English Language Arts
Grade 7
15 min
Identify adjectives
Identify adjectives
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define an adjective and explain its function in a sentence.
Identify adjectives that modify nouns and pronouns.
Distinguish between descriptive and limiting adjectives.
Recognize articles (a, an, the) as a type of adjective.
Locate adjectives in various sentence structures, including those preceding and following the words they modify.
Explain how adjectives contribute to vivid descriptions in writing.
Ever wonder how authors make their stories so colorful and engaging? 🎨 It's often thanks to tiny but mighty words that add detail and bring scenes to life!
In this lesson, you'll learn to spot these powerful words called adjectives. Understanding adjectives will not only improve your reading comprehension but also make your own writing more desc...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
AdjectiveA word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. It provides more information about the noun or pronoun.The *fluffy* cat slept on the *warm* blanket. ('fluffy' describes 'cat,' 'warm' describes 'blanket.')
ModifyTo change, limit, or add detail to another word. Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns.The *tall* building stood out. ('tall' modifies 'building' by adding a specific detail about its height.)
NounA person, place, thing, or idea. Adjectives always describe nouns.The *brave* knight rescued the *beautiful* princess. ('knight' and 'princess' are nouns modified by adjectives.)
PronounA word that takes the place of a noun (e.g., he, she, it, they, we). Adjectives can also d...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The 'What Kind? Which One? How Many?' Rule
Adjectives answer one of these questions about the noun or pronoun they modify: 'What kind?', 'Which one?', or 'How many?'
To identify an adjective, first find a noun or pronoun, then look for words nearby that answer one of these questions about it.
Adjective Placement Rule
Adjectives usually appear directly before the noun they modify, or they can follow a linking verb (like 'is,' 'are,' 'was,' 'were,' 'seem,' 'feel') to describe the subject.
Check words preceding nouns. Also, if a word describes the subject after a linking verb, it's likely an adjective (called a predicate adjective).
Articles as Adjectives
The words �...
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Challenging
In the sentence 'The diamond felt cold and hard,' the words 'cold' and 'hard' are adjectives modifying 'diamond.' If the sentence were 'The diamond shined brightly,' what part of speech would 'brightly' be and why?
A.An adjective, because it describes the diamond.
B.An adverb, because it modifies the verb 'shined' by telling how.
C.noun, because it is an idea.
D.predicate adjective, because it follows the verb.
Challenging
One of the learning objectives is to understand how adjectives contribute to vivid descriptions. Which of the following sentences uses adjectives most effectively to create a clear and vivid image for the reader?
A.The house was on a hill by the ocean.
B.The big house was on a nice hill by the blue ocean.
C.The house was on a hill next to the water.
D.The weathered, grey house stood on a windswept, grassy hill overlooking the churning, dark ocean.
Challenging
In which sentence is a word that is typically a noun being used as an adjective?
A.The history of the town is fascinating.
B.She is writing a history report for her class.
C.The museum has many ancient artifacts.
D.They studied the ancient Roman government.
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