Attributive and predicative adjectives

The terms attributive and predicative refer to the position of an adjective in a phrase or sentence. We say that an adjective is attributive or is used attributively when it comes before a noun (and is therefore part of the noun phrase [> 2.1]):

an old ticket a young shop-assistant he is an old man We say that an adjective is predicative or that it is used predicatively when it comes directly after be seem, etc. It can be used on its own as the complement [> 1.9, 1.11.1, 6.17]:

This ticket is old Your mother seems angry For predicative adjectives after verbs other than be seem etc: turn yellow> 10. 26.1]. Most adjectives can be used either attributively or predicatively. A few can be used in one way and not in the other.

Types of adjectives and their uses

A few adjectives such as old, late and heavy can take on a different meaning when used attributively. Compare: Agatha Withers is very old now (i.e. in years - predicative) He s an old friend (i.e. I've known him a long time - attributive) Your suitcase is very heavy (i.e. in weight - predicative) Paterson is a heavy smoker (i.e. he smokes a lot - attributive) You're late again (i.e. not on time - predicative) My late uncle was a miner (i.e. he's dead now - attributive) Adjectives used attributively in this way tend to combine with a limited selection of nouns: e.g. a heavy drinker'sleeper, but not e.g. worker. There are other restrictions as well: e.g. old (an old friend), heavy (a heavy smoker) and late (my late uncle) cannot be used predicatively in these senses. However, old (in years) and heavy (weight) can be used attributively or predicatively. Late (not on time) is used attributively in limited contexts:

Late arrivals will not be allowed to enter the auditorium For problems connected with adjectives which can be confused with adverbs, e.g. fast, hard/hardly late/lately [> Apps 14, 15].

Adjectives used predicatively