Coordinate adjective can be defined as “Coordinate adjectives are adjectives that appear in sequence with one another to modify the same noun”.
Explanation
Coordinate adjectives are also called as paired adjectives in which two or more adjectives precede and describe the same noun however separately modify the noun.
All the used adjectives are equal in their application to the same noun. We can also say that, neither adjective involve hugely to describe the noun.
The order of adjectives can be scrambled and joined by the use of ‘and’. Each coordinate adjective is separated by the comma.
Following are some examples showing the proper use of coordinate adjectives in the sentence:
Following are some rules and tips which should be followed while using coordinate adjectives in the sentence:
If we use two or more adjectives in the sentence, we should separate them with comma in order to get clarity. We can also replace the comma with “and” as well as reverse the order of adjectives. Such as:
All sentences given above are correct as they follow rules of how to use coordinate adjectives in the sentence. Words ‘slippery’, ‘dangerous’ are interchangeable and they do not carry more weight to describe the noun ‘roads’, thus comma used between them is correct.
All the sentences given above are incorrect as they violate the rules of using coordinate adjectives. Adjective words ‘pink’ and ‘cashmere’ are not interchangeable as ‘cashmere’ carries more weight than the ‘pink’ while describing the noun ‘shawls’. Adjectives used in the above sentences are cumulative adjectives and they do not required to get separated through commas.
When more than two adjectives are used in the sentence to describe or modify the same noun, two commas are used between them or word ‘and’ to separate the last adjective. Such as:
Sometimes, two of the three adjectives used become coordinate however one is not. Such as:
In the above sentence, the words like ‘blue’ and ‘lacey’ are coordinate, so they are interchangeable and separated using comma or ‘and’. However, word ‘sports’ is not coordinate as it carries more weight in describing or modifying the noun, ‘shoes’.
We need to decide whether coordinate or non-coordinate adjectives are used to describe noun and whether we need to use commas to separate the adjectives or not. We do not need to separate non-coordinate adjectives through commas or other punctuation. You can analyze between coordinate and non-coordinate adjectives through:
When we reverse the order of used adjectives in the sentence and they make sense, they are coordinate, such as:
When we use ‘and’ between adjectives and sentence make sense, they are coordinate, such as:
Whereas, the use of non-coordinate adjectives in the sentence do not follow both of the above tests as they do not require punctuation between them. Such as:
It is not necessary to use comma in order to separate adjectives providing information about shape, size, color, age, religion, national origin, or material. Such as:
Coordinate adjective exercises given below will help you in analyzing your knowledge about coordinate adjective. Just go through all the details given above about the coordinate adjective and check your skill by doing following exercises for coordinate adjective.
We have used coordinate adjectives in the following sentences; you need to check whether sentences are correct or incorrect:
Answers: 1 – correct, 2 – correct, 3 – incorrect, 4 – incorrect, 5 – correct, 6 – incorrect, 7 – correct, 8 – correct, 9 – correct, 10 – correct.
Related Topics:
Interrogative Adjective
Possessive Adjective
Non-coordinate Adjective
Demonstrative Adjective
Adjective of Number