Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

Which parts of speech typically function to describe or modify nouns?

1. Adjectives

2. Conjunctions

3. Nouns

4. Verbs

The correct answer is: Adjectives

Adjectives are words specifically designed to describe or modify nouns. They provide additional information about a noun's attributes, such as size, color, shape, quantity, or any other characteristic that helps to clarify the meaning of the noun. For example, in the phrase "the big red ball," the adjectives "big" and "red" enhance our understanding of the noun "ball" by giving us more detail about its size and color. The other parts of speech listed do not serve this descriptive function. Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses without modifying nouns. Nouns themselves represent people, places, things, or ideas and do not serve to modify other nouns. Verbs express actions or states of being but do not describe or modify nouns. This distinct role of adjectives makes them essential for adding richness and specificity to our language, allowing for more vivid and precise communication.