Adjective-Position

Adjective Position

1. Many adjectives can be placed before the noun they describe.

Examples:

• The hot Sun beat down on us all day.

• This product does not deserve this high price.

• He asked me my present address.

• This beautiful girl was ill for a month.

• No two people are alike.

• The sick man was treated in the special ward.

• The sleeping children were peaceful in their beds.

But there are few adjectives which can be used in front of the noun.

Examples:

• He was alone when I met him.
This is a correct version.
We can not say….
I met the alone man.
This sentence is wrong one.

• My daughter did not go to school because she felt unwell.
This is a correct version.
We can not say…
My unwell daughter did not go to school.
This sentence is wrong one.

• He is afraid of dogs.
This is a correct version.
We can not say…
Afraid he is of dogs.
This is a wrong sentence.

Alike, alight, alive, fine, glad, ill, poorly, alone, ashamed, awake, aware and unwell are few of the adjectives which can not be used before the nouns.

Few of these adjectives have related adjectives which can be used in place of these adjectives either before or after the nouns.

Examples:

• He has written about the animal which is alive.
• He has written about an living animal….( The animal was living).

• He is an unhappy man.
• The man felt unhappy.

Other pairs of adjectives of this character are:

Afraid….frightened
Alike…..similar
Asleep…sleeping

2. Many adjectives can be placed after the noun they describe.

Few adjectives can be used immediately after a noun.

Available, imaginable, possible and suitable are few of the adjectives which can be used just before a noun.

However we use these adjectives just after the nouns only when the noun follows words such as first, last, next, only and superlative adjectives.

Examples:

• It is the only treatment suitable.
• It is an offer available only to the club members.
• It is the only solution imaginable to overcome this problem.
• It is the only possible route that we could take.

3. Few adjectives take different meanings when they change their position between after or before the noun.

Concerned, opposite, present, concerned, responsible and involved are few of such adjectives.

Examples:

• I was asked for my present address. (My address now)
• All the people present approved of the decision. (Who were there)

• The party was excellent. I want to thank the people concerned. (Involved)
• Cars drive too past the school and concerned teachers complained to the police. (Worried)

Go to the section on Adverb Clause of Time to continue

Intermediary English Index

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Home Confused Words What is NEW? Search THIS Site Nursery Rhymes Beauties of English Grammar Intermediate Level Advanced English f.a.q Tips Plain English Vocabulary Etymology Synonyms Antonyms TOEFL GRE GMAT Your English Teacher Business Letters Difficult Words Social Letters Short Stories English Poems Poem Topics TOP 100 Poems English Songs Famous Quotations Business Dictionary Essays Subscribe To This Site	Adjective Position 1. Many adjectives can be placed before the noun they describe. Examples: • The hot Sun beat down on us all day. • This product does not deserve this high price. • He asked me my present address. • This beautiful girl was ill for a month. • No two people are alike. • The sick man was treated in the special ward. • The sleeping children were peaceful in their beds. But there are few adjectives which can be used in front of the noun. Examples: • He was alone when I met him. This is a correct version. We can not say…. I met the alone man. This sentence is wrong one. • My daughter did not go to school because she felt unwell. This is a correct version. We can not say… My unwell daughter did not go to school. This sentence is wrong one. • He is afraid of dogs. This is a correct version. We can not say… Afraid he is of dogs. This is a wrong sentence. Alike, alight, alive, fine, glad, ill, poorly, alone, ashamed, awake, aware and unwell are few of the adjectives which can not be used before the nouns. Few of these adjectives have related adjectives which can be used in place of these adjectives either before or after the nouns. Examples: • He has written about the animal which is alive. • He has written about an living animal….( The animal was living). • He is an unhappy man. • The man felt unhappy. Other pairs of adjectives of this character are: Afraid….frightened Alike…..similar Asleep…sleeping 2. Many adjectives can be placed after the noun they describe. Few adjectives can be used immediately after a noun. Available, imaginable, possible and suitable are few of the adjectives which can be used just before a noun. However we use these adjectives just after the nouns only when the noun follows words such as first, last, next, only and superlative adjectives. Examples: • It is the only treatment suitable. • It is an offer available only to the club members. • It is the only solution imaginable to overcome this problem. • It is the only possible route that we could take. 3. Few adjectives take different meanings when they change their position between after or before the noun. Concerned, opposite, present, concerned, responsible and involved are few of such adjectives. Examples: • I was asked for my present address. (My address now) • All the people present approved of the decision. (Who were there) • The party was excellent. I want to thank the people concerned. (Involved) • Cars drive too past the school and concerned teachers complained to the police. (Worried) Go to the section on Adverb Clause of Time to continue Intermediary English Index From Adjective-Position to HOME PAGE