oxford_guide_to_english_grammar

24 ADJECTIVES PAGE 254
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).