You will learn
- Say what an adjective is.
- Use adjectives to describe nouns.
- Use -er and -est to compare.
- Write sentences with adjectives.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- An adjective describes a noun.
- It can tell colour, size, shape, number or feeling.
- Add -er to compare two things.
- Add -est to compare three or more.
Words to know
a word that describes a noun
tell about
show how things differ
the most, such as biggest
1. Discover: The big red balloon
Ama holds a big, red balloon. Kofi’s balloon is bigger. Tolu has the biggest balloon of all! It is round and shiny. The children are excited. They have three balloons each.
Think: Which words describe the balloons?
2. Understand: Adjectives
Idea 1: Describe nouns
An adjective describes a noun: big balloon, red balloon, round balloon.
Idea 2: Kinds
Adjectives tell colour (red), size (big), shape (round), number (three), feeling (excited) and more.
Idea 3: Compare
Add -er to compare two (bigger). Add -est for the most (biggest).
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Describe
Add an adjective: a ___ dog.
- Think of colour or size.
Answer: a big dog
Example 2 (We do it together): Compare
Tall, ___, tallest.
- Add er.
Answer: taller
Example 3 (You try): Most
Fast, faster, ___.
Show the steps and answer
- Add est.
Answer: fastest
Did you know?
Adjectives usually come before the noun in English.
Why this matters
Adjectives make your writing and speaking more interesting.
4. Explore: Describe it
Use adjectives to describe objects.
- Pick an object.
- List adjectives.
- Write a sentence.
- Share it.
Think about it: what did you notice?
You can use adjectives.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- A ___ balloon.
- Kofi’s balloon is ___.
- Tolu’s is the ___.
- They are ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. What does an adjective do?
describes a noun
Question 2. Compare tall.
taller, tallest
Question 3. Compare big.
bigger, biggest
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- A word that describes a noun is an ___.
- Red is an adjective of ___.
- Big is an adjective of ___.
- Add ___ to compare two.
- Add ___ to compare three or more.
Level 2: Grow
- Add an adjective: the ___ cat.
- Compare fast.
- Compare short.
Level 3: Stretch
- Why use adjectives?
- Is happy an adjective?
- Write a sentence with two adjectives.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: English in everyday life
Describe five objects with adjectives.
Show a sample answer
five descriptions
Another one. Write a sentence with an -er and an -est adjective.
Show a sample answer
Kofi is taller and Ama is the tallest.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: taller not more taller.
Fix: bigger.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can say what an adjective is.
- I can describe nouns.
- I can use -er and -est.
- I can write sentences with adjectives.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Adjectives describe nouns.
- They tell colour, size, shape, number, feeling.
- -er compares two.
- -est compares three or more.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Adverbs. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What is an adjective? [1 mark]
- Name two adjectives. [2 marks]
- Compare tall. [2 marks]
- Write a sentence with two adjectives. [2 marks]
- Explain how to use -er and -est. [3 marks]
Total: 10 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- a word that describes a noun [1]
- e.g. big [1]; red [1]
- taller [1]; tallest [1]
- valid sentence [1]; two adjectives [1]
- -er compares two [1]; -est compares three or more [1]; example [1]
Score guide: 9 to 10 = secure. 6 to 8 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- A word that describes a noun is an ___.
- Red is an adjective of ___.
- Big is an adjective of ___.
- tall + er =
- tall + est =
- True or false: adjectives describe nouns.
- True or false: more taller is correct.
- Add an adjective: the ___ cat.
- Compare big.
- Write a sentence with an adjective.
Homework
Describe 5 objects with adjectives.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A word that describes a noun is an ___. | adjective | 1 |
| 2. Red is an adjective of ___. | colour | 1 |
| 3. Big is an adjective of ___. | size | 1 |
| 4. tall + er = | taller | 1 |
| 5. tall + est = | tallest | 1 |
| 6. True or false: adjectives describe nouns. | true | 1 |
| 7. True or false: more taller is correct. | false | 1 |
| 8. Add an adjective: the ___ cat. | small | 1 |
| 9. Compare big. | bigger, biggest | 1 |
| 10. Write a sentence with an adjective. | The red balloon is big. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 adjective; 2 colour; 3 size; 4 er; 5 est. Level 2: 1 small; 2 faster, fastest; 3 shorter, shortest. Level 3: 1 make writing interesting; 2 yes; 3 The big red balloon floats..
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Say what an adjective is | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Use adjectives to describe nouns | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Use -er and -est to compare | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Write sentences with adjectives | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Using more with -er words. taller not more taller.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Use picture cards.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns adjectives. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Describe things together.
- Play I spy with adjectives.
- Praise descriptions.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: say what an adjective is; use adjectives to describe nouns; use -er and -est to compare; write sentences with adjectives.
Prerequisite knowledge. Verbs and verb tenses.
Materials. Chart paper or board, pencils, picture or word cards, a reading book if available. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Write the key words and examples on the board or on cards before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Review nouns.
Explanation (10 min). Teach adjectives.
Guided activity (10 min). Practise.
Independent activity (10 min). Check.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What does it look like? Which adjective?
Teacher explanation notes. Move from the spoken word to pictures and then to print. Read aloud often, point to the words, and let learners hear and say before they read and write.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use pictures. Extension. Use more and most.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Using more with -er words. taller not more taller.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 10-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Use picture cards. Enrichment. Use more and most with longer adjectives. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (official site): Grade 2 » Language. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core L.2.1e (use adjectives and adverbs, and choose between them depending on what is to be modified); Cambridge Primary English Stage 2 (grammar and punctuation). These sources informed the lesson.