . Before: Kevin owns three arcades Before: Large, colorful graphics covered the screen. They can come after the nouns, but this order is not very commonly used. After: Kevin’s arcades are busy. After: The most popular games are difficult. A special type of adjectives Articles are also adjectives Articles are very common and are split up into two categories: Definite – refers to a specific person, place, or thing The Example: Mr. Shaffer is the man to ask. Indefinite – refers to any member of a group of similar people, places, or things A An Example: I should probably ask a teacher. Proper Adjectives When a proper noun (remember these?) is used as an adjective it is called a proper adjective Examples: proper noun : Baltimore proper adjective: Baltimore newspaper Proper noun: April proper adjective: April showers Proper noun: Kennedy proper adjective: Kennedy family reunion Proper Adjectives Proper adjectives can also be formed out of a proper noun by adding certain endings Examples: Proper noun: America proper adjective: American jazz Proper noun: Inca proper adjective: Incan empire Proper noun: Florida proper adjective: Floridian government Proper noun: Napoleon proper adjective: Napoleonic complex