Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
Grammar
Adjectives
In this unit, we will look at different types of adjectives and
how they can improve our writing. We will also look at when each
type of adjective is used. An adjective is a word that describes a
noun or pronoun. An adjective answers what kind? how much?
how many? or which one? about the word it describes.
 Proper and Common Adjectives
 Forms of Adjectives
 Specific Adjectives
Example Adjectives
Wooly socks
Blue eyes
What kind?
How much?
How many?
Which one?
Six eggs
Few books
Chinese
cabbage
Many days
That girl
These notes
This problem
Name _______________________
Date ________________________
Quiz Date __________________________
Forms of Adjectives
Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
Grammar
Adjectives
1. Positive
The positive (base) form of an adjective describes a noun without
comparing it to another noun.
A hummingbird is small.
2. Comparative
Compares two people, places, things, or ideas. The comparison is
formed by adding –er to one-syllable adjectives or the word more
or less before longer adjectives.
A hummingbird is smaller than a sparrow.
Hummingbirds are more colorful than sparrows.
3. Superlative
Compares three or more people, places, things, or ideas. The
superlative is formed by adding –est to one-syllable adjectives or
the word most or least before longer adjectives.
The hummingbird is the smallest bird I’ve seen.
The parrot is the most colorful bird in the zoo.
Example:
Positive
large
old
Comparative
larger
older
Superlative
largest
oldest
4. Irregular
The comparative and superlative forms of some adjectives are
different words. More or most is not needed with these words.
Good, bad, many, little, better, worse, more, less, best, worst,
most, and least
Practice
Directions: For each underlined adjective below, write whether it
is positive, comparative, or superlative.
Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
Grammar
Adjectives
Example: Many theaters have afternoon shows. (Positive)
1. The audience for a matinee is smaller than the audience for
a show at night is.
2. Since there are fewer viewers in the afternoon, a good seat
is easy to find.
3. Most people who see a movie go on the weekend.
4. That is my least favorite time to see a movie.
5. The best movie I’ve ever seen is the new version of Charlie
and the Chocolate Factory.
6. It is more faithful to the book than the old movie is.
7. For instance, the Oompa-Loompas had orange skin in the
old movie but not in the book.
8. The new movie’s special effects are more impressive than
the old one’s were.
9. Forty years after Dahl wrote the book, it is still a great story.
Homework
Directions: Underline each adjective below, and write whether it
is positive, comparative, or superlative.
Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
Grammar
Adjectives
1.) Canada is the second largest country in the world, after
Russia.
2.) Vanessa’s shirt is greener than anyone else’s here.
3.) Today was more pleasant than yesterday.
4.) I am going to buy the large French fries at McDonalds.
5.) Judy is the fastest runner on the team.
6.) Do you think a snake is stronger than an owl?
7.) The vanilla ice cream is cold.
8.) Math is easier for her than language arts.
Article Adjectives
Articles
The adjectives a, an, and the are articles.
“Owlet” is the name for a baby owl.
Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
Grammar
Adjectives
The article a comes before singular words that begin with
consonant sounds. Also use a before singular words that begin
with the long u sound.
a shooting star
a unique flower
The article an comes before singular words that begin with
any vowel sounds except long u.
an astronaut
an unusual outfit
Practice
Directions: Write a, an, and the on the line before each noun.
1. __________ plants
2. __________ flute
3. __________ alphabet
4. __________ fruits
5. __________ idea
Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
Grammar
Adjectives
Homework
Directions: Write a or an before each noun.
1. _____ zookeeper
shop
2. _____ orangutan
3. _____ gift
4. _____ animal
fox
5. _____ polar bear
6. _____ arctic
7. _____ coyote
koala
8. _____ anteater
9. _____
Directions: Circle the articles in each sentence.
10. Before we visited the gorilla habitat, we stopped to watch a
hyena.
11. A peacock wandered across the path as we wandered toward
the antelope exhibit.
12. I think the zoo is an exciting place to go.
13. I saw a polar bear and an igloo while vacationing in Alaska.
Directions: Create a sentence of your own that includes at least
two articles such as a, an, and/or the.
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Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
Grammar
Adjectives
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Demonstrative Adjectives
Point out specific nouns and are placed before the noun in
the sentence. The words this, that, these and those are
demonstrative.
This nest has four eggs, and that nest has two.
These eggs will hatch before those eggs will.
Practice
Rewrite each sentence using the correct form of the
demonstrative adjective.
1. The sailors wanted to land on those island.
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2. The men asked, “Will these ice ahead crush the boat?”
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3. The sailor said, “That seals on the beach are huge.”
