LoginAttributive and Predicative Adjectives
An attributive adjective is an adjective that appears before the noun or pronoun it describes. In this lesson, we will learn more about them.
Based on where an adjective appears in a sentence, we can have two main types of adjectives:
- Attributive Adjective
- Predicative Adjectives
What Are Attributive Adjectives?
A linking verb does not come between an attributive adjective and the noun it modifies.
The
You are my
using an attributive adjective in a noun phrase
Attributive Adjectives: Types
Based on whether they appear before or after the noun they are modifying, attributive adjectives can have two types:
- Pre-positive Adjectives
- Post-positive Adjectives
We need a
We need someone
What Are Predicative Adjectives?
A predicative adjective (also called predicate adjective) follows a linking verb. They can take an adjective complement after them or appear alone. For example:
That baby is
I tried not to be
Predicative Adjectives: Functions
Predicative adjectives can be subject complement.
Difference & Similarity
Most adjectives can be either type: we can say a 'cute baby' and 'the baby was cute.' But some can only be one or the other.
Adjectives That Can Only Be Predicative
Some adjectives, such as 'afraid, asleep, glad, and alive,' are always predicative.
Many people are afraid people')
Here is a list of predicative-only adjectives:
- afire
- afloat
- afraid
- alert
- alive
- alone
- ashamed
- aware
- asleep
- awake
Adjectives That Can Only Be Attributive
Some adjectives can only occur in the attributive position.
I have a little.')
This is the main.')
Here is a list of attributive-only adjectives:
- elder/eldest
- same/exact
- live
- main/prime/principal/chief
- mere/sheer/utter
- future/former
- little
- urban/southern/rural
Predicate Adjectives vs. Predicate Nominatives
After a linking verb, we can have a noun or a noun phrase or an adjective or an adjective phrase.
Sam is
Sam is
Warning
Do not use an adverb after a linking verb. A linking verb is completed only by a predicative adjective or a predicative nominative, never an adverb.
Your house looks
Your house looks
This cake tastes
This cake tastes
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Types of Adjectives
Descriptive Adjectives
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Compound Adjectives
Proper Adjectives
Participle Adjectives
