Топик: Adjectives

She lay motionless , as if she were asleep.

4) an objective predicative

e.g. I thought him very intelligent.

She wore her hair short .

5) a subjective predicative

e.g. The door was closed tight .

Her hair was dyed blonde .

It should be noted that most adjectives can be used both attributively and predicatively, but some, among them those beginning with a-, can be used only as predicatives (e.g. afraid, asleep, along, alive, awake, ashamed and also content, sorry, well, ill, due, etc.)

A few adjectives can be used only as attributes (e.g. outer, major, minor, only, whole, former, latter and some others)

Position of Adjectives.

1 Most adjectives can be used in a noun group, after determiners and numbers if there are any, in front of the noun.

e.g. He had a beautiful smile .

She bought a loaf of white bread .

There was no clear evidence .

2 Most adjectives can also be used after a link verb such as ‘be’, ‘become’, or ‘feel’.

e.g. I'm cold.

I felt angry .

Nobody seemed amused .

3. Some adjectives are normally used only after a link verb.

afraid alive alone

asleep aware content

due glad ill

ready sorry sure

unable well

For example, we can say ‘She was glad’, but you do not talk about ‘a glad woman’.

I wanted to be alone .

We were getting ready for bed.

I'm not quite sure .

He didn't know whether to feel glad or sorry .

4. Some adjectives are normally used only in front of a noun.

eastern northern southern western

atomic countless digital

existing indoor introductory maximum

neighbouring occasional outdoor

For example, we talk about ‘an atomic bomb’, but we do not say ‘The bomb was atomic’.

He sent countless letters to the newspapers.

This book includes a good introductory chapter on forests.

5. When we use an adjective to emphasize a strong feeling or opinion, it always comes in front of a noun.

absolute complete entire

outright perfect positive

pure real total

true utter

Some of it was absolute rubbish .