ref – https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/adjective_phrases.htm
An adjective phrase is a group of words headed by an adjective that describes a noun or a pronoun.
In front of nouns
Attributive Adjectives
Position: These are adjectives that come directly before the noun they modify. They are part of the noun phrase.
Example: the blue car, a happy child, delicious food
Function: They give us essential information about the noun, helping to define or identify it.
Not After a Linking Verb: Attributive adjectives do not come after a linking verb like “is” or “seems.”
She had extremely menacing eyes.
She – subject
had – linking verb
extremely menacing – adjective phrase (group of words)
eyes – noun
Examples
Incredibly talented: [The incredibly talented musician] played the piano beautifully.
Very old: [The very old tree] stood tall in the forest.
Rather large: [The rather large house] didn’t cost much.
Extremely happy: [The extremely happy children] plays in the snow.
Prepositional Phrases as Adjective Phrases
The dog covered in mud is mine.
The dog – subject
covered in mud – prepositional phrase
is – linking verb
mine – sc: noun
Predicative
Sarah(s) was(lv) hostile towards me (adj phrase).
People(s) are(lv) so sick of them (adj phrase).
Adjective Phrase Usage
Modifying a Noun
1. With Infinitives (To + Verb)
Example:
I need a [pen to write with].
“to write with” describes “pen.”
2. With Prepositional Phrases
Example:
The girl with curly hair is my sister.
“with curly hair” describes “girl.”
3. With Present Participles (-ing Verbs)
Example:
The man carrying groceries is my neighbor.
“carrying groceries” describes “man.”
4. With Past Participles (-ed/En Verbs)
Example:
We admired the painting created by Van Gogh.
“created by Van Gogh” describes “painting.”
5. With Relative Clauses (Who/Which/That)
Example:
Students who study hard succeed.
“who study hard” describes “students.”
6. Modifying a Noun (Before the Noun)
Example:
She wore a brightly colored dress.
“brightly colored” describes “dress.”
7. With Quantifiers (Some, Many, Few, etc.)
Example:
She has [many friends] at school.
“many” describes “friends.”
8. With Demonstratives (This, That, These, Those)
Example:
I prefer [these shoes].
“these” describes “shoes.”
9. With Possessives (My, Your, His, Her, etc.)
Example:
She loves her new bike.
“her new” describes “bike.”
10. With Compound Adjectives (Hyphenated)
Example:
He bought a [state-of-the-art laptop].
“state-of-the-art” describes “laptop.”
11. With Appositives (Renaming the Noun)
Example:
Paris, the capital of France, is beautiful.
“the capital of France” describes “Paris.”
- Adjective phrases add detail to nouns.
- They can appear before or after the noun.
- They can include prepositions, infinitives, participles, or clauses.