Learn all about attributive and predicative adjectives in this comprehensive guide. Discover the differences and how to use them correctly.

Understanding Attributive and Predicative Adjectives: A Comprehensive Guide

Exploring the World of Adjectives

Introduction

What are Adjectives?

Why are Adjectives Important?

Attributive Adjectives

Definition and Examples

Order of Attributive Adjectives

Common Errors with Attributive Adjectives

Predicative Adjectives

Subject-Verb Agreement with Predicative Adjectives

Misplaced Predicative Adjectives

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Irregular Forms of Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Common Errors with Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Adjective Order

The Royal Order of Adjectives

Exceptions to the Royal Order of Adjectives

Using Adjectives Effectively

Avoiding Redundancy

Using Adjectives to Create Vivid Imagery

Commonly Confused Adjectives

Their vs. They're vs. There

Its vs. It's

Affect vs. Effect

Understanding Attributive and Predicative Adjectives

Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns or pronouns. They provide additional information about the qualities, characteristics, or attributes of the person, place, thing, or idea being referred to. For example, in the sentence 'The blue car is fast,' 'blue' and 'fast' are both adjectives. Adjectives can vary in degree, indicating comparative or superlative qualities, and can also be used to compare or contrast different people, places, things, or ideas.

Adjectives play an essential role in communication and writing. They help provide a more vivid and precise description of the world around us, allowing us to express ourselves more clearly and effectively. They also add depth and nuance to our writing, making it more engaging and interesting to read. In addition, adjectives can help us make comparisons, draw contrasts, and create emphasis, all of which are crucial tools for effective communication and writing.

Attributive adjectives are adjectives that are placed before a noun to modify or describe it. They provide additional information about the noun and can help to make sentences more descriptive and interesting. For example, in the sentence “The red car drove down the street,” the word “red” is an attributive adjective because it describes the car.

When using multiple attributive adjectives to describe a noun, there is a specific order in which they should be placed. This order is often referred to as the “OSASCOMP” rule, which stands for Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Color, Origin, Material, and Purpose. This means that an attributive adjective that describes the noun’s opinion should come before an adjective that describes its size, and so on. For example, in the sentence “She bought a beautiful large vintage Italian leather tote,” the order of the attributive adjectives is Opinion (beautiful), Size (large), Age (vintage), Origin (Italian), and Material (leather).

It’s important to note that not all attributive adjectives will fall into this order, and some adjectives may fit into more than one category. However, following this general order can help to make sentences sound more natural and avoid errors.

One common error with attributive adjectives is using them in the wrong order. This can make sentences sound awkward or confusing. Another error is using too many attributive adjectives, which can overwhelm the noun and make the sentence difficult to read. Additionally, some attributive adjectives are often misused or confused with other words. For example, “everyday” and “every day” have different meanings, as do “further” and “farther”.

To avoid errors with attributive adjectives, it’s important to follow the correct order and only use adjectives that are relevant and necessary. It’s also helpful to double-check the meaning of any unfamiliar or confusing adjectives before using them in a sentence.

A predicative adjective is an adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject of the sentence. The linking verb connects the subject to the adjective, which gives more information about the subject.

Definition of Predicative Adjectives

Some examples of predicative adjectives are: My dog is white. The soup smells delicious. The flowers look beautiful.

Examples of Predicative Adjectives

Subject-verb agreement is important when using predicative adjectives because the linking verb must agree with the subject of the sentence. If the subject is singular, the linking verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the linking verb must be plural.

Importance of Subject-Verb Agreement

Correct: The boy is happy. Incorrect: The boy are happy. Correct: The children are happy. Incorrect: The children is happy.

Examples of Subject-Verb Agreement with Predicative Adjectives

A common error with misplaced predicative adjectives is placing them in the wrong part of the sentence, which can lead to confusion or ambiguity. It is important to place the predicative adjective immediately after the linking verb to make it clear which word it is modifying.

Common Errors with Misplaced Predicative Adjectives

One way to avoid misplaced predicative adjectives is to read the sentence aloud and make sure it sounds natural. Another tip is to use a comma to separate the subject and the predicative adjective, which can help clarify the sentence's meaning.

Tips to Avoid Misplaced Predicative Adjectives

Comparative adjectives are used to compare two things, people, or ideas. They usually end in -er, or have the word 'more' in front of them. For example, 'John is taller than Mary' or 'The coffee is more bitter than sweet'.

Comparative Adjectives

Superlative adjectives are used to compare three or more things, people, or ideas. They usually end in -est, or have the word 'most' in front of them. For example, 'John is the tallest person in the room' or 'The coffee is the most bitter drink I've ever had'.

Superlative Adjectives

Some adjectives have irregular forms when used in the comparative. For example, 'good' becomes 'better', 'bad' becomes 'worse', and 'far' becomes 'further' or 'farther'.

Irregular Comparative Adjectives

Some adjectives have irregular forms when used in the superlative. For example, 'good' becomes 'best', 'bad' becomes 'worst', and 'far' becomes 'furthest' or 'farthest'.

