Transcript Pronouns as Adjectives

Adjectives
What are they?
Definition--Adjective
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A word that
describes a person,
place, thing, or
idea (noun).
Provides information
about the size, shape,
color, texture, feeling,
sound, smell, number,
or condition of a noun
or pronoun.
Definitions
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Modify---Describe
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For example, in the following sentence, tall
modifies (describes) the word girl: That tall
girl is Shelley.
Antecedent---Word that another word
refers to
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For example, in the following sentence, girl is
the antecedent to the word tall: That tall girl
is Shelley.
What questions do they answer?
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Which
Whose
What kind
How many
How much
What question does it answer?
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Examples:
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The large crowd of visitors examines the huge
painting.
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The painting is realistic and timeless.
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“large” tells “how much” crowd
“huge” tells “what kind” of painting
“The” tells “which one” (usually articles tell which one)
“realistic” and “timeless” tell “what kind”
The valuable statue is the only one of its kind.
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“The” tells “which one”
“valuable” tells “what kind” of statue
“its” tells “whose” kind (possessives usually tell whose)
What questions do the adjectives in
the following sentences answer?
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Numerous flights have been diverted
or delayed at the Birmingham Airport.
Faulty instrument approach system
on the main runway is to blame.
Write adjectives that could be used to
answer each of the “adjective questions.”
You must write at least 5 in each category.
 Which
(which one):
 Whose:
 What kind:
 How much:
 How many:
1.
Identify the adjectives.
2. Identify their antecedents.
3. Tell what question each answers.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Even as a young boy, Orville Wright was always
curious about the sciences.
His inventive mind led him to experiment with new
forms of transportation.
When he opened a new shop to sell bicycles, he was
thinking about bigger things.
Orville’s younger brother Wilbur joined him in
developing his unique plans for manned flight.
Orville was dissatisfied with his early attempts at
designing an airplane
He was certain, however, he would succeed.
He became even more eager to take to the skies.
Orville Wright is now considered to be one of the
greatest inventors of the century.
What 7 words are ALWAYS
adjectives?
•
Articles:
–
–
–
•
A
An
The
Possessives
– My
– Our
– Your
– Their
Articles
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Are a special group of adjectives
There are 2 kinds: indefinite and definite.
Indefinite~it refers to one of a general group of
people, places, things, or ideas.
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A~used before words beginning with a consonant
sound or a long “u” sound (like university)
An~used before words beginning with a vowel sound
Definite~it refers to a specific person, place,
thing, or idea.
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The~used before all specific nouns and pronouns
Proper Adjectives
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Proper adjectives are formed from proper nouns.
They should always begin with a capital letter.
They are formed by adding one of the following
endings to the proper noun: -an, -ese, -ian, -ish.
Ex: Mexico~Mexican, China~Chinese,
Canada~Canadian, Spain~Spanish
Please beware that just like all other rules of
American English, there are some exceptions. If
you are unsure, you should check a dictionary.
Write each adjective, the word it
modifies, what kind of adjective it
is, and what question it answers.
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2.
3.
4.
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6.
7.
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9.
10.
The dull, dark colors are bleak.
Many subjects in the paintings were hard-working.
Van Gogh was unhappy.
Vincent wrote long, detailed letters to his brother,
Theo.
Theo was devoted to Vincent.
Van Gogh’s work was remarkable.
His later paintings were colorful.
The Sower was brilliant.
Many artists in Paris became famous.
The work of the artists hangs in many modern
museums.
Different Forms of Adjectives
 Positive---the regular form of the adj.
 Comparative---when you want to compare
two (2) things
 Superlative---when you want to compare
three (3 +) or more things
 Irregular---do not follow a pattern, and must
be memorized or looked up in a dictionary
Comparative and Superlative Forms
 All 1-syllable adjectives,
 Many 2-syllable and
and some 2-syllable
almost all 3 or moreadjectives (especially
syllable adjectives use
those ending in –y or –
more or most to form
le) form the
the comparative and
comparative and
superlative forms.
superlative forms with
-er and -est
 Don’t use more or most with an adjective that
already has –er or-est. This is called a double
comparison, and should be avoided.
You Should Write This Entire Slide!!
Irregular Forms
 Some adjectives form the comparative and
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superlative forms in unusual ways that do not follow a
pattern.
ManyMoreMost
illWorseWorst
MuchMoreMost
BadWorseWorst
 Perfect---cannot be compared since there is no such
thing as more perfect or most perfect
Write the comparative and superlative
forms for each
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Fair
Tender
Difficult
Earnest
Responsible
Easy
Many
Straight
Muddy
Cheerful
Write the comparative and superlative
forms for each
9.
Fair
Tender
Difficult
Earnest
Responsible
Easy
Many
Straight
Muddy
Fairer
more tender
More difficult
More earnest
More responsible
Easier
More
Straighter
Muddier
Fairest
most tender
Most difficult
Most earnest
Most responsible
Easiest
Most
Straightest
Muddiest
10.
Cheerful
More cheerful
Most cheerful
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5.
6.
7.
8.
Identify the adjective and its
antecedent
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2.
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4.
5.
The two old prospectors and a weary mule
trudged across the desert.
The loyal fans cheered the team in the final
game.
The lunch consisted of homemade soup.
The European guests told interesting stories
of the trip.
Several silly clowns wore baggy pants.
Identify the adjective and its
antecedent
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The two old prospectors and a weary mule
trudged across the desert.
The loyal fans cheered the team in the final
game.
The lunch consisted of homemade soup.
The European guests told interesting stories
of the trip.
