Part 1: Grammar — Introduction to Adjectives

1. Definition of an Adjective

An adjective is a word that modifies, describes, or gives more information about a noun or a pronoun. Adjectives add color, size, quantity, or quality to nouns, helping the reader form a clear mental picture.

• Without Adjectives: The student sat on the chair.

• With Adjectives: The brilliant student sat on the wooden chair.

2. Identification of Adjectives

To easily spot an adjective in a sentence, look for the words that answer these questions about the noun:

• Which one? $\rightarrow$ That boy, the last bench.

• What kind? $\rightarrow$ A clean classroom, a crisp uniform.

• How many? $\rightarrow$ Two lockers, several books.

• Whose? $\rightarrow$ My exercise book, her desk.

3. Types of Adjectives

For this level, we are focusing on five foundational types of adjectives:

A. Descriptive Adjectives (Adjectives of Quality)

These tell us about the nature, state, or quality of a noun.

• Examples: beautiful, tall, dark, intelligent, large, clean.

• Sentence: Mrs. Pius is an intelligent teacher.

B. Adjectives of Quantity / Number

These show how much or how many of a noun we are talking about.

• Examples: three, many, some, few, five, much.

• Sentence: Daniel has two sharp pens in his pencil case.

C. Demonstrative Adjectives

These point directly out which noun is being referred to. They are followed immediately by a noun.

⚠️ Grammar Note: Do not confuse these with demonstrative pronouns. An adjective must sit right before a noun.

• Examples: this, that, these, those.

• Sentence: That laboratory across the field is brand new. (Adjective) vs. That is the laboratory. (Pronoun)

D. Possessive Adjectives

These show ownership or belonging. Like demonstrative adjectives, they sit directly before a noun.

• Examples: my, your, his, her, its, our, their.

• Sentence: Bring your English text book to the front desk.

E. Interrogative Adjectives

These are used alongside nouns to ask questions.

• Examples: which, what, whose.

• Sentence: Whose register is left on the table?

Part 2: Vocabulary Development — Descriptive Words

When painting a picture with words, using the right adjectives to describe people’s appearances and internal personalities makes a massive difference.

1. Words for Physical Appearance (What you can see)

• Stature/Height: tall, short, petite, lanky, stocky.

• Complexion: dark-skinned, fair-skinned, chocolate, pale.

• Hair Structure: curly, braided, cropped, low-cut, bushy.

• General Look: neat, presentable, elegant, smart, athletic.

• Example: Emeka is a tall, dark-skinned boy who always looks neat in his school uniform.

2. Words for Character Traits (Internal Personality)

• Positive Traits:

  • Ambitious: Having a strong desire to succeed or achieve goals.

  • Courteous: Polite, respectful, and well-mannered toward others.

  • Compassionate: Showing kindness, empathy, and care for people in trouble.

  • Diligent: Hardworking and showing care in one’s duties.

• Negative Traits:

  • Boastful: Bragging or talking with excessive pride about oneself.

  • Impatient: Easily irritated by delays or waiting.

  • Unreliable: Not able to be trusted or depended upon.

Part 3: Continuous Writing — The Descriptive Essay

1. What is a Descriptive Essay?

A descriptive essay is a genre of writing that requires a student to paint a vivid picture of a person, place, object, or experience using words. Unlike narrative essays (which tell a past story chronologically), a descriptive essay focuses heavily on details, sensory imagery (sight, sound, touch), and permanent characteristics.

2. Key Features of a Descriptive Essay

• Tense: It is written primarily in the Simple Present Tense when describing a living person or existing place (e.g., “He is tall,” “She always helps me”).

• Use of Adjectives: It relies heavily on descriptive adjectives to create detailed imagery.

• Sensory Details: It appeals to the reader’s senses—what the object or person looks like, sounds like, or acts like.

3. Structural Layout: “My Best Friend”

A standard descriptive essay should follow a clean four-paragraph layout:

• Paragraph 1: Introduction

  • State the name of your best friend.

  • Explain where and how you met (e.g., at Primrose Online School).

  • Give a brief general statement about why they are special to you.

• Paragraph 2: Physical Appearance

  • Describe their physical stature, height, and age group.

  • Mention their complexion, facial features, and hair.

  • Describe their dressing style or how neat they look.

• Paragraph 3: Character Traits and Habits

  • Discuss their internal personality (Are they diligent, courteous, or funny?).

  • Give an example of a good thing they habitually do (e.g., sharing their lunch, studying together).

  • Mention their favorite hobbies or school subjects.

• Paragraph 4: Conclusion

  • Summarize your feelings about the friendship.

  • State your hopes or wishes for your friend’s future.

Part 4: Class Evaluation & Exercises

Exercise A: Adjective Identification and Sorter

Identify the adjectives in the sentences below and state their specific type:

1. Two diligent students cleaned the dirty whiteboard.

2. That blue locker belongs to the head boy.

3. My father bought a beautiful, large compound for us.

4. Which textbook are you reading in the library?

5. There are some biscuits left in her food flask.

Exercise B: Character Vocabulary Application

Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate character trait word from the box:

[ Diligent | Courteous | Boastful | Compassionate ]

1. Emeka is very __________; he always stands up to greet teachers and says “please” when borrowing a pencil.

2. The head girl is so __________ that she gave her own umbrella to a JSS 1 student who was stranded in the rain.

3. Nobody likes playing with the captain because he is too __________ about his rich parents.

4. A __________ student reads their notes every single day and never fails their continuous assessment tests.

Exercise C: Descriptive Writing Practice

Using the structure learned in Part 3, draft the physical description paragraph (Paragraph 2) for an essay titled “My Form Teacher.” Ensure you use at least four descriptive adjectives and two physical appearance vocabulary words.