Adjectives play a crucial role in English language, adding color, detail, and specificity to our sentences. They help us describe nouns, giving more depth and meaning to our communication. However, not all adjectives function in the same way. Understanding the distinction between predicative and attributive adjectives can significantly enhance your language skills and improve both your writing and speaking abilities.
What Are Adjectives?
Before diving into the specifics of predicative and attributive adjectives, let’s first clarify what adjectives are. Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns or pronouns. They provide additional information about an object’s size, shape, age, color, origin, or material. For example, in the phrase “a blue car,” the word “blue” is an adjective describing the noun “car.”
Adjectives can be categorized into various types based on their role in a sentence. Two primary types are predicative and attributive adjectives. Understanding their differences will help you use them more effectively in your writing and speech.
Attributive Adjectives
Attributive adjectives are the most common type of adjectives, and they appear directly before the noun they modify. Their primary function is to give more information about the noun in a concise manner.
Examples:
1. The **red** apple
2. A **beautiful** painting
3. An **old** house
In these examples, the adjectives “red,” “beautiful,” and “old” are all attributive because they come directly before the nouns “apple,” “painting,” and “house,” respectively.
Function in Sentences
Attributive adjectives are straightforward. They directly modify the noun and usually do not require any additional words to do so. This makes them easy to use and understand.
Examples:
1. He drives a **fast** car.
2. She wore a **long** dress.
3. They visited an **ancient** castle.
In each sentence, the attributive adjectives “fast,” “long,” and “ancient” provide specific details about the nouns they modify.
Order of Attributive Adjectives
When using multiple attributive adjectives, it’s essential to follow a specific order to ensure the sentence sounds natural. This order is as follows:
1. Quantity or number (e.g., one, two, several)
2. Quality or opinion (e.g., beautiful, ugly)
3. Size (e.g., small, large)
4. Age (e.g., young, old)
5. Shape (e.g., round, square)
6. Color (e.g., red, blue)
7. Origin (e.g., American, Chinese)
8. Material (e.g., wooden, metal)
9. Purpose or qualifier (e.g., wedding [dress], running [shoes])
Example:
A beautiful old Italian wooden chair
In this example, the adjectives follow the correct order: “beautiful” (quality), “old” (age), “Italian” (origin), and “wooden” (material). This order helps the sentence flow naturally and makes it easier for the reader to understand.
Predicative Adjectives
Predicative adjectives, on the other hand, appear after the noun they modify and are usually linked by a verb. These adjectives follow a linking verb (such as “is,” “seems,” “looks,” “appears,” “becomes,” etc.) and describe the subject of the sentence.
Examples:
1. The apple is **red**.
2. The painting looks **beautiful**.
3. The house seems **old**.
In these examples, “red,” “beautiful,” and “old” are predicative adjectives because they appear after the nouns “apple,” “painting,” and “house,” and are linked by the verbs “is,” “looks,” and “seems.”
Function in Sentences
Predicative adjectives provide essential information about the subject of the sentence, often completing the meaning initiated by the verb. They are crucial for making sentences more informative and descriptive.
Examples:
1. The sky is **blue**.
2. The food tastes **delicious**.
3. She feels **happy**.
In each sentence, the predicative adjectives “blue,” “delicious,” and “happy” describe the subject “sky,” “food,” and “she,” respectively, and are connected by the linking verbs “is,” “tastes,” and “feels.”
Predicative Adjective Constructions
Predicative adjectives often follow a pattern in sentences. Here are some common constructions:
1. **Subject + linking verb + adjective**
– The cake is **sweet**.
– The movie was **boring**.
2. **Subject + linking verb + noun + adjective**
– The room seems **a bit** dark.
– The story appeared **very** interesting.
These constructions help create clear, descriptive sentences that convey precise meanings.
Differences Between Attributive and Predicative Adjectives
While both attributive and predicative adjectives describe nouns, their placement and function in sentences differ significantly.
Position in Sentences
Attributive adjectives come before the noun they modify. Predicative adjectives, however, come after the noun and are linked by a verb.
Examples:
– Attributive: She has a **new** car.
– Predicative: Her car is **new**.
Usage Context
Attributive adjectives are generally used to provide immediate, specific details about a noun. Predicative adjectives, on the other hand, are used to give more comprehensive descriptions or to complete the meaning of a sentence with a linking verb.
Examples:
– Attributive: They bought a **large** house.
– Predicative: The house they bought is **large**.
Flexibility
Attributive adjectives are less flexible in their placement within a sentence. They must come directly before the noun they modify. Predicative adjectives, however, can appear in various parts of a sentence as long as they follow a linking verb.
Examples:
– Attributive: The **blue** sky is clear.
– Predicative: The sky is **blue**.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Understanding the differences between attributive and predicative adjectives can help avoid common mistakes. Here are a few tips:
Misplacement of Adjectives
One common mistake is placing an adjective in the wrong position within a sentence. Remember, attributive adjectives go before the noun, while predicative adjectives go after the noun and are linked by a verb.
Incorrect: The house **old** seems.
Correct: The house seems **old**.
Incorrect Order of Attributive Adjectives
Another common mistake is using multiple attributive adjectives in the wrong order. Follow the order of adjectives to ensure your sentence sounds natural.
Incorrect: A wooden old Italian beautiful chair
Correct: A beautiful old Italian wooden chair
Using Predicative Adjectives as Attributive
Some adjectives are typically only used predicatively and not attributively. For example, “afraid,” “asleep,” and “awake” are predicative adjectives.
Incorrect: An **asleep** baby
Correct: The baby is **asleep**
Practical Exercises
To solidify your understanding, here are some practical exercises:
Exercise 1: Identify the Adjective Type
Read the following sentences and identify whether the adjective is attributive or predicative.
1. The garden is beautiful.
2. She wore a red dress.
3. The movie seems interesting.
4. They live in an old house.
5. The food tastes spicy.
Exercise 2: Rewrite Sentences
Rewrite the following sentences, changing attributive adjectives to predicative and vice versa.
1. The tall man is my teacher.
2. The cake is delicious.
3. She has a new car.
4. The room is dark.
5. They own a big dog.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between predicative and attributive adjectives is a vital aspect of mastering English grammar. Attributive adjectives appear directly before the nouns they modify, providing specific details in a concise manner. Predicative adjectives, on the other hand, come after the noun and are linked by a verb, offering more comprehensive descriptions.
By recognizing these distinctions and practicing their usage, you can enhance your writing and speaking skills, making your communication more precise and effective. Remember to pay attention to the order of attributive adjectives and to use predicative adjectives correctly with linking verbs. With practice, you’ll become more confident in your ability to use these adjectives accurately, enriching your language proficiency.
Happy learning!
