4 English - Attributive/Descriptive adjectives

Descriptive adjectives tell us qualities of a noun, such as color, size, or shape.

• True

• False

Attributive adjectives always come after the noun they describe.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False (they come before the noun, e.g., a happy child)

“The tall building collapsed” — here, tall is both descriptive and attributive.

• True

• False

“All adjectives are descriptive, but not all are attributive.”

• True

• False

Answer explanation

True (because adjectives always describe, but only some are placed before nouns)

“The sky is blue” — here, blue is descriptive but not attributive.

• True

• False

Attributive adjectives are part of the noun phrase, like an expensive car.

• True

• False

“The dangerous animal escaped” — dangerous is an attributive adjective.

• True

• False

Descriptive adjectives cannot be used after linking verbs.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False (they can — e.g., The baby is cute.)

Descriptive adjectives only describe emotions.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False (they describe any quality: size, color, shape, condition, etc.

Adjective: happy

Which sentence used the adjective as attributive?

• 1. The happy child played in the park.

• 1. The child is happy.