171. Definitive adjectives include:—pronouns used as adjectives (as, this opportunity; those pictures; either table; what time is it?); numeral adjectives (as, two stars; the third year); the articles, a (or an) and the.
Pronouns used as adjectives (often called pronominal adjectives) have been studied under Pronouns—demonstratives ([§§ 131–134]), indefinites ([§§ 135–142]), relatives ([§§ 143–162]), interrogatives ([§§ 163–167]).
Numeral adjectives will be treated, along with other numerals (nouns and adverbs), in [§§ 204–208].
The articles will be treated in [§§ 173–180].
172. Adjectives may be classified, according to their position in the sentence, as attributive, appositive, and predicate adjectives.
1. An attributive adjective is closely attached to its noun and regularly precedes it.
- The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar’s brow.
- O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome!
- Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look.
2. An appositive adjective is added to its noun to explain it, like a noun in apposition ([§ 88, 5]).
| Noun in Apposition | Appositive Adjective |
|---|---|
| The castle, a ruin, stood on the edge of the cliff. | The castle, ancient and ruinous, stood on the edge of the cliff. |
| Bertram, the ringleader, refused to surrender. | Bertram, undaunted, refused to surrender. |
3. A predicate adjective completes the meaning of the predicate verb, but describes or limits the subject.