Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns and pronouns. They provide more information about a noun's quantity, quality, size, condition, and many other attributes. Understanding how to use adjectives correctly can enhance the clarity and expressiveness of your writing. This lesson will focus on two primary types of adjectives: attributive and predicative adjectives.
Attributive Adjectives
Attributive adjectives are
adjectives that come directly before the nouns they describe. They are part of
the noun phrase and are used to attribute a quality to the noun immediately.
Examples:
- Adewale bought a new car.
- Fatima has a beautiful dress.
- The large house at the end of the street belongs to Mr. Okoro.
In these examples, the
adjectives 'new', 'beautiful', and 'large' describe the nouns 'car', 'dress',
and 'house', respectively. They directly precede the nouns they modify, making
them attributive adjectives.
Predicative Adjectives
Predicative adjectives, on the
other hand, are adjectives that follow a linking verb and describe the subject
of the sentence. They are not part of the noun phrase but instead occur in the
predicate of the sentence.
Examples:
- The car is new.
- Her dress looks beautiful.
- The house at the end of the
street is large.
In these sentences, 'new',
'beautiful', and 'large' are predicative adjectives. They follow the linking
verbs 'is' and 'looks' and describe the subjects 'car', 'dress', and 'house'.
Linking Verbs
Linking verbs are essential for
predicative adjectives. Common linking verbs include 'be' (is, am, are, was,
were), 'seem', 'become', 'appear', 'look', 'feel', 'sound', 'taste', and
'smell'. These verbs connect the subject of the sentence with the adjective
that describes it.
Examples:
- Ngozi seems tired.
- The soup tastes delicious.
- Uche became angry.
Differences Between Attributive
and Predicative Adjectives
1.
Position in the Sentence:
- Attributive adjectives are placed
before the noun they describe.
- Predicative adjectives are placed
after a linking verb and describe the subject.
2.
Part of the Sentence:
- Attributive adjectives are part of
the noun phrase.
- Predicative adjectives are part of
the predicate.
3.
Usage:
- Attributive adjectives can be used
to provide immediate, additional information about a noun.
- Predicative adjectives are used to
state a quality or condition of the subject after the linking verb.
Examples to illustrate
both types:
·
Attributive: Chidi has a red
shirt.
·
Predicative: The shirt is red.
·
Attributive: The tall
man is my uncle.
·
Predicative: My uncle is tall.
Exercise
To ensure you understand the
difference between attributive and predicative adjectives, complete the
following exercises. Identify whether the adjective is attributive or
predicative in each sentence.
- Amina’s book is interesting.
- They live in a small village.
- The cake smells good.
- He gave me a blue pen.
- The sky looks cloudy.
Understanding the distinction
between attributive and predicative adjectives is crucial for mastering English
grammar and enhancing your descriptive abilities in writing. Attributive
adjectives come before the nouns they describe and are part of the noun phrase,
while predicative adjectives follow linking verbs and describe the subject of
the sentence. Practising the correct use of these adjectives will make your writing
clearer and more effective.