Adjective Practice Exercise Answers
Identify the underlined part of speech
1. Stephen seemed angry after he finished the new book.
- ANGRY is a predicate adjective linked back to the subject STEPHEN
by the linking verb SEEMED.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying BOOK.
- NEW is an adjective modifying BOOK.
2. Martin's diligent studying has made the difference in his
grade.
3. Before the next meeting, the president will meet with the
marketing staff.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying MEETING.
- NEXT is an adjective modifying MEETING.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying PRESIDENT.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying STAFF.
- MARKETING is a participle acting as an adjective modifying STAFF.
4. Alabama's governor replied quickly to the blunt question.
- ALABAMA'S is a possessive noun acting as an adjective modifying
GOVERNOR.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying QUESTION.
- BLUNT is an adjective modifying QUESTION.
5. Their old dog has stopped retrieving the daily newspaper.
- THEIR is a possessive pronoun acting as an adjective modifying
DOG.
- OLD is an adjective modifying DOG.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying NEWSPAPER.
- DAILY is an adjective modifying NEWSPAPER.
6. The painted dresser, which looked blue last evening, has green
highlights.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying DRESSER.
- PAINTED is a participle acting as an adjective modifying DRESSER.
- BLUE is a predicate adjective linked back to the subject WHICH
by the linking verb LOOKED.
- LAST is an adjective modifying EVENING.
- GREEN is an adjective modifying HIGHLIGHTS.
7. The conductor was completely delighted with our strong performance.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying CONDUCTOR.
- DELIGHTED is a predicate adjective linked back to the subject
CONDUCTOR by the linking verb WAS.
- OUR is a possessive pronoun acting as an adjective modifying
PERFORMANCE.
- STRONG is an adjective modifying PERFORMANCE.
8. Professor Dumbledore made a surprise announcement: Harry would
compete in the upcoming tournament.
9. They answered the challenging questions but missed the easy
ones.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying QUESTIONS.
- CHALLENGING is a participle acting as an adjective modifying
QUESTIONS.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying ONES.
- EASY is an adjective modifying ONES.
10. Ted's father provided him a weekly allowance.
- TED'S is a possessive noun acting as an adjective modifying FATHER.
- A is an article acting as an adjective modifying ALLOWANCE.
- WEEKLY is an adjective modifying ALLOWANCE.
11. Running for the downtown bus, Erica felt ill.
- RUNNING is a participle acting as an adjective modifying ERICA.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying BUS.
- DOWNTOWN is an adjective modifying BUS.
- ILL is a predicate adjective linked back to the subject ERICA
by the linking verb FELT.
12. Either book that you choose is fine; She likes most anything.
- EITHER is an adjective modifying BOOK. (Note EITHER is only an
indefinite pronoun when it stands in for a noun; not when it
modifies a noun.)
- FINE is a predicate adjective linked back to the subject BOOK
by the linking verb IS.
- MOST is an adjective modifying ANYTHING.
13. The weary traveler tipped his battered hat and lowered his
head.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying TRAVELER.
- WEARY is an adjective modifying TRAVELER.
- HIS is a possessive pronoun acting as an adjective modifying
HAT.
- BATTERED is a participle acting as an adjective modifying HAT.
- HIS is a possessive pronoun acting as an adjective modifying
HEAD.
14. "Those shoes are mine," the cranky child told the babysitter.
- THOSE is an adjective modifying SHOES. (Note THOSE is only a
demonstrative pronoun when it stands in for a noun; not when
it modifies a noun.)
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying CHILD.
- CRANKY is a an adjective modifying CHILD.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying BABYSITTER.
15. Would you mind saving Lucy a small serving of that chocolate
cake?
- A is an article acting as an adjective modifying SERVING.
- SMALL is an adjective modifying SERVING.
- THAT is an adjective modifying CAKE. (Note THAT is only a demonstrative
pronoun when it stands in for a noun; not when it modifies a
noun.)
- CHOCOLATE is an adjective modifying CAKE.
16. The man who returned the money refused a reward.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying MAN.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying MONEY.
- A is an article acting as an adjective modifying REWARD.
17. Hank waved enthusiastically at Steve.
- This sentence has no adjectives.
18. William will mail you a long letter describing his many adventures
this summer.
- A is an article acting as an adjective modifying LETTER.
- LONG is an adjective modifying LETTER.
- DESCRIBING is a participle acting as an adjective modifying LETTER.
- HIS is a possessive pronoun acting as an adjective modifying
ADVENTURES.
- MANY is an adjective modifying ADVENTURES.
- THIS is an adjective modifying SUMMER. (Note THIS is only a demonstrative
pronoun when it stands in for a noun, not when it modifies a
noun.)
19. The civil engineer studied stream movements for supporting
evidence that the salmon were thriving.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying ENGINEER.
- CIVIL is an adjective modifying ENGINEER.
- STREAM is an adjective modifying MOVEMENTS.
- SUPPORTING is a participle acting as an adjective modifying EVIDENCE.
- THE is an article acting as an adjective modifying SALMON.
20. Giving money to charity is his greatest joy.
- HIS is a possessive pronoun acting as an adjective modifying
JOY.
- GREATEST is an adjective modifying JOY.
To begin studying adverbs, please turn the page.
