Definition and Examples of Attributive Adjective

Definition and Examples of Attributive Adjective In English language structure, an attributive descriptor is a modifier that generally precedes the thing it changes without a connecting action word. Stand out from a predicative descriptive word. Attributive descriptive words are immediate modifiers of nominals. Models Quiet a-by, Dont you cryGo to rest, little baby.When you wake you will findAll the truly little horses.(Traditional American cradlesong, maybe of African-American origin)In those delicate mornings, the Store was loaded with snickering, kidding, gloating, and bragging.In a surge of pity-compassion, fondness, trust I said the most idiotic thing ever.A wonderful structure is superior to an excellent face; it gives a higher delight than sculptures or pictures; it is the best of the fine arts.†(Ralph Waldo Emerson, Manners)I realize he was an awful man who did horrendous, unpleasant things, some of them to me, yet he had a decent side, as well. Much the same as all of us.He was a perfect, heart-halting, excessively yummy-to-be-accepted, veritable hunk, and she was insane to try and consider kissing him.It had been a dreadful minimal illicit relationship, a bleak and unsavory war, battled in a dim, endless bad dream of trap and pitiless killingan eye-to-eye, up close and personal war where detainee was a dubious word. Perceptions on Attributive and Predicative Functions There are two principle sorts of descriptors: attributive ones ordinarily come directly before the thing they qualify, while predicative modifiers come after to be or comparative action words, for example, become and appear. Most descriptive words can fill either need: we can talk about a cheerful family and state the family seemed upbeat. In any case, some work just a single way. Take the sentence Clergymen are responsible to a more significant position authority. Responsible is solely a predicative; you were unable to allude to a liable minister. What's more, higher is carefully attributive; you wouldnt ordinarily state, The power is higher.Attributive descriptive words now and then follow the model of French and come after the thing, as when we allude to creditor liabilities, something significant, confirmation positive, matters philosophical, heaven lost, a fight regal, the beneficiary clear, stage left, days of yore, or a Miller Lite.(Ben Yagoda, When You Catch an Adjective, Kil l It. Broadway Books, 2007)There are a noteworthy number of descriptive words which, either completely or with a specific importance, are limited to attributive capacity (for example unimportant, previous, principle) or prohibited from it (e.g., alone, sleeping, happy cheerful/please).(Rodney Huddleston and Geoffrey K. Pullum, The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge University Press, 2002) Sources Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Arbitrary House, 1969Leonard Michaels, Viva La Tropicana. The Collected Stories. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007Nick Santora, Slip Fall. State Street, 2007Julianna Morris, Meeting Megan Again. Outline, 2001George Brown, The Double Tenth. Bolt, 2012