Parts of Speech: Adjectives Adjectives are words used to describe nouns. Adjectives give more information about a noun. Adjectives make your writing more interesting. “Fast, fun, new, old, red, ugly” are all adjectives. They describe a noun. READ THESE EXAMPLES: It’s a fast car. It’s a fun car. It’s a new car. It’s an old car. It’s a red car. It’s an ugly car. Adjectives can come BEFORE the NOUN (adjective + noun) EXAMPLES: It’s an expensive bicycle. It’s a racing bicycle. It’s a red bicycle. Adjectives can come AFTER a BE verb. (BE + adjective) EXAMPLES: The butterfly is pretty. The butterfly is blue. Butterflies are interesting. Nouns can also work as adjectives. A noun can help describe an object. EXAMPLES: It’s a business meeting. They’re having a job interview. It’s a school conference. Present participles (-ing verbs) can also work as adjectives. EXAMPLES: Baseball is an excitinggame. Baseball is interesting. It’s an interesting game. Past participles (verb 3) can also work as adjectives. EXAMPLES: The man is tired. The exhausted man fell asleep. He was worn out by work today. Adjectives can be hyphenated. EXAMPLES: The computer-generated error message made the program freeze. My friend isn’t very good at do-it-yourself projects. Numbers can be used as adjectives. EXAMPLES: That’s a three-ton truck. The man is a thirty-seven-year-old trucker. In his 20-year career, he’s never had an accident. Adjectives can be used to compare things. EXAMPLES: Cats are softer than dogs. My cat is the cutest cat I know.