Read Collins Cobuild English Grammar Online
Authors: Collins
last
main
next
only
opposite
other
particular
past
present
previous
principal
remaining
same
special
specific
usual
Some of these adjectives are also ordinary classifying adjectives.
He had children from a
previous
marriage.
There are two
main
reasons for this.
Here is a list of postdeterminers that are also classifying adjectives:
additional
chief
existing
further
main
other
particular
past
previous
principal
remaining
specific
Adjectives that are used to show the position of something are also used for precise reference.
…the
middle
button of her black leather coat.
…the
top
100 German companies.
Here is a list of adjectives sometimes used to talk about the position of something as well as for precise reference:
left
right
upper
lower
top
bottom
middle
end
front
back
Postdeterminers can also be used with numbers. This is explained in paragraph
2.219
.
Special classes of adjectives
2.41
Most adjectives can be used both before the noun and after a linking verb, but there are some that are only used in one position or the other.
There are a few adjectives that are always or almost always used in front of a noun and are never or rarely used after a linking verb. These adjectives are called
attributive adjectives
.
Examples are
atomic
and
outdoor
. You can talk about
an atomic explosion
, but you do not say
The explosion was atomic
. You can talk about
outdoor pursuits
, but you do not say
Their pursuits are outdoor
.
adjectives that are only used in front of a noun
2.42
A few
qualitative adjectives
(see paragraphs
2.22
to
2.25
) are only used in front of a noun. Here is a list of qualitative adjectives always used in this way:
adoring
belated
chequered
choked
commanding
fateful
flagrant
fleeting
knotty
paltry
punishing
ramshackle
scant
searing
thankless
unenviable
Most adjectives that are only used in front of a noun are
classifying adjectives
(see paragraphs
2.26
to
2.28
). Here is a list of classifying adjectives used attributively:
atomic
bridal
cardiac
countless
cubic
digital
east
eastern
eventual
existing
federal
forensic
indoor
institutional
introductory
investigative
judicial
lone
maximum
nationwide
neighbouring
north
northern
occasional
orchestral
outdoor
phonetic
preconceived
remedial
reproductive
smokeless
south
southern
subterranean
supplementary
underlying
west
western
woollen
2.43
There are no
colour adjectives
(see paragraphs
2.30
to
2.35
) that are restricted to this position.
Emphasizing adjectives
(see paragraphs
2.36
to
2.39
) are usually used in front of a noun.
adjectives that always follow a linking verb
2.44
Some adjectives are normally used only after a linking verb and not in front of a noun. These adjectives are called
predicative adjectives
.
For example, you can say
She felt glad
, but you do not normally talk about
a glad woman
.
Here is a list of adjectives usually used in this way:
afraid
alive
alone
apart
asleep
awake
aware
content
due
glad
ill
likely
ready
safe
sorry
sure
unable
unlikely
well
Note that they do not have to be followed by a prepositional phrase.
2.45
Some adjectives are usually followed by a prepositional phrase because their meaning would otherwise be unclear or incomplete. For example, you cannot simply say that someone is
accustomed
. You have to say that they are
accustomed to
something.
The following usage note explains which prepositions you use after a particular adjective.
USAGE NOTE
2.46
There are a few adjectives that are followed by the preposition
to
when they are used after a linking verb.
She’s
allergic
to cats.
Older people are particularly
susceptible
to heart problems.
Here is a list of adjectives that are usually or always used after a linking verb and are followed by
to
:
accustomed
adjacent
allergic
attributable
attuned
averse
close
conducive
devoted
impervious
injurious
integral
prone
proportional
proportionate
reconciled
related
resigned
resistant
similar
subject
subservient
susceptible
unaccustomed
2.47
There are a few adjectives that are followed by the preposition
of
when they are used after a linking verb.
He was
aware of
the danger that faced him.
They seemed
capable of
winning their first game of the season.
He was
devoid of
any talent whatsoever.
His mind seemed to have become
incapable of
any thought.
Here is a list of adjectives that are usually or always used after a linking verb and are followed by
of
:
aware
bereft
capable