ADJECTIVES: BEFORE OR AFTER NOUNS?

ENGLISH ADJECTIVES: BEFORE OR AFTER NOUNS?

In English, some adjectives can only be used before a noun, while others are used after nouns.
Adjectives that do not come before nouns
When used with a particular meaning, some adjectives are normally used only after linking verbs like be. They are not used before nouns. You say
- The boy was asleep. NOT an asleep-boy.
and you say
- The plant was still alive. NOT an-alive plant.
The following adjectives are normally used only after linking verbs.
afraid alight alike alive alone ashamed asleep
awake glad hurt ill ready sorry sure well
Remember!
Putting an adjective after a linking verb has the effect of focusing attention on the adjective.
Fortunately, there are other adjectives with similar meanings that you can use before the noun:
* alive and living
- I was the only living person in 100 miles.
* asleep and sleeping
- The sleeping boy woke up when the door opened.
* hurt and injured
- The injured animal ran away.
* alike and similar
- I have a similar coat to that one.
Other adjectives with similar meanings include:
* afraid and frightened
* alight and burning
* alone and solitary
* glad and happy
Adjectives with different meanings before or after the noun
There are a few adjectives that have a different meaning depending on whether they come before the noun or after it.
responsible
- A responsible person would take charge of the situation and sort it out!
- The person responsible for this terrible thing should be punished.
present
- The present students are not so hard working, unlike last years group.
- I’d like to say ‘welcome’ to all the students present at this meeting.

concerned
- There are a lot of extremely concerned people who are worried about the damage that this will do.
- Much to the relief of the families, the four people concerned were located.
named
- The investigation found that the named individuals andfirms colluded to decide who would win contracts.
- The certificate is issued to the individual named below and must be returned before May 20.
proper
- Why don’t you enrol in the University and take a proper course?
- Applicants may be required to complete a period of preliminary study before they are admitted to the diploma course proper.
involved
- To choose between so many top-class designs has, inevitably, meant a very long and involved process.
- With the help of demonstrators, you can see the process involved in producing a finished piece of jewellery.

Adjectives that you can use after a noun
There are some adjectives that you can use after a noun when the noun has a superlative or first, last, only, every or any before it.
- Mrs Morgan is the only teacher available to take the class.
- That’s the best resultpossible!
- I’ve got every book written on the subject.
- He wrote the most beautifulpoetry imaginable.

PRACTICE
Exercise 1. For each sentence, tick the correct ending.
1. She would never forget the
A. afraid faces of the children as they clung to their parents.
B. frightened faces of the children as they clung to their parents.
2. To her surprise, in the back of the car she saw
A. two sleeping babies.
B. two asleep babies.
3. The couples whose relationships endured were very compatible, with
A. similar outlooks on life.
B. alike outlooks on life.
4. In dramatic scenes last night, three men were rescued from the
A. burning building.
B. alight building.
5. In the distance, she spied
A. a solitary figure.
B. an alone figure.

Exercise 2. Are the highlighted words correct〈(〉 or incorrect 〈X〉 in the sentences?
1. According to the poll, Rickman is the 19th greatest living〈 〉film star.
2. With no alive 〈 〉 relatives, and few surviving friends, Maggie is sometimes very lonely.
3. Paramedics arrived within minutes and took the hurt 〈 〉 passengers to Queen Anne Hospital.
4. The injured 〈 〉 soldiers were transferred to Rafah Central Hospital.
5. It was such a delight to see the children`s happy 〈 〉 faces.
6. So here`s the question on every parent`s lips: what does it take to raise glad 〈 〉 children.

Exercise 3. Match the sentence halves.

1. Ever since the vaccine was approved
more than a decade ago,
2. According to three of the people
3. No information about named
individuals is given