2015-08-21
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Some adjectives describing feelings, etc., (content, glad, pleased sorry upset) and a few others, e.g. far and near (except in e.g. the Far East/the Near East) are normally used only predicatively:
/ am very glad to meet you [> 16.26]
Your hotel is guite near here It isn't far from here We can express the same ideas with attributive adjectives:
She is a happy (or contented) woman (= She is
glad/content.)
6.8.4 Predicative adjectives followed by prepositions [> App 27]
Many adjectives used predicatively may be followed by prepositions:
A capable person is one who manages well (attributive) He is capable of managing well (adjective + preposition: predicative)
Adjectives used attributively to mean 'complete', etc.
A few adjectives can behave like adverbs of degree or intensifiers [> 7.41, 7.50], more or less in the sense of 'complete', and can be used only in the attributive position, e.g. mere out and out. sheer, utter
Ken can t be promoted He s a mere boy/an out and out rogue
What you say is sheer/utter nonsense (Very itself is used as an adjective in fixed expressions like the very end the very limit, the very thing I wanfneed)
Other adjectives which can have the sense of very when used attributively are: close (a close friend); complete perfect/total (a complete perfect total fool); pure (pure nonsense); and strong (a strong supporter). Most of these can be attributive or predicative in their normal meanings:
Pure drinking water is best This water is pure
Types of adjectives and their uses
Some -ing adjectives can qualify other adjectives. They have an intensifying effect equivalent to very in (often) fixed phrases like
boiling hot, freezing cold, hopping mad, soaking wet
Adjectives which restrict the reference of the noun are always attributive: certain (a woman of a certain age); chief (my chief complaint); main (my main concern); only (the only explanation); particular (my particular aim); principal (the principal reason); sole (my sole interest) and very itself {the very man I wanted to see). These adjectives cannot be used predicatively, except for certain and particular, which then change in meaning:
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You should be certain of your facts before you rush into print Some people aren't very particular about the food they eat
