Which part of speech is used to describe a noun or pronoun, such as 'happy' or 'pretty'?

• A. Noun
• B. Verb
• C. Adjective
• D. Adverb

Answer: (C)

Describing a noun or pronoun is the job of adjectives. Words like “happy” and “pretty” tell what kind of person or thing someone or something is, as in “a happy dog” or “a pretty dress,” and they can also describe the subject after a linking verb, like “She is happy.” Nouns name things, verbs show actions or states, and adverbs describe verbs (or adjectives or other adverbs), not nouns. For example, in “She sings beautifully,” beautifully describes how she sings, not what she is. Since we’re looking for what describes a noun or pronoun, the adjective is the best fit.