Irregular Superlative Adjectives

One common error is using both a comparative or superlative adjective and the words 'more' or 'most' together. For example, saying 'John is more taller than Mary' is incorrect. You should say 'John is taller than Mary'.

Double Comparatives or Superlatives

Another common error is using the wrong form of the adjective. For example, saying 'John is the more tall person in the room' is incorrect. You should say 'John is the tallest person in the room'.

Incorrect Use of Comparative and Superlative Forms

Comparative adjectives are used to compare only two items. If you want to compare three or more items, you should use a superlative adjective. For example, saying 'This is the more interesting book of the three' is incorrect. You should say 'This is the most interesting book of the three'.

Comparing Three or More Items with a Comparative Adjective

The Royal Order of Adjectives is a specific order in which attributive adjectives should be placed before a noun. The order is as follows: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose. For example, 'the beautiful small old round red Italian wooden serving tray.' The order is not always strict, but it is generally recommended to follow it to avoid confusion and to sound natural in English.

Explanation of the Royal Order of Adjectives

Some additional examples of the Royal Order of Adjectives include: 'the delicious large rectangular French chocolate cake,' 'the expensive antique Chinese porcelain vase,' and 'the charming young British ballet dancer.'

Examples of the Royal Order of Adjectives

While the Royal Order of Adjectives is a helpful guideline, there are several situations in which it may not be appropriate or necessary to follow it exactly. One exception is when the adjectives are in pairs or groups that are commonly used together, such as 'salt and pepper' or 'black and white.' Another exception is when one or more adjectives function as compound modifiers, meaning they work together to modify a noun as a single unit, such as 'high school' or 'fire engine red.' Finally, if the adjectives are based on different senses, such as 'soft' (touch) and 'loud' (sound), the order can be adjusted to reflect the intended meaning.

Explanation of Exceptions to the Royal Order of Adjectives

Some additional examples of exceptions to the Royal Order of Adjectives include: 'a little old lady' (opinion, age, size), 'a big round table' (size, shape), and 'a beautiful Italian red sports car' (opinion, origin, color).

Examples of Exceptions to the Royal Order of Adjectives

When using adjectives, be selective and choose only those that add significant value to the sentence. Avoid using multiple adjectives that convey the same meaning, as this can lead to redundancy and make the sentence less impactful. For example, instead of saying 'The big, large house', simply say 'The large house'.

Be Selective

Using strong adjectives can help convey a more vivid picture to the reader. Instead of using generic adjectives like 'good' or 'nice', try to use more specific and descriptive words like 'excellent' or 'delightful'. However, be careful not to overdo it and use too many strong adjectives in one sentence, as this can also lead to redundancy and dilute their impact.

Use Strong Adjectives

When using adjectives, consider the context and purpose of the sentence. Use adjectives that are appropriate for the tone and style of the writing, as well as the intended audience. For example, if writing a formal report, it may be more appropriate to use technical or specialized adjectives, while a creative writing piece may benefit from more expressive and colorful adjectives.

Consider Context

When using adjectives to create vivid imagery, try to appeal to the senses of the reader. Use adjectives that describe how something looks, sounds, smells, tastes, or feels, to create a more immersive and engaging experience. For example, instead of saying 'The car was fast', say 'The car zoomed past us with a deafening roar'.

Appeal to the Senses

Metaphors and similes can be powerful tools for creating vivid imagery with adjectives. They help to draw comparisons and associations between two different things, making the description more memorable and impactful. For example, instead of saying 'The sky was blue', say 'The sky was a tranquil blue canvas, painted with wispy clouds'.

Use Metaphors and Similes

When using adjectives to create vivid imagery, try to avoid clichés and overused phrases that have lost their impact. Instead, try to come up with fresh and original descriptions that capture the essence of what you are trying to convey. For example, instead of saying 'The sun set on the horizon', say 'The sun sank slowly into the ocean, casting a warm glow across the sky'.

Avoid Clichés

Their is a possessive pronoun used to show ownership or belonging. For example, 'Their car is parked in the driveway.'

Their

They're is a contraction of 'they are'. For example, 'They're going to the beach this weekend.'

They're

There is used to indicate a place or location. For example, 'The grocery store is over there.'

There

Its is a possessive pronoun used to show ownership or belonging. For example, 'The cat licked its paw.'

It's is a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has'. For example, 'It's raining outside.' or 'It's been a long day.'

It's

Affect is a verb meaning to influence or produce a change. For example, 'The new policy will affect all employees.'

Affect

Effect can be used as a noun meaning the result or outcome of an action. For example, 'The effect of the new policy was evident in the increased productivity.' Effect can also be used as a verb meaning to bring about or cause. For example, 'The new policy will effect positive change.'

Effect

Learn how to use adjectives effectively in IELTS writing to improve your score. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about adjectives in IELTS writing.

Understanding Attributive And Predicative Adjectives

Exploring the World of Adjectives