Attributive and predicative adjectives

1. Attributive and predicative adjectives

2. A few adjectives such as old, late and heavy can take on a different meaning when used attributively.

3. Compare • Agatha Withers is very old now (i.e. in years - predicative) • He s an old friend (i.e. I've known him a long time - attributive)

4. Your suitcase is very heavy (i.e. in weight - predicative) Paterson is a heavy smoker (i.e. he smokes a lot - attributive)

5. You're late again (i.e. not on time - predicative) My late uncle was a miner (i.e. he's dead now - attributive)

6. Adjectives used predicatively • The following are used predicatively in connection with health: • faint, ill, poorly, unwell and well • What's the matter with him? - He's ill/unwell He feels faint • How are you? - I'm very well thank you I'm fine thanks

7. Fine relating to health is predicative; used attributively it means 'excellent' (e.g. She's a fine woman).

8. The adjectives sick and healthy can be used in the attributive position where /// and well normally cannot:

9. What's the matter with Mr. Court? - He's a sick man Biggies was very ill but he s now a healthy man

10. Predicative adjectives beginning with 'a-' • Adjectives like the following are used only predicatively: afloat afraid. alight alike, alive alone, ashamed asleep awake

11. The children were asleep at 7 but now they're awake • We can express similar ideas with attributive adjectives:

13. Predicative adjectives describing feelings, reactions, • Some adjectives describing feelings, etc., (content, glad, pleased sorry upset) and a few others, e.g. far and near (except in e.g. the Far East/the Near East) are normally used only predicatively:

14. / am very glad to meet you [> 16.26] • Your hotel is quite near here It isn't far from here

15. We can express the same ideas with attributive adjectives: • She is a happy (or contented) woman

16. Adjectives which restrict the reference of the noun are always attributive:

17. certain (a woman of a certain age); chief (my chief complaint); main (my main concern); only (the only explanation); particular (my particular aim); principal (the principal reason); sole (my sole interest) and very itself {the very man I wanted to see).

18. Adjectives after nouns in official titles • The adjective follows the noun in a number of 'titles': e.g. • Attorney General Governor General • Postmaster General,

19. Adjectives which can come before or after nouns • Adjectives before or after nouns with no change in meaning

20. A limited number of adjectives, mostly ending in -able and -ible, can come before or after nouns, usually with no change of meaning. Some of these are: available eligible, imaginable, taxable • I doubt whether we can complete our contract in the time • available/in the available time

21. Adjectives before or after nouns with a change in meaning • A few adjectives change in meaning depending on whether they are used before or after a noun. Some of these are: concerned elect involved present, proper responsible

22. The concerned (= worried) doctor rang for an ambulance • The doctor concerned (= responsible) is on holiday • This elect (= specially chosen) body meets once a year • The president elect (= who has been elected) takes over in May

23. It was a very involved (= complicated) explanation • The boy involved (= connected with this) has left

24. Present employees (= those currently employed) number 3 000 Employees present (= those here now) should vote on the issue

25. It was a proper (= correct) question The question proper (= itself) has not been answered

26. Janet is a responsible girl (= She has a sense of duty.) The girl responsible (= who can be blamed) was expelled