Coordinate Adjectives
THE LAZY EDITOR: “Get a Whiff of That!” pages 24-25
January 2015
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THE LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINE
Adjectives and Commas
Sometimes we use two or more adjectives in a row to describe the same noun. For example:
1. A friendly, gentle robot lives with the family across the street.
a Both friendly and gentle describe robot.
2. The harsh winter storm is finally over.
a Both harsh and winter describe storm.
Take a look at the punctuation in those two examples. In example 1, there is a comma between the two
adjectives. In example 2, there is not. Why? Because example 1 contains what are known as coordinate adjectives,
while example 2 contains noncoordinate adjectives.
Coordinate adjectives have the same importance in the sentence. Noncoordinate adjectives do not—one
adjective has more importance than the other(s). If you aren’t sure whether two or more adjectives have the same
importance in a sentence, there are two simple tricks to help you figure it out:
Trick 1: The “And” Trick
Trick 2: The Switch Trick
If you can put the word and between the two
adjectives, and the sentence makes sense and
has the same meaning, then the adjectives are
coordinate (and need a comma between them).
If you can switch the order of the adjectives
and the sentence makes sense and has the same
meaning, then the adjectives are coordinate
(and need a comma between them).
1. A friendly and gentle robot lives with the
family across the street.
a This means the same thing as the original
version of the sentence, so friendly and gentle
are coordinate adjectives.
1. A gentle, friendly robot lives with the
family across the street.
a This means the same thing as the original
version of the sentence. The adjectives are
coordinate.
2. The harsh and winter storm is finally over.
a This sounds weird, right? That’s because this
sentence is about a winter storm—not just any
storm. So in this sentence, the two adjectives
are noncoordinate, because winter is more
important than harsh.
2. The winter harsh storm is finally over.
a Huh? What is a “winter harsh storm”? When
you switch the order of the adjectives in this
sentence, it no longer makes sense. Harsh and
winter are noncoordinate.
Remember: If you can add an and,
you need a comma.
Remember: If you can switch the order,
you need a comma.
An activity on using commas with adjectives begins on the next page.
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Coordinate Adjectives
THE LAZY EDITOR: “Get a Whiff of That!” pages 24-25
January 2015
Directions: Read each pair of sentences below. Place a check mark in front of the sentence in which the commas
between adjectives are used correctly.
 1._ A ____ Jenna has many young friends.
_ B ____ Jenna has many, young friends.
 2._ A ____ I knew it would be a long, boring day.
_ B ____ I knew it would be a long boring day.
 3._ A ____ They lived in an old brick house.
_ B ____ They lived in an old, brick house.
 4._ A ____ My dad makes tasty Mexican food.
_ B ____ My dad makes tasty, Mexican food.
 5._ A ____ John invented a simple plastic tube that changed the world.
_ B ____ John invented a simple, plastic tube that changed the world.
 6._ A ____ My little sister loves her new red silk pajamas.
_ B ____ My little sister loves her new, red, silk pajamas.
Directions: Read each sentence below. Insert commas between coordinate adjectives.
 7._ It was only a matter of time before the aggressive green aliens tried to take over the government.
 8._ It’s not every day that we get to visit a working dairy farm.
 9._ Two enormous moving vans showed up on their doorstep.
10._ My dog, Bear, is the most loyal loving friend I could ever ask for.
11._ Your story about the hairy poisonous spiders gave me nightmares!
12._ Isabelle wore high-heeled black tap shoes for her performance.
©2015 BY SCHOLASTIC INC. TEACHERS MAY PROJECT OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS PAGE TO DISTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS.
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