Special Agent Entrance Practice Exam

What term describes a word that modifies a noun or pronoun?

1. Adverb

2. Noun

3. Adjective

4. Pronoun

The correct answer is: Adjective

The term that describes a word modifying a noun or pronoun is an adjective. Adjectives provide additional information about a noun or pronoun, such as describing, identifying, or quantifying it. For example, in the phrase "a red apple," the word "red" is an adjective that modifies the noun "apple" by specifying its color. This function is essential in creating more descriptive and nuanced language, allowing for clearer communication and understanding. In contrast, an adverb modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, offering more detail about how an action is performed rather than what something is like. Nouns serve as the names of people, places, things, or ideas and do not modify other words. Pronouns replace nouns in a sentence to avoid repetition but do not modify them. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for grasping the structure and function of words in a sentence.