Coordinate Adjectives

Coordinate Adjectives

Grammar review

Match

Match the following

• A word that modifies or describes a noun or pronoun

• Punctuation to indicate a pause in a sentence or to separate items in a list

• Two or more adjectives that modify a noun equally; separated by commas

Adjective

Comma

Coordinate Adjective

• Adjective

• Comma

• Coordinate Adjective

​Coordinate Adjectives

Coordinate adjectives are words that apply to and describe some attribute of the same noun or subject. To do this effectively, however, the author must separate them by a comma—otherwise the reader may confuse the adjectives as a singular modifier and not a coordinate pair.

• Example: “The Tigris River ends near the Persian Gulf in a wide, swampy delta.”

How to test if adjectives are coordinate

​This usage can be tested in two ways:

1. Reverse the order of the adjectives. Is the meaning of the sentence still clear?

• Example: “The Tigris River ends near the Persian Gulf in a swampy, wide delta.”

2. Place the conjunction 'and' between the adjectives. Is the meaning of the sentence still clear?

• Example: “The Tigris River ends near the Persian Gulf in a wide and swampy delta.”

If the sentence passes both tests, it uses coordinating adjectives. If not, it uses a singular adjective employing more than one word. These cannot be separated by commas or conjunctions without destroying their meaning.

• Example: “The Roman emperor Flavius was named for his ruby red hair.”

• Example: “The Roman emperor Flavius was named for red ruby hair.” (wrong)

• Example: “The Roman emperor Flavius was named for his red and ruby hair.” (wrong)

Multiple Choice

Where should the comma be in the following sentence: As the clouds parted, we could see a tall shimmering mountain.

• after bright

• after tall

• after shimmering

Multiple Choice

Where should the comma come in the following sentence: Does that small black kitten have a home?

• after small

• after black

• no comma needed

Multiple Choice

Where should the comma come in the following sentence: It was a long complicated rescue, but finally the young Nelson boys were safe.

• after long

• after young

• no comma needed