attributive
In grammar, it means “used before a noun to describe it.”
In grammar, describing a word (especially an adjective) that comes before a noun and modifies it.
Describing a feature or quality of something.
Serving as an attribute; expressing or describing a characteristic of someone or something, often in analytical or academic writing.
- Base: attributive
attributive adjective
1Adjective used before a noun
An adjective that comes before a noun and describes it.
- In "a cold day", "cold" is an attributive adjective.
- Some adjectives are usually attributive and rarely used after a verb.
- The grammar book gives many examples of attributive adjectives.
attributive adjective
1adjective before a noun
An adjective that comes before a noun.
- “Small” is an attributive adjective in “a small problem.”
- The textbook contrasts attributive adjectives with predicate adjectives.
- Not all adjectives can be used as attributive adjectives in every context.
- “New” is an attributive adjective in “a new phone.”
attributive clause
1clause describing a noun
A clause that describes a noun.
- In “the book that you lent me,” “that you lent me” is an attributive clause.
- Attributive clauses can be restrictive or non-restrictive.
- The editor removed a long attributive clause to make the sentence clearer.
- “who lives next door” is an attributive clause in “the man who lives next door.”
attributive modifier
1modifier inside a noun phrase
A word or phrase that describes a noun in a noun phrase.
- “Highly successful” functions as an attributive modifier in “a highly successful campaign.”
- The noun phrase contains several attributive modifiers before the head noun.
- Attributive modifiers can make writing dense if overused.
- “Blue” is an attributive modifier in “blue jeans.”
attributive noun
1noun used like an adjective
A noun that describes another noun.
- In “coffee shop,” “coffee” is an attributive noun.
- Attributive nouns are very common in news headlines.
- Some attributive nouns are written with a hyphen when they form a compound.
- “School” is an attributive noun in “school bus.”
attributive position
1before the noun in a phrase
The place before a noun where describing words go.
- The adjective “main” is almost always used in attributive position.
- In attributive position, multiple adjectives usually follow a typical order.
- The teacher asked students to rewrite the sentence using an adjective in attributive position.
- Put the adjective in attributive position: “a happy child.”
attributive use
1use before a noun
Using a word before a noun to describe it.
- “Asleep” is uncommon in attributive use; we usually say “the child is asleep.”
- The dictionary notes whether an adjective is limited to attributive use.
- In attributive use, the modifier typically comes directly before the noun.
- “Old” has attributive use in “an old house.”