Position of the Attribute in the Sentence
Pre-position of the Attribute The usual place of the attribute expressed by an adjective, noun, pronoun, or participle is before the word it modifies. What extraordinary ideas you have about the way to behave to a woman! (Wilde) With most of such attributes the order in which they follow each other is generally free, i. e. it can be easily changed. Amelia Sedley had such a kindly, smiling, tender, generous heart of her own as won the love of everybody who came near her. (Thackeray) However, with some attributes the order in which they follow each other is more [...]
Differentiating between Adverbial Modifier and other Parts of Sentence
It is not always easy to discriminate between different parts of the sentence expressed by prepositional phrases. The following parts of the sentence are apt to be confusing: a prepositional indirect object and an adverbial modifier; an attribute and an adverbial modifier. #1. A prepositional indirect object and an adverbial modifier of place and manner. Kate removed her eyes from the window and gazed directly at Papa. (Cronin) Decimus had been born in Rome. (Douglas) In the first example, the prepositional phrase at Papa is a pre; positional indirect object as the noun denotes a living being. In the second [...]
Apposition
An apposition is a special kind of attribute which is expressed by a noun (with or without accompanying words) which characterizes or explains the word modified by giving the person or thing another name. There are two kinds of apposition, the close apposition and the loose or detached apposition. Close Apposition A close apposition is not separated by commas and stands in close connection with the word modified. These word groups generally consist either of the names of a person and a noun denoting a title, rank, profession, or the name of a person and a noun denoting [...]
Ways of expressing the Attribute
It can be expressed by: #1. An adjective (the most common way of expressing an attribute). This big girl is very lazy. I am speaking about the big girl, not the little one. He seems a very silent, awkward, bashful lad. (Thackeray) Meanwhile she was the gayest and most admired woman. (Thackeray) #2. A pronoun (possessive, defining, demonstrative, interrogative, relative). His shrewd, steady eyes had lost none of their clear shining. (Buck) Each of these ladies held fans in their hands, and each, with some touch of colour, some emphatic feather or brooch, testified to the solemnity of the opportunity. [...]
Attribute
The attribute is a secondary part of the sentence that qualifies a noun, a pronoun, or any other part of speech that has a nominal character. An attribute can be either in pre-position or in post-position to the word it modifies. What did she do with herself... in that little hole? (Galsworthy) Under a tree opposite Knightsbridge Barracks... he took out once more the morocco, case. (Galsworthy) As a result of the loss of inflexions, the attribute in English, as distinct from Russian, does not agree with the word it modifies in number, case, or gender. It may be expressed [...]