Many adjectives are formed from common nouns.
A proper adjective is formed from a proper noun. Proper adjectives are always capitalized.
Adjectives and Adverbs 123
ADJ. & ADV
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Noun
rain scene beauty
Nouns and Adjectives
Adjective rainy scenic beautiful Proper Noun China Ireland Mars
Proper Nouns and Proper Adjectives
Proper Adjective
Chinese Irish Martian gp0605 pp120-139 11/23/04 2:26 PM Page 123
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2Why It Matters in Writing
Adjectives provide important details about the nouns they describe. Imagine this description without adjectives.
Practice and Apply
CONCEPT CHECK:What Is an Adjective?
Write each adjective and the noun or pronoun it modifies. Do not include articles when you write the adjectives.
Urban Wilderness
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1. Central Park is now an American landmark.●
2. It was once a dirty swamp that was filled with uglyshacks and much garbage.
3. In 1858 there was a national competition for a plan to turn
the spot into an attractive park.
4. People tried to imagine a place where New Yorkers could
enjoy the great outdoors.
5. The park took the builders sixteen years to complete. 6. The landscape includes green meadows, lakes, ponds,
woods, and beautiful gardens.
7. There is also an Egyptian statue.
8. Other attractions include a colorful carousel and a zoo. 9. The zoo features an African exhibit with birds and monkeys. 10. Many monuments are scattered throughout the park.
For a SELF-CHECK and more practice, see the EXERCISE BANK, p. 279.
Write the proper adjectives that appear in sentences 1, 7, and 9.
CHAPTER 5
Max came last. He was lugging anewknapsack that contained acast-ironfrying pan, a packet of hot dogs, and a box ofsaltinecrackers—plustwobottles.One
bottle was mustard, the other,celerysoda. He also had a bag of Tootsie Rolls and ashinyhatchet.“To build a lean-to,” he explained.
—Avi, “Scout’s Honor”
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1Both my parents had grown up poor, and they also knew what it was to belonely.They cared deeply about other people and were alwaysreadyto lend a helping hand to anyone. Mama couldn’t bear to think of her children ever being less thankindandcaring.
“Don’t ever beindifferent,” she would say to Keiko and me.“That is the worst fault of all.”
—Yoshiko Uchida, “Oh Broom, Get to Work”
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2Here’s the Idea
A predicate adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the verb’s subject.The linking verb connects the predicate adjective with the subject.
A volcanic eruption isviolent. SUBJECT LINKING VERB
It isexplosive.
Predicate adjectives can follow linking verbs other than forms of be. Forms of taste, smell, feel, look, become, and seem are often used as linking verbs.
The lava looksthick.
LINKING VERB PREDICATE ADJECTIVE
Lava becomeshardwhen it cools.
For more about linking verbs, see page 94.
Why It Matters in Writing
Writers often use predicate adjectives to tell more about a person’s character, as in this author’s description of her parents.
Adjectives and Adverbs 125
ADJ. & ADV
. DESCRIBES DESCRIBES DESCRIBES DESCRIBES gp0605 pp120-139 11/23/04 2:26 PM Page 125
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3Practice and Apply
A. CONCEPT CHECK: Predicate Adjectives
Write each predicate adjective in these sentences, along with the noun or pronoun it modifies.
Look Out!
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1. For more than 120 years, Mount St. Helens, a volcano inWashington, was inactive.
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2. Then the volcano became dangerous.3. In 1980 eruptions were responsible for widespread
damage.
4. The blasts were thunderous.
5. After hot ash started fires, the air smelled smoky. 6. The sky became very dark as ash fell like snow.
7. Long after the eruption, pumice, a kind of volcanic rock,
still felt hot.
8. Following the blast, tall forests looked very flat. 9. Thick, fast mudslides seemed deadly.
10. The volcanic eruptions of Mount St. Helens were very
destructive.
For a SELF-CHECK and more practice, see the EXERCISE BANK, p. 280.
B. WRITING: Creating Riddles
On a piece of paper, write three sentences about yourself, using linking verbs and predicate adjectives. Underline each predicate adjective. Then fold the paper and put your sentences into a hat along with those of your classmates. Take turns drawing a piece of paper out of the hat. Try to guess the name of the author.
Example: I am female and very tall, and my hair is red. It is also extremely long and curly. To many people, I seem quiet, but often I feel adventurous.
In your Working Portfolio, find the postcard you wrote for the Write Away on page 120. Add or change predicate adjectives to make your description clearer.
CHAPTER 5
Answers in column. gp0605 pp120-139 11/23/04 2:26 PM Page 126
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1Adjectives and Adverbs 127
ADJ. & ADV
. MODIFIES MODIFIES MODIFIES MODIFIES MODIFIES MODIFIES
Here’s the Idea
Many pronouns and nouns can be used as adjectives. They can modify nouns to make their meanings more specific.
Pronouns as Adjectives
Demonstrative PronounsThis, that, these, and those are demonstrative pronouns. They can be used as adjectives.
Thiscanoe is made of wood and leather.
Thesecanoes are made of aluminum.
Possessive PronounsMy, our, your, her, his, its, and their are possessive pronouns. They are used as adjectives.
Myskateboard is newer thanyour bicycle.
Indefinite Pronouns Indefinite pronouns such as all, each, both, few, most, and some can be used as adjectives.
Mostpeople in my family enjoy exploring caves.
Allmembers of my family enjoy picnicking.