Attributive Adjectives
Attributive use describes an adjective functioning inside a noun phrase, typically before its noun. This contrasts with predicative use after a linking verb, and individual adjectives can have restrictions or meaning differences between the two positions.
An attributive adjective appears as part of a noun phrase, typically before the noun it modifies, as in “a difficult question.” Predicative adjectives instead occur after linking verbs, and not every adjective behaves freely in both positions.
Key details
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
Do not assume every adjective permits both positions with the same meaning; some adjectives are position-restricted or shift meaning.
Further guidance
Application
Compare attributive “a happy child” with predicative “the child is happy” to identify the function rather than only the word class.
Core Rule
An attributive adjective normally modifies a noun from within the noun phrase, often appearing before that noun.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Attributive — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Learner-dictionary evidence defining attributive adjective use before a noun.
- Adjective phrases: functions — Cambridge Grammar (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Cambridge Grammar evidence distinguishing adjective phrases in attributive and predicative functions.