Coordinate Adjective Quiz 2 Interactive Worksheet - Edform - Free Printable

Here is the solution to the "Coordinate Adjectives Quiz" with a detailed explanation for each question.

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Question 1: Which sentence uses coordinate adjectives correctly?

* A. Phillip’s torn, tattered notebook was on his desk.
* B. An intelligent, amazing, young lady won the award.
* C. The fast, green grasshopper landed on my arm.

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:
Coordinate adjectives are two or more adjectives that describe the same noun independently and are of equal importance. They are typically separated by commas (or "and"). To test if adjectives are coordinate, you can:
1. Insert "and" between them. If the sentence still makes sense, they are likely coordinate.
2. Reverse their order. If the sentence still makes sense, they are likely coordinate.

Let's test each option:

* Option A: "Phillip’s torn, tattered notebook..."
* Test 1: "Phillip’s torn and tattered notebook..." — This sounds natural and correct.
* Test 2: "Phillip’s tattered, torn notebook..." — This also sounds natural. "Torn" and "tattered" both describe the state of the notebook equally.
* ✔ This is correct.

* Option B: "An intelligent, amazing, young lady..."
* Test 1: "An intelligent and amazing and young lady..." — While grammatically possible, it feels awkward. More importantly, "young" describes age, while "intelligent" and "amazing" describe qualities. They are not truly equal in function. Also, "intelligent young lady" is a common phrase where "young" modifies "lady" directly, and "intelligent" modifies that phrase. The comma after "amazing" is incorrect because "amazing" and "young" are not coordinate.
* Test 2: "An amazing, intelligent, young lady..." — Still sounds off. "Young" doesn't naturally swap places with "intelligent" or "amazing" without changing the intended meaning slightly.
* ✘ Incorrect.

* Option C: "The fast, green grasshopper..."
* Test 1: "The fast and green grasshopper..." — This is grammatically okay but semantically odd. You wouldn't typically say a grasshopper is "fast and green" as if those are equal, independent descriptors. "Green" is a color (inherent property), while "fast" is a speed (behavioral trait). They aren't truly coordinate.
* Test 2: "The green, fast grasshopper..." — This sounds unnatural. We usually say "fast green grasshopper" without a comma because "green" is a permanent attribute and "fast" is a temporary/behavioral one. They are cumulative adjectives, not coordinate.
* ✘ Incorrect.

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Question 2: Which sentence uses coordinate adjectives correctly?

* A. The smelly, dirty, gym socks were on the bench.
* B. Jessica’s chewy, fruity gum was in her purse
* C. A scary, black cat crossed in front of me today.

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:
Apply the same tests as above.

* Option A: "The smelly, dirty, gym socks..."
* Test 1: "The smelly and dirty and gym socks..." — This sounds wrong. "Gym" is not describing the socks in the same way "smelly" and "dirty" do. "Gym socks" is a compound noun; "gym" specifies the *type* of sock, while "smelly" and "dirty" describe its condition. You cannot reverse the order: "dirty, smelly, gym socks" is acceptable, but "gym, smelly, dirty socks" is nonsense.
* ✘ Incorrect. The comma after "dirty" is wrong because "dirty" and "gym" are not coordinate.

* Option B: "Jessica’s chewy, fruity gum..."
* Test 1: "Jessica’s chewy and fruity gum..." — This sounds perfectly natural. Both "chewy" and "fruity" describe the gum's texture and flavor independently.
* Test 2: "Jessica’s fruity, chewy gum..." — This also sounds natural and means the same thing.
* ✔ This is correct.

* Option C: "A scary, black cat..."
* Test 1: "A scary and black cat..." — Grammatically possible, but semantically, "black" is a color (permanent attribute) and "scary" is an emotional response (subjective quality). They are not truly equal descriptors.
* Test 2: "A black, scary cat..." — Sounds less natural than "a scary black cat." We usually place color before subjective adjectives. They are cumulative, not coordinate.
* ✘ Incorrect.

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Question 3: Read the sentence and answer the question.

> The rusty old pickup truck bounced down the road away from the town, Pikes Peak, leaving a hot, swirling cloud of dust, behind it.

Which change should be made to the sentence?

* A. Add a comma after rusty.
* B. Remove the comma after hot.
* C. Remove the comma after dust.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:
This question tests your understanding of punctuation, specifically commas with coordinate adjectives and unnecessary commas.

* "rusty old pickup truck": "Rusty" and "old" are cumulative adjectives (they build upon each other: first the age, then the condition). You do NOT put a comma between cumulative adjectives. So, no comma after "rusty" is correct. Option A is wrong.

* "hot, swirling cloud of dust": "Hot" and "swirling" are coordinate adjectives describing the cloud. You CAN use a comma between them (or "and"). The comma here is correct. Option B is wrong.

* ", behind it": The phrase "behind it" is not essential to the main clause. It's a prepositional phrase at the end of the sentence providing extra information. Placing a comma before it is unnecessary and incorrect. Commas are not used to separate a prepositional phrase from the verb when it comes at the end of the sentence unless it's non-restrictive (which this isn't). The comma after "dust" creates an awkward and grammatically incorrect break.
* Correct version: "...leaving a hot, swirling cloud of dust behind it."
* ✔ Removing the comma after "dust" is the correct fix. Option C is correct.

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Final Answers:

1. A
2. B
3. C