AdjectivesLevel Two

You should feel confident about the following topics: nouns, linking and action verbs, and pronouns. You should also have reviewed “Adjectives: Level One.”

Adjectives; Level One presented examples of adjectives coming before nouns that they described. In addition to more examples of that type of adjective, this presentation will discuss a second kind of adjective, which comes after a linking verb and refers back to describe the subject of the sentence.

An example of such a sentence would look like the following.

Gloria seemed happy.

In the example above, the linking verb is “seemed,” and following the linking verb is the adjective “happy,” which describes “Gloria.”

• As you may remember, adjectives can usually be found in a few different places in a sentence; the examples of this presentation will focus on two.

1. before the noun that the adjective describes2. after a linking verb and referring back to the subject as in the example

above

Here is an example of a sentence with adjectives occurring in both places.

Her songs sound awfully good to me.

Start with the verb – the verb “sound” works as a linking verb here.“her” is an adjectives describing the noun “songs.”“good” is an adjective following the linking verb and referring to “songs.”“awfully” is not an adjective.

• Now it’s your turn; see if you can spot the adjectives in the following sentence.

Carla is always kind to me.

Carla is always kind to me.

“is” is the verb, and it is always a linking verb.“kind” is an adjective, which is describing the noun “Carla,” which

alsohappens to be the subject of the sentence.

So we have seen adjectives appearing before the nouns that they describe, and then after a linking verb and referring all the way back to the subject.

With these two types of adjectives, we can find adjectives both before and after the verb of the sentence. However, if there is no linking verb, the only way the adjectives could work (for now) is if there were a noun after the verb as well. Can you find any adjectives in the following sentence?

Joshua has a beautiful old car in his garage.

Joshua has a beautiful old car in his garage.

In this sentence, your verb “has” is never a linking verb.“beautiful” and “old” are adjectives describing “car.”“his” is an adjective describing “garage.”

So, if there is no linking verb in the sentence, you can still have adjectives. However, those adjectives must fall into the other category, adjectives that come before the noun that they describe.

• Here’s another one; can you find any adjectives in this sentence?

• Many of our clients prefer these older artists.

Many of our clients prefer these older artists.

The verb “prefer” is not a linking verb.“our” is an adjective describing the noun “clients.”“these” and “older” are adjectives that describe the noun “artists.”“Many” can be an adjective sometimes, but here it is not because

there is no noun after it that it describes. If you scratch yourhead and say that “many” describes “clients,” remember thatunless “many” is in the prepositional phrase that “clients” isin, it cannot be working as an adjective to it. The only way tohave an adjective describe a word in a prepositional phrase isfor the adjective to be in the prepositional phrase itself.

• Find adjectives in the following sentence.

Horace became shy around the new girl.

Horace became shy around the new girl.

The verb is “became” and works as a linking verb in this sentence.“shy” is an adjective following the linking verb and describing the

noun“Horace, ” which is the subject of the sentence.

“new” is an adjective that comes before the noun and describes the

noun “girl.”

• Find any adjective that occurs in following sentence

The older dog actually looks faster on the obstacle course.

The older dog actually looks faster on the obstacle course.

“looks” is the verb and in this sentence is used as a linking verb.“older” is an adjective that comes before and describes the noun

“dog.”“faster” is an adjective after the linking verb that refers back to the

noun “dog.” Notice how you could move it from where it is to

in front of the noun that it describes and have it make sense.

In that case, you could say “older, faster dog.”“obstacle” is an adjective that describes the noun “course.”

• Try your hand with the following sentence. Any adjectives here?

Our intrepid scout looked ahead for any possible threats on the wagon train.

Our intrepid scout looked ahead for any possible threats on the wagon train.

The verb is again “looked,” but this time it works as an action verb because

the “scout” is actually using his eyes to see.“our” and “intrepid” are adjectives describing the noun “scout.”“any” and possible” are both adjectives describing the noun

“threats.”“wagon” is an adjective to the noun “train” that follows. “ahead” is not an adjective; it is an adverb describing where the

“scout”“looked.”

• Are there any adjectives in this sentence?

That gentleman over there seems suspicious.

That gentleman over there seems suspicious.

“seems” is the verb and is always a linking verb.“that” is an adjective describing the noun “gentleman” because it tells you

which “gentleman.”“suspicious” is an adjective after the linking verb and refers back to describe

the noun “gentleman,” which also happens to be the subject.“”over” and “there” are both adverbs telling you where; note how they could

also be moved to the end of the sentence and still make sense. Adjectives

are very picky – they only like to sit in certain places in a sentence whileadverbs can be found in any number of places in the same sentence.

• Do you see any adjectives in the following sentence?

