Attributive Adjectives

Used directly before nouns to describe or qualify them

Attributive Adjectives are adjectives placed directly before a noun to describe or modify it. They form part of the noun phrase.

Function: To add detail or quality to a noun by specifying characteristics like color, size, quantity, opinion, origin, etc.

Examples of Attributive Adjectives

  • blue sky
  • delicious cake
  • three dogs
  • Japanese cuisine
  • honest answer
  • tiny house
  • ancient ruins

Usage Rules

  • Always placed before the noun they modify.
  • Can appear in a series: a small, green, plastic ball.
  • Follow the Royal Order of Adjectives when using multiple adjectives (see Pro Tips).
  • Used in contrast to predicative adjectives which come after linking verbs.

Examples in Sentences

  • The red balloon floated away.
  • We visited an old castle in Scotland.
  • She bought five fresh apples.
  • He gave an honest answer.
  • I adopted a stray dog.

Common Errors and Fixes

1. Misplacing adjectives
  • ❌ The dog black ran fast → ✅ The black dog ran fast
2. Incorrect adjective order
  • ❌ A metal big bowl → ✅ A big metal bowl
3. Using predicative adjectives in attributive position (where not allowed)
  • ❌ The asleep baby cried → ✅ The sleeping baby cried

Attributive vs Predicative Adjectives

Attributive: The happy child waved. (before noun)

Predicative: The child is happy. (after linking verb)

Practice Exercises

1. Identify the Attributive Adjective

  1. The tall man opened the door. → Attributive Adjective: tall
  2. We adopted a playful kitten. → Attributive Adjective: playful

2. Fill in the Blanks

  1. She wore a ______ dress. (use: beautiful)
  2. They explored the ______ cave. (use: dark)
  3. I baked ______ cookies. (use: chocolate)

3. Rewrite the Sentence

  1. The car is fast. → It is a fast car.
  2. The flowers are colorful. → They are colorful flowers.

Pro Tips

1. Royal Order of Adjectives

When using multiple adjectives, the general order is:

  1. Quantity or number
  2. Opinion
  3. Size
  4. Age
  5. Shape
  6. Color
  7. Origin
  8. Material
  9. Purpose

Example: Three lovely small old round red Italian leather riding boots

2. Use in Noun Phrases

Attributive adjectives often form part of a larger noun phrase.

Example: The bright red sports car was expensive.

3. Hyphenate Compound Adjectives

Use hyphens in compound adjectives before a noun.

Example: A well-known artist

4. Don't Overuse Adjectives

Too many adjectives can make writing feel cluttered.

Better: A sleek, red car instead of A very fast, sleek, sporty, bright red, awesome car.