Several silly clowns wore baggy pants.
Pronouns as Adjectives
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In addition to their other uses, pronouns can
also be used as adjectives.
Demonstrative Pronouns ~ This, That These,
Those
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Possessive Pronouns ~ my, our, your, her,
his, its, their
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This fingerprint is a blur.
My thumbprint didn’t show up well!
Indefinite Pronouns ~ all, each, both, few,
most, some
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All fingerprints fit into one of seven patterns.
Each fingerprint is unique, however.
Nouns as Adjectives
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Nouns can be used as adjectives.
In the expression “crime story,” for example,
the word crime (normally used as a noun) is
used to modify story. This makes crime an
adjective.
The fingerprint evidence convicted the
murderer.
She was convicted on murder charges.
Concept Check: Write each noun or pronoun that is
used as an adjective. Then write the word modified.
Finally, write what kind of adjective it is (plain,
possessive, demonstrative, indefinite, noun, article,
proper)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why do your fingerprints leave their marks on
objects?
The fingers have skin ridges on their surface.
These ridges are coated with both sweat and body
oil.
When a criminal touches a surface with his fingers,
these ridges leave an impression.
These impressions are often not visible to the
human eye.
Concept Check: Write each noun or pronoun that is
used as an adjective. Then write the word modified.
Finally, write what kind of adjective it is (plain,
possessive, demonstrative, indefinite, noun, article,
proper)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
However, detectives in a crime investigation use
special chemicals to reveal those fingerprints.
Police can also reveal these clues by using laser
light.
The first criminal convicted on fingerprint evidence
was Alfred Stratton.
He left his fingerprint on a cash box at the crime
scene.
Many criminals do not make this mistake anymore
because they wear latex gloves.
Noun, Pronoun, or Adjective?
The way that a word is used in a sentence determines
what syntax the word is. Some words may be used as
nouns or as adjectives. Other words may be used as
pronouns or as adjectives.
Noun
May I have an apple?
Adjective
May I have some apple
juice?
Pronoun
This is a painting by
Mary Cassatt.
This painting is by Mary
Cassatt.
Adjective
Demonstrative: Pronoun or
Adjective?
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When they modify a noun or pronoun, they are
called demonstrative (PoS) adjectives (Syntax).
When they are used alone, they are called
demonstrative (PoS) pronouns (Sybtax).
Adjectives: These bags are heavy.
That sound is annoying.
Pronouns: Please hold these for me.
Why won’t she stop that?
Concept Check: In each sentence below, identify
the syntax of the underlined word. Above each,
write N for noun, P for pronoun, or A for adjective.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
These fajitas certainly are spicy!
These are the spiciest fajitas I have ever
tasted!
Most of the ninth-graders participated in
the read-a-thon.
Most ninth-graders participated in the
read-a-thon.
Which ice sculpture did you create?
Which of the ice sculptures did you
create?
Concept Check: In each sentence below, identify
the part of speech of the underlined word. Above
each, write N for noun, P for pronoun, or A for
adjective.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Geraldo is the sports reporter for the school
newspaper.
Geraldo plays two sports at school: baseball and
field hockey.
The students are busily working on their science
projects.
Which course in science are you taking this year?
I took this snapshot of the New York City skyline.
Albany, not New York City, is the capital of New
York.
Predicate Adjectives
• A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows
a linking verb and describes the subject.
– Some people are extraordinary.
– They are very energetic or calm.
• Predicate adjectives can be compound. This
means that 2 adjectives will modify the same
subject and be joined by a conjunction.
– Others are warm and caring.
– Sill others are funny and friendly.
• Often follow the “be” verbs: am, is, are,
was, were, be, being, been.
• Remember: Predicate adjectives can
follow linking verbs other than forms of be.
Taste, smell, feel, look, become, and seem
are often used as linking verbs.
– You usually feel lucky to know such a person.
Let’s practice together! (yea!)
1. Because of a trolley rider’s fear,
windshield wipers are common today.
2. To Mary Anderson electric trolleys
seemed dangerous.
3. The drivers were alert and cautious.
4. The windshields, however, looked blurry
and cloudy.
5. The windshields became clean when
drivers rubbed them with damp tobacco
and onions.
Identify each predicate adjective,
antecedent, and verb. Identify if compound.
If none, then write, the verb and “none.”
Scott O’Dell is a fantastic writer.
His books have become famous.
Island of the Blue Dolphins is excellent in my
opinion.
4. The main character is an American Indian girl.
5. Alone on a desert island, she feels lonely and
scared.
6. Fierce, wild dogs are inhabitants of the island, too.
7. They seem very frightening to her.
8. She then becomes intent on leaving the island in a
canoe.
9. Her journey becomes dangerous when the canoe
springs a leak.
10. She is a brave person but wisely turns back.
1.
2.
3.
EXERCISE A Underline each predicate adjective
in the following sentences. Circle the antecedent.
Underline the verb twice. Identify if compound.
1. Your grasp of French is excellent for your age.
[Which word completes the meaning of the
linking verb is and describes the subject?]
2. Their home was not accessible from the
highway. [Which word completes the meaning
of the linking verb was and describes the
subject?]
3. That stone is very shiny.
4. Does something smell sweet to you?
5. In a breeze, the wind chimes sound cheerful.
EXERCISE A Underline each predicate adjective
in the following sentences. Circle the antecedent.
Underline the verb twice. Identify if compound.
6. The castle on stage appeared real in the
soft light.
7. Stay calm and remain in your seats.
8. I have not always been so tall.
9. How happy we were on that first sunny
day of spring!
10. This beach looks good to me.