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4. The skipper warned, “This boats are heavy.”
Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
Grammar
Adjectives
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5. These is the stormiest ocean in the world.
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Homework
Directions: Circle each demonstrative adjective in each
sentence. Then, write whether it is singular or plural.
1. These doctors are all highly qualified to treat your injury.
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2. Those windows are so dirty that I can hardly see out of them.
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3. Can you understand the plot of this movie?
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4. That boy got a perfect score on the math test.
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5. Put the boxes in this cabinet, and we will find a better place for
them. __________________________
Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
Grammar
Adjectives
6. When that light is green, the other one will be red.
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7. Those birds live in the birdhouse.
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Describing with Adjectives
Proper and Common Adjectives
Proper adjectives (bold) are formed from proper nouns and are
always capitalized.
Common adjectives (underlined) are any adjectives that are not
proper.
Examples:
A Chicago pizza has a thick crust and spicy sausage.
On a cold Minnesota day, a Hawaiian trip sounds great.
I’ll pack my big blue backpack for a weeklong trip.
Predicate Adjectives
Predicate adjectives follow linking verbs and describe subjects.
Example:
The apples are juicy. They taste sweet.
Compound Adjectives
Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
Grammar
Adjectives
Compound adjectives are made up of more than one word. Some are
spelled as one word; others are hyphenated.
Examples:
White-throated sparrows
Evergreen trees
Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
Grammar
Adjectives
Homework
Common and Proper Adjectives
For the sentences below, tell whether each underlined adjective is
common or proper. Add a “PA” if it is a predicate adjective.
Example: My dog Ramona makes some noises that are quite
unusual. (Common and PA)
1. I wish I knew what the poor animal is trying to say!
2. She barks a lot, but she’s really sweet.
3. She is an Australian cattle dog.
4. She was born in Montana, though, so she is actually
American.
5. Cattle dogs are muscular and have a lot of energy.
6. Whenever I throw a ball, Ramona makes some amazing
catches.
7. The breed is also very protective.
8. Ramona’s low growl alerts us if a stranger approaches our
house.
Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
Grammar
Adjectives
Use the comparative form of an adjective when comparing
two things. For most one-syllable adjectives, add –er to make the
comparative form. Using the superlative form to compare three
or more things. For most one-syllable adjectives, add –est.
Positive
hot
Comparative
Hotter
Superlative
hottest
Comparative: It’s hotter today than yesterday.
Superlative: Tomorrow is predicted to be the hottest day of the
week.
Place more or most in front of most multi-syllable adjectives to
form the comparative and superlative form.
Positive
amazing
Comparative
more amazing
Superlative
most amazing
Comparative: This week’s episode of “Shark Life” was more
amazing than last week’s episode.
Superlative: Ants are the most amazing insects on earth.
How can I improve my writing with adjectives?
Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
Grammar
Adjectives
Use Specific Adjectives
Adjectives need to be specific in order to create interesting
and clear word pictures for the reader. Some adjectives like good
and neat should be avoided because they are overused.
Overused adjectives: good, neat, big, pretty, small, cute, fun, bad,
nice, dumb, great
I get a good feeling when I think of my grandmother’s house.
I get a cozy feeling when I think of my grandmother’s house.
Rewrite the sentence replacing the overused adjective with an
adjective that is more specific.
That was a good lunch!
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My mom makes nice sweaters.
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The poster looks bad.
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Indefinite Adjectives
Tell approximately (not exactly) how many or how much.
Most students love summer.
Some days are rainy, but few days are boring.
Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
Grammar
Adjectives
Include Sensory Details
Effective adjectives often appeal to the senses. Each
underlined adjective below helps you see, hear, smell, and feel an
autumn day.
The October sky was framed by the glowing, golden leaves.
The air smelled musty from the powdery leaves that crunched
beneath my feet. Swirling winds blew in gusts, and the crackling
chatter of the dry leaves drowned out any other sound.
Practice
Describe your favorite kind of day. Use sensory details that help
the reader see, hear, smell, and feel the experience.
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Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
Grammar
Adjectives
Homework:
Directions: Underline all the adjectives in the paragraph.
**Hint: There are 20 adjectives.
The Colorado Rocky Mountains have a breathtaking
appearance that seems almost unreal. The jagged peaks
look like the Swiss Alps and cut through gray, hovering
clouds. The snow-covered mountainsides reflect blinding
sunshine similar to what you would see over the hot
Sahara sand of the desert. The massive formations serve
as a wilderness home to golden-brown grizzly bears, sleek
mountain lions, and towering, long-legged moose.
Name __________________________
Date ___________________________
Grammar
Adjectives