Page 173 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

A d j e c t i v e s : p o s i t i o n ( 1 )

Many adjectives can be put either before the noun they describe, or following linking verbs such
as appear, be, become, feel, get, and seem (see Unit 26):
• The hot sun beat down on us all day. or • The sun was hot.
• The high price surprised him. or • The price seemed high.

Some adjectives are seldom or never used before the noun they describe. These include:

Some 'a-' adjectives: afraid, alight, alike, alive, • The horse was alone in the field.
alone, ashamed, asleep, awake, aware (but not The alone horse...)
Some adjectives when they describe health and • My son felt unwell, {but not My
feelings: content, fine, glad, ill (notice that 'sick' unwell son...)
can be used before a noun), poorly, sorry, (un)sure,
upset, (un)well. (However, these words can
sometimes be used between an adverb and a
noun e.g. 'a terminally ill patient'.)

Some of these 'a-' adjectives have related adjectives that can be used either before a noun or after
a linking verb. Compare:
• The animal was alive. and • A living animal, (or The animal was living.)
Other pairs like this include: afraid - frightened, alike - similar, asleep - sleeping.
Notice that (un)happy can be used in both positions:
• He's an unhappy man. and • The man felt unhappy.
Some classifying and emphasising adjectives are seldom or never used after a linking verb. For
example, we can talk about 'a nuclear explosion', but we can't say 'The explosion was nuclear.'
Other adjectives like this include:

Classifying adjectives: atomic, cubic, digital, • The main problem has now been
medical, phonetic; chief, entire, initial, main, solved.
only, whole; eventual, occasional, • I spent my entire savings on the
northern (etc.), maximum, minimum, underlying project.
Emphasising adjectives: absolute, complete, • I felt an absolute idiot when I found
mere, utter that I hadn't got any money.

Some adjectives can be used immediately after a noun. These include:
• some -ible and -able adjectives such as available, imaginable, possible, suitable. However, we
use these adjectives immediately after a noun only when the noun follows words such as first,
last, next, only and superlative adjectives, or when a prepositional phrase follows the adjective:
• It's the only treatment suitable, (or ...the only suitable treatment.)
• It is an offer available to club members only.
• concerned, involved, opposite, present, responsible. These words have different meanings
when they are used before a noun and immediately after it. Compare:
( • I was asked for my present address. (= my address now) and
* • All the people present (= who were there) approved of the decision.
• The party was excellent, and I'd like to thank all the people concerned (= involved), and
• Cars drive too fast past the school and concerned (= worried) teachers have complained to
the police.
Adjectives: position (2) => IfflffiEl