Page 41 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

a floating leaf
The adjectives ill (see 266) and well (see Before nouns, many people prefer other - He's very welL - You look ill
617) are most common after verbs. words. Compare:
adjectives (2): after nouns and pronouns 13
intensifying (emphasising) adjectives
He's a mere child. (BUT NOT Thflt ehild ~ ffleFe.)
It's sheer madness. (BUT NOT That "ttttlness is sheer.) You bloody fool! (BUT NOT Tltatfool is bloody.)
3 adjectives used only after verbs
Some adjectives beginning with a-, and a
verbs, especially be. Common examples:
alone, asleep, awake. Compare:
- The baby's asleep. - He was afraid.
a sleeping baby (NOT em asleep bttby) a frightened man - The ship's still afloat.
a healthylfit man Nurses take care ofsick people.
4 verb + object + adjective
Another possible position for adjectives is after the object, in the structure verb + object + adjective.
I'll get the car ready.
Do I make you happy? Let's paint the kitchen yellow.
For the order of adjectives and other modifiers before nouns, see 15. For and between adjectives, see 16.
For commas between adjectives, see 15.6.
13 adjectives (2): after nouns and pronouns Adjectives come immediately after nouns in a few special cases.
1 fixed phrases
Adjectives come after nouns in some fixed phrases.
Secretary General
court martial (= military court) Poet Laureate
President elect God Almighty! Attorney General
The Secretary General ofthe United Nations has calledfor new peace talks.
2 available. possible etc.
Some adjectives can be used after nouns in a similar way to relative clauses. This is common with adjectives ending in -ablel-ible.
Send all the tickets available I available tickets.
(= ... tickets which are available.)
It's the only solution possible I possible solution.
Some adverbs can also be used like this.
the woman upstairs the people outside
~
few others, are used mainly after link
afloat, afraid, alight, alike, alive,
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