Adjective Position
From TEFL World Wiki
Some adjectives can only come before a noun. These are called attributive adjectives:
{attributive adjective} + {noun}
Other adjectives can only come after a verb. These are called predicative adjectives:
{verb} + {predicative adjective}
For example, alone is a predicative adjective; it can only follow:
I feel alone.
* He is an alone man.
In the second example, we can use instead an attributive adjective and say:
He is a lonely man.
When we use a noun as an adjective, it is usually attributive only:
{noun as attributive adjective} + {noun}
a table leg
football hooligans
Common attributive-only adjectives include:
| attributive | predicative |
| elder | older |
| live | alive |
| sheer | |
| mere | |
| sure | |
| plain |
Note: live is attributive only when it means not dead; it can be predicative when it has other meanings.
Note: intensifying adjectives such as sheer and sure are usually attributive only.
Common predicative-only adjectives include:
| attributive | predicative |
| floating | afloat |
| frightened | afraid |
| alight | |
| similar | alike |
| live/living | alive |
| lonely | alone |
| sleeping | asleep |
| awake | |
| lit | |
| elder/older | older |
| present |
Note: many words in this list begin with a-
Note: present is attributive only when it means in this or that place
