Collins Cobuild English Grammar (36 page)

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