Adjectives and Articles
An adjective is a word that can describe a person, place, or
thing. Adjectives tell more about nouns. A, an, and the are special
adjectives called articles.
Adjectives Many people wore bright clothes to the annual parade.
Articles
The child wore an orange sweater and a blue jacket.
•The articles a and an are used only with singular nouns. A is used
before a word that begins with a consonant sound: a box, a red
coat. An is used before a word that begins with a vowel sound: an
egg, an empty box, an old coat.
•Use the before singular or plural nouns: the earring, the earrings.
Directions Write the adjective that describes each underlined noun.
1. A kimono is made of vivid cloth.
2. The Japanese wear kimonos for special occasions.
3. They wear wide belts with their kimonos.
4. Lovely kimonos are fun to wear.
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5. The Japanese wear wooden clogs too.
Directions Circle the article in ( ) that correctly completes each sentence. Write the sentence.
6. I bought (a, an) attractive muumuu in Honolulu.
7. My dad bought (an, the) most expensive shirt.
8. (The, An) shirt has big purple flowers on it.
9. We can wear our Hawaiian clothes for (a, an) outdoor party.
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Adjectives That Compare
Adjectives are often used to make comparisons. To compare two
people, places, or things, you use the comparative form. For most
short adjectives, you add -er to use the comparative form. To compare
three or more people, places, or things, you use the superlative form.
For most short adjectives, you add -est to use the superlative form.
Lions are bigger than monkeys.
Elephants are the biggest of the three animals.
Sometimes you must change the spelling of an adjective.
Drop final e
rare
rarer
rarest
Change final y to i
spicy spicier spiciest
Double final consonant hot
hotter
hottest
For most long adjectives, you use more to use the comparative form
and most to use the superlative form.
Fish are more beautiful than turtles.
That animal is the most graceful of all three animals.
Related sentences can be joined using adjectives that compare.
I am happy on Saturdays. I am happier on Sundays.
I am happier on Sundays than I am on Saturdays.
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Directions Write the word in ( ) that correctly completes each sentence.
1. Fish can swim (fast, faster) than turtles.
2. I wake up (earlier, earliest) than my brother. 3. The piñata hung (high, higher) above our heads.
4. Mom sang “Happy Birthday” the (louder, loudest) of all.
Directions Combine sentences to make one comparison sentence. Underline the
adjective that compares in each sentence.
5. Pancakes are flavorful. Huevos rancheros are more flavorful.
6. Some kites flew high in the sky. Abuelito’s kite flew the highest of all.
7. The fish in the aquarium grew big. The fish in the ocean grew bigger.
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Adverbs
An adverb is a word that can tell when, where, or how something happens.
Yesterday, the family moved into a new home. (when)
They carried boxes inside. (where)
They happily unpacked the boxes. (how)
•Adverbs can come before or after the verbs they describe.
•Adverbs that tell how something happens often end in -ly.
•Related sentences can be joined by using an adverb.
Jangmi packed her clothes. She was sad.
Jangmi sadly packed her clothes.
Directions Underline the adverb in each sentence. Decide what the adverb tells about
what happens. On the line, write when, where, or how.
1. Recently Jangmi said good-bye to her house in Korea.
2. She walked outside for a while.
3. She looked at her bedroom and then sighed.
4. Snow was falling softly.
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5. She hated the idea of moving before.
Directions Join the pairs of sentences. Change the underlined word to an adverb by
adding -ly. Insert the new adverb in the first sentence. Then underline the adverb.
6. The boy wandered through the house. He was restless.
7. Painters had painted each room. They had been careful.
8. The boy thought about meeting new friends. He was eager.
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Adverbs That Compare
You can use adverbs to compare actions. The comparative
form of an adverb uses -er to compare two actions. The
superlative form of an adverb uses -est to compare three
or more actions.
That baker’s cakes rise high.
That baker’s cakes rise higher than Mr. Lee’s cakes.
That baker’s cakes rise highest of any cakes.
Most adverbs that end in -ly use more and most to make
comparisons.
Tom ate breakfast slowly.
Tom ate breakfast more slowly than Alison.
Tom ate breakfast most slowly of all the children.
Directions Underline the adverb that compares in each sentence.
1. Mrs. Sanchez works harder than anyone else at the bakery.
2. Mr. Lane rolls out pastry dough more rapidly than she does.
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3. Mrs. Sanchez makes delicious treats fastest of all the bakers.
4. The sweet rolls disappear most quickly of all.
5. One oven cooks faster than the other oven.
Directions Circle the correct word in ( ) to complete each sentence.
6. Everyone worked (more carefully, most carefully) than usual.
7. Mrs. Sanchez was finished (sooner, soonest) than the others.
8. Her scones baked (more rapidly, most rapidly) of all.
9. Mrs. Fisher’s bagels took (longest, longer) than Ms. Delroy’s turnovers.
10.Mr. Ling’s muffins cooked (slowest, slower) of all.
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Conjunctions
A conjunction is a word that connects words or groups of words.
•To add information, use the conjunction and. To show a
choice, use the conjunction or. To show a difference, use the
conjunction but.
James played ball and listened to music.
He had never played stickball, but he enjoyed it.
He could stay inside or play outside.
•To show a reason, use the conjunction because.
We were tired because we walked all over the city.
•You can use a conjunction to combine two sentences into a
compound sentence. Add a comma before the conjunction in a
compound sentence.
James had played baseball. He had never played stickball.
James had played baseball, but he had never played stickball.
Directions Write the conjunction in each sentence.
1. New York is a huge city, but it has many smaller neighborhoods.
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2. Many artists and writers live in Greenwich Village.
3. Central Park has gardens, playgrounds, and a zoo.
4. You can see a play or a musical near Times Square.
5. It will take a long time to visit New York’s neighborhoods, but you will enjoy them. Directions Circle the correct word in ( ) to complete each sentence.
6. Harlem is in New York City, (or, and) it is an interesting neighborhood.
7. It is not a wealthy area, (or, but) it is a lively one.
8. Writers from Harlem wrote poems, songs, (but, and) stories.
9. Would you like to read a poem about rain (or, but) a story about jazz?
10.I like the paintings (because, but) they remind me of Harlem.
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