Question

22 using nouns as adjectives
an adjective is a word that describes a noun or pronoun. a noun used as an adjective usually
comes directly before another noun and answers the question what kind? or which one?
this chart gives examples of nouns used as adjectives.

noun	used as adjective
lunch	lunch date
rock	rock concert

practice a identifying nouns used as adjectives
read each sentence. then, underline each noun used as an adjective and write the noun that it modifies.
a sentence may have more than one noun used as an adjective.
example: robin drove her truck down the dirt road.
answer: robin drove her truck down the dirt road. road

1. omar had fruit salad at lunch.
2. i like the grain of the oak floor.
3. who will advise the computer club?
4. claire has joined a soccer league.
5. the apple pie is warm and delicious.
6. the tile counter is cool to the touch.
7. we bought printer ink and a desk lamp.
8. the juice bottle hit the cement sidewalk and broke.
9. the vase was an anniversary present.
10. he has all the depth of a character from an action movie.

practice b using nouns as adjectives
read each sentence. then, add a noun used as an adjective to complete the sentence.
example: the ______ store is having a sale.
answer: the hardware store is having a sale.

1. margarite said she already had ______ plans.
2. the shearer family went to a ______ game at the new arena.
3. howard reminds me of a character from a ______ movie.
4. chen found the ______ salad and made himself a sandwich.
5. we recycle all of our ______ bags.
6. finn lets his poodle run with its friends at the ______ park.
7. isadora always wears a blue ______ scarf.

writing and speaking application
write some sentences describing a room. use at least four nouns as adjectives. then, read your
sentences to a partner. your partner should listen for and identify the nouns that are used as
adjectives. switch roles with your partner.

Answer:

PRACTICE A Solutions:

1. Sentence: Omar had fruit salad at lunch.

• Noun as adjective: fruit (modifies salad).
• Answer: Omar had $\underline{\text{fruit}}$ salad at lunch. $\text{salad}$

1. Sentence: I like the grain of the oak floor.

• Noun as adjective: oak (modifies floor).
• Answer: I like the grain of the $\underline{\text{oak}}$ floor. $\text{floor}$

1. Sentence: Who will advise the computer club?

• Noun as adjective: computer (modifies club).
• Answer: Who will advise the $\underline{\text{computer}}$ club? $\text{club}$

1. Sentence: Claire has joined a soccer league.

• Noun as adjective: soccer (modifies league).
• Answer: Claire has joined a $\underline{\text{soccer}}$ league. $\text{league}$

1. Sentence: The apple pie is warm and delicious.

• Noun as adjective: apple (modifies pie).
• Answer: The $\underline{\text{apple}}$ pie is warm and delicious. $\text{pie}$

1. Sentence: The tile counter is cool to the touch.

• Noun as adjective: tile (modifies counter).
• Answer: The $\underline{\text{tile}}$ counter is cool to the touch. $\text{counter}$

1. Sentence: We bought printer ink and a desk lamp.

• Nouns as adjectives: printer (modifies ink), desk (modifies lamp).
• Answer: We bought $\underline{\text{printer}}$ ink and a $\underline{\text{desk}}$ lamp. $\text{ink}$; $\text{lamp}$

1. Sentence: The juice bottle hit the cement sidewalk and broke.

• Nouns as adjectives: juice (modifies bottle), cement (modifies sidewalk).
• Answer: The $\underline{\text{juice}}$ bottle hit the $\underline{\text{cement}}$ sidewalk and broke. $\text{bottle}$; $\text{sidewalk}$

1. Sentence: The vase was an anniversary present.

• Noun as adjective: anniversary (modifies present).
• Answer: The vase was an $\underline{\text{anniversary}}$ present. $\text{present}$

1. Sentence: He has all the depth of a character from an action movie.

• Noun as adjective: action (modifies movie).
• Answer: He has all the depth of a character from an $\underline{\text{action}}$ movie. $\text{movie}$

PRACTICE B Solutions (Sample Answers, as answers may vary):

1. Margarite said she already had $\boldsymbol{\text{travel}}$ plans. (Other options: school, work, etc.)
2. The Shearer family went to a $\boldsymbol{\text{baseball}}$ game at the new arena. (Other options: basketball, hockey, etc.)
3. Howard reminds me of a character from a $\boldsymbol{\text{science - fiction}}$ movie. (Other options: horror, comedy, etc.)
4. Chen found the $\boldsymbol{\text{vegetable}}$ salad and made himself a sandwich. (Other options: fruit, tuna, etc.)
5. We recycle all of our $\boldsymbol{\text{plastic}}$ bags. (Other options: paper, glass, etc.)
6. Finn lets his poodle run with its friends at the $\boldsymbol{\text{dog}}$ park. (Other options: community, city, etc.)
7. Isadora always wears a blue $\boldsymbol{\text{silk}}$ scarf. (Other options: wool, cashmere, etc.)

Writing and Speaking Application (Sample Sentence):

“The $\underline{\text{wooden}}$ bookshelf holds $\underline{\text{leather}}$ - bound books, a $\underline{\text{glass}}$ vase, and a $\underline{\text{metal}}$ lamp in my $\underline{\text{bedroom}}$ office. The $\underline{\text{carpet}}$ floor is soft underfoot, and the $\underline{\text{window}}$ curtains let in gentle light.”

• Nouns as adjectives: wooden (modifies bookshelf), leather (modifies books), glass (modifies vase), metal (modifies lamp), bedroom (modifies office), carpet (modifies floor), window (modifies curtains).