Parts of Speech: Adjectives

​modify nouns or pronouns

To modify means "to describe" or "to make more definite". An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun telling what kind, which one, how many, and how much.

​

Some text here about the topic of discussion

ripe apples, Asian country,​ happy child, downtrodden person

​

this book, those girls, last straw, next step

​

two students, many fans, several candies, each question

​

one-half cup, more money, less trouble, enough time​

What kind?

​

Which one?

​

How many?

​

How much?​

​

​An adjective usually precedes (come before) the word it modifies

​

Example:

​

The tired and hungry players went into the restaurant. ​

​Sometimes, for emphasis, an adjective follows the word it modifies.

​

Example:

​

The players, tired and hungry, went into the restaurant. ​

​An adjective that modifies the subject may appear in the predicate. Such an adjective is called a predicate adjective.​

​

Example:

​

The players felt tired and hungry when they went into the restaurant. ​

​The most frequently used adjectives are a, an, and the.

A and an are indefinite articles because they refer to any member of a general group. A is used before words beginning with a consonant sound; an is used before words beginning with a vowel sound.

Example:

A European said that it was an honor to visit your country. ​

​The most frequently used adjectives are a, an, and the.

The is called the definite article because it refers to a specific person, place, thing, or idea​

Example:

The Rock Steady Shop has new designs that the people of the CNMI like. ​

In different contexts, a word may function as a different part of speech.​

​Remember that an adjective modifies a noun or pronoun and that a pronoun takes the place of a noun or other pronoun.

​Examples:

These books need to be returned to the library.

​

These need to be returned to the library. ​

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Most words that are used as nouns can also be used as adjectives. ​

​Examples:

Noun Adjective

couch couch cushion​

hotel hotel lobby

taco taco salad

high school high school student

Marine Corps​ Marine Corps cadet