An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun in a sentence. Adjectives are sometimes characterized as describing words.
- The first car in line was stalled.
In this sentence, the adjective first modifies the noun car.
- A purple car whizzed through the intersection.
In this sentence, the adjective purple modifies and tells more about the noun, car.
- The new snowboard was waxed and ready to go.
In this sentence, the word new modifies or tell us more about the snowboard. We find out the snowboard is not used or damaged, but brand new.
Consider some constructions that make use of adjectives. All the words that precede the nouns modify, in some way, those nouns.
- big house, large horse, beautiful shoes, nice pants
Adjectives often answer the question which. Which house? The big house.