Expanded noun phrases · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Adding words to describe a noun

English · Grammar & Punctuation · ages 6-7
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. 'The green frog' is an expanded noun phrase.

    Circle one:   True   False

  2. In the phrase 'the fluffy black cat', which word is the noun?

    • cat
    • fluffy
    • black

  3. In the phrase 'the curly tail', which word is the describing word?

    • tail
    • the
    • curly

  4. Which words are added to 'the door' to make 'the old, creaky door'?

    • sat, ran
    • old, creaky
    • the, door

  5. In the sentence 'Nina hugged the soft, woolly blanket', which words make the expanded noun phrase?

    • Nina hugged
    • soft, woolly
    • the soft, woolly blanket

  6. Zara wants to expand 'the sunflower' for her poem. Which pair of describing words could she add?

    • tall, yellow
    • grows, sings
    • and, but

  7. Which noun phrase uses the most precise, vivid describing words?

    • a good pet
    • a nice dog
    • a tiny, shivering kitten

  8. Zara is writing a spooky story. Which expanded noun phrase fits her story best?

    • the house
    • the creaky, shadowy house
    • the bright, cheerful house

  9. Mia is writing a story about a forest at night. Which expanded noun phrase paints the clearest picture?

    • the nice forest
    • the dark, whispering forest
    • a forest

  10. Tom wrote 'the tall green, tree' in his story. How can he fix the comma?

    • Add another comma after tree
    • Take both describing words out
    • Put it between tall and green
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_cU3LcEVkBQ-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Adding words to describe a noun W1-mt_cU3LcEVkBQ-s1

  1. True · Adding even one describing word before the noun makes the phrase bigger. 'Green' describes the frog.
  2. cat · The noun is the word that names the thing. 'Cat' names the animal, while 'fluffy' and 'black' only describe it.
  3. curly · 'Curly' tells us what the tail is like. 'The' is a small pointing word and 'tail' is the noun.
  4. old, creaky · 'Old' and 'creaky' are the describing words placed in front of 'door'.
  5. the soft, woolly blanket · The noun 'blanket' sits after the verb, with 'soft' and 'woolly' in front of it. Together those words make the expanded noun phrase.
  6. tall, yellow · 'Tall' and 'yellow' describe the sunflower. 'Grows' and 'sings' are action words, and 'and' and 'but' are joining words.
  7. a tiny, shivering kitten · 'Tiny' and 'shivering' let the reader picture and feel the kitten. 'Nice' and 'good' tell us very little.
  8. the creaky, shadowy house · 'Creaky' and 'shadowy' match the spooky feeling. 'Bright' and 'cheerful' paint a happy picture instead.
  9. the dark, whispering forest · 'Dark' and 'whispering' help the reader see and hear the forest. 'Nice' tells us almost nothing.
  10. Put it between tall and green · The comma belongs between the two describing words, 'tall' and 'green', not in front of the noun.
Worksheet · LightMySky