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ADJECTIVES
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200 Adjectives used in one position only Most adjectives can be either in attributive position (nice weather) or in predicative position (The weather is nice). But a few go in one position but not in the other.
1 Attributive only That was the main reason, NOT That reason was main. The story is utter nonsense. inner ring road These adjectives are attributive but not predicative: chief, elder (= older), eldest (= oldest), eventual, former (= earlier), indoor, inner, main, mere (a mere child = only a child), only, outdoor, outer, principal (= main), sheer (= complete), sole (= only), upper, utter (= complete). NOTE
a Little is mostly attributive. a little/small cottage The cottage is small. b Same cannot be predicative except with the. Yes, I had the same experience./Yes, my experience was the same. c A noun as modifier can only be attributive. a tennis club a water pipe afternoon tea But nouns saying what something is made of can go in either position. It's a metal pipe./The pipe is metal.
2 Predicative only The children were soon asleep. NOT the asleep children The manager seemed pleased with the sales figures. One person was ill and couldn't come. These adjectives are predicative but not attributive. Some words with the prefix a: asleep, awake, alive, afraid, ashamed, alone, alike Some words expressing feelings: pleased, glad, content, upset Some words to do with health: well, fine, ill, unwell NOTE
a Many of these adjectives can be attributive if they are modified by an adverb. the wide awake children an extremely pleased customer b There is sometimes a word that we can use attributively instead of one with the prefix a. a sleeping child NOT an asleep child a living person NOT an alive person the frightened animal NOT the afraid animal There are also other words expressing feelings which we can use attributively. a satisfied/contented customer NOT a pleased customer c Pleased, glad and upset can be attributive when not referring directly to people. a pleased expression the glad news an upset stomach d For more details about well, ill etc in Britain and the USA, • 305(1).