As volunteers Tim and Amanda are frequently involved with our charity’s work.

As volunteers Tim and Amanda are frequently involved with our charity’s work.

“is” is from the verb “to be,” which is always a linking verb.“our” and “charity’s“ are both adjectives describing the noun

“work.”“frequently” is not an adjective. It is describing “involved,” which

is an adjective in this sentence and only adverbs describe

adjectives.

• Do you see any adjectives in the following sentence?

Many novice explorers feel nervous in this area of the jungle.

Many novice explorers feel nervous in this area of the jungle.

“feel’ is the verb and in this sentence is used as a linking verb since the explorersdon’t literally touch anything.

“many” and “novice” are adjectives that describe the following noun “explorers.”“nervous” is an adjective that follows the linking verb and refers back to the

noun “explorers,” which is the subject of the sentence. As a check, askyourself whether you could say the “nervous explorers”? If the answer isyes, then you have an adjective.

“this” is an adjective in this sentence; it describes “area.”

• See if you can find any adjectives in the following sentence.

The curious scientist felt the spiny bumps of the lizard’s leathery skin.

The curious scientist felt the spiny bumps of the lizard’s leathery skin.

The verb is “felt” again, but this time it is used as an action verb; therefore

the only adjectives that can occur in this sentence are those that

come before and describe nouns.“curious” is an adjective that describes the noun “scientist.”“spiny” is an adjective that describes the noun “bumps.”“lizard’s” and “leathery” are both adjectives describing the noun

“skin.”

• Spot the adjectives in this sentence – if there are any.

Ayana might have felt too confident about this tennis match?

Ayana might have felt too confident about the tennis match?

“might have felt” is the verb and is a linking verb in this sentence. If you everare confused about whether a multiple word verb is a linking or action verb,remember to focus only on the last verb.

“confident” is an adjective that follows the linking verb. “confident” refers back to the noun Ayana,” who also works as the subject of the sentence.

“too” is not an adjective. One could not say the “too Ayana” and have it makesense. “too” in this sentence describes the adjective “confident,” and theonly words that can describe adjectives are adverbs.

This” and “tennis” are adjectives that describes the noun “match.”

• Do you see any adjectives in the following sentence?

Each of the tiny tykes tasted the tart and tangy smoothie.

Each of the tiny tykes tasted the tart and tangy smoothie.

“tasted” is the verb and it is an action verb in this sentence because the “tykes” are

literally putting something into their mouths. If there is no linking verb in the sentence, then you can only have adjectives coming before the nouns

that they describe.“tiny” is an adjective describing “tykes.”“tart” and “tangy” are two adjectives describing the noun “smoothie.?

• Are there any adjectives in the following sentence?

Chloe did not appear amused by my idea.

Chloe did not appear amused by my idea.

“appear” is the verb and works as a linking verb in this sentence.“amused” is an adjective that refers to and describes “Chloe.”“my” is an adjective describing the noun “idea.”“not” is not an adjective and never will be. One way some people

remember that is they memorize the following statement.

“Not and never are never not adverbs.” In other words, “not”

and “never” are always adverbs.

• Try another?

Anthony was seldom punctual for anything in the school day except lunch.

Anthony was seldom punctual for anything in the school day except lunch.

The verb of the sentence is “was,” which is always a linking verb.“punctual” is an adjective referring to and describing “Anthony.”“seldom” does not describe “Anthony;” it describes how often Anthony

was punctual. Since it describes “punctual,” it is an adverb.“school” is an adjective in this sentence because it describes “day.”“except” is a preposition.

• Two more sentences to go –

A beige and dark blue wallpaper remained on the high ceiling of her former

apartment in the hotel.

A beige and dark blue wallpaper remained on the high ceiling of her former apartment in the hotel.

The verb is “remained” and here it works as an action verb. Because there isno linking verb, the adjectives should all be before the nouns that

theydescribe.

“beige” and “blue” are adjectives describing the noun “wallpaper.”“dark” describes the color “blue”, not the “wallpaper,” and so it is not an

adjective but an adverb.“high” is an adjective describing the noun “ceiling.”“her” and “former” are both adjectives describing the noun “apartment.”

• Last one

The wallpaper’s pattern appeared slightly askew in the far corner.

The wallpaper’s pattern appeared slightly askew in the far corner.

The verb “appeared” is a linking verb in this sentence.“wallpaper’s” is an adjective describing the noun “pattern.”“askew” is an adjective after the linking verb that refers back and

describesthe “pattern.”

“slightly” is not an adjective because it does not describe the “pattern.”

Instead, “slightly” describes “askew,” and is therefore an adverb.

“far” is an adjective in this sentence describing the noun “corner.”

• You have completed the second level of Adjective presentations.