Year 2 · English · Language
Adjectives
Using describing words to add detail about the size, colour, number, shape and feel of nouns.
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Learning goals
Learners will
- Identify adjectives as words that describe nouns.
- Add adjectives to sentences to give the reader more detail.
- Choose precise adjectives instead of overused ones.
Success looks like
- I can find the adjective in a sentence.
- I can name the noun the adjective describes.
- I can improve a sentence by adding an interesting adjective.
The big idea
An adjective is a describing word. It tells us more about a noun. In 'a fluffy cat', the noun is 'cat' and the adjective 'fluffy' tells us what the cat is like.
Adjectives can describe many things:
- Colour: a blue hat
- Size and shape: a huge, round rock
- Feel: a rough, bumpy shell
- Sound: a noisy kookaburra
Adjectives usually come just before the noun ('the cold water'), but they can also come after a verb such as 'is' or 'was' ('The water was cold.').
Writers choose adjectives carefully. 'Nice' and 'good' do not tell the reader much. 'A crunchy, golden biscuit' paints a clearer picture than 'a nice biscuit'.
Worked examples
Finding the adjective
Find the adjective in: 'The tiny ant carried a crumb.'
- Find the nouns: ant, crumb.
- Look for a word that tells us what a noun is like: 'tiny' describes the ant.
Answer: 'Tiny' is the adjective. It describes 'ant'.
Improving a sentence
Improve: 'I saw a nice bird.'
- Picture the bird. What colour is it? What size?
- Replace 'nice' with more precise adjectives, such as 'small' and 'bright green'.
- Read the new sentence aloud.
Answer: I saw a small, bright green bird.
Practice check
Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Answer guide for parents
Which word is an adjective?
soft — 'Soft' describes what something is like.
In 'The muddy dog ran inside.', which word describes the dog?
muddy — 'Muddy' tells us what the dog is like.
Which adjective tells about colour?
purple — 'Purple' is a colour.
Which sentence gives the most detail?
I ate a crisp, juicy apple. — 'Crisp' and 'juicy' tell us exactly what the apple was like.
In 'The sand was hot.', which word is the adjective?
hot — 'Hot' describes the sand. It comes after the verb 'was'.
Type the adjective in: 'A tall tree grew there.'
tall — 'Tall' describes the tree.
Type the noun that the adjective describes: 'We found a shiny shell.'
shell — 'Shiny' describes the shell.
Type the adjective in: 'The old bus rattled along.'
old — 'Old' describes the bus.
Watch out for
- Thinking adjectives must always come before the noun. They can also follow verbs like 'is' and 'was'.
- Piling on lots of adjectives ('the big, huge, giant, large dog'). One or two well-chosen adjectives are stronger.
- Confusing adjectives with verbs. Ask: does it describe a thing, or tell what something does?
Tips for parents
- Play the feely-bag game: your child describes an object by touch before pulling it out.
- During meals, ask for three adjectives about the food.
- Model rich describing words in everyday talk ('Look at that enormous, grey cloud').
Go further
- Write a 'wanted' poster for a lost toy using at least five adjectives.
- Choose a picture and list adjectives for each sense: sight, sound, touch, smell and taste.
- Make an adjective 'word ladder' from weakest to strongest, such as warm, hot, boiling.