Mastering Attributive Adjective: A Comprehensive Guide with Meaning & Examples 

Attributive Adjective: These are a crucial part of the English Language. The main purpose of the adjective is to modify a noun and this can be done either by adding noun before or after the sentence. When we talk about attributive adjectives, they are typically placed directly before their antecedents. To learn more about attributive adjectives, with their types and examples, continue reading the blog article below. 

Also Read: Want to improve your English? You should definitely read these Best English Grammar Books.

Meaning of Attributive Adjectives

An adjective that immediately follows the noun or pronoun and modifies it, is called an attributive adjective. Moreover, a linking verb does not divide an attributive adjective from a noun. 

Attributive adjectives provide more information about the noun they modify, making the sentence more descriptive and informative. For example:

“The red car is parked in the driveway.”

The adjective “red” is used to modify the noun “car.” This explains to us, that the car is red. 

Also Read: Abstract Nouns: Definition, Examples and Usage

Examples of Attributive Adjectives

Here are some examples of attributive adjectives in sentences:

• The big house is on the corner.
• The delicious cake was eaten by everyone.
• The intelligent student got top marks on the test.
• The friendly dog wagged its tail.
• The beautiful flowers bloomed in the spring.
• The fast car sped down the highway.
• The cold wind blew through my hair.
• The dark night made it difficult to see.
• The quiet library was a perfect place to study.
• The busy street was full of people and cars.
• The interesting book kept me up all night.
• The challenging hike made my legs ache.

Tips to Use Attributive Adjectives

Here are some tips for using attributive adjectives:

• Use attributive adjectives to modify nouns and pronouns.
• Place attributive adjectives before the noun they modify, unless the adjective is part of a compound noun or phrase.
• Use multiple attributive adjectives to describe a noun in more detail.
• Be careful not to overuse attributive adjectives, as this can make your writing sound cluttered and difficult to read. 

Also Read: History of English Literature

Exercises for Attributive Adjectives

Identify the attributive adjectives in the following sentences:

1. The big red ball rolled down the hill.
2. The old wooden house was creaky and drafty.
3. The delicious chocolate cake melted in my mouth.
4. The intelligent young girl solved the puzzle in minutes.
5. The friendly black dog wagged its tail and barked happily.

Answers

• big, red
• old, wooden
• delicious, chocolate
• intelligent, young
• friendly, black

Attributive vs Predicative Adjectives

Attributive vs Predicative adjectives are two different types of adjectives that are used in English Grammar. However, there is a slight difference between the two. The attributive adjectives are used before nouns and pronouns. Whereas, predicate adjectives come right after the noun or pronoun and are linked by the interlinking verb. Have a look at the table given below for a clear and concise description. 

Details	Attributive Adjectives	Predicative Adjectives
Position	Used before noun or pronoun modifies it.	Used after noun and pronoun modifies it
Linking Verb	No	Yes
Example	The old man was sitting on the bench.	The man is old.

Check Out the Complete List of Adjectives from A to Z

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

FAQs

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