Some adjectives can be used both attributively (before the adjective) and predicatively (after the verb). Some can only be used attributively and there are also some adjectives that can only be used predicatively.
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate adjective.
1My ............... sister is a detective.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Before a family noun, "elder" and "older" are both correct.
2He is ............... than me.
Wrong!
In a comparison with "than", use "older".
3Do not touch a ............... wire.
Wrong!
Before the noun "wire", use "live" to mean carrying electricity.
4His grandparents are still ...............
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
After "are still", "alive" and "living" are both correct; "live" in this meaning is used only before a noun.
5It is a pretty ............... house.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Before "house", "little" and "small" are both correct here.
6The house is very ...............
Wrong!
After "very", use "small", not "little", in this meaning.
7The baby is ...............
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
After "is", "asleep" and "sleeping" are both correct.
8Let ............... dogs lie.
Wrong!
Before the noun "dogs", use the attributive form "sleeping".
9The ant climbed onto a ............... leaf.
Wrong!
Before the noun "leaf", use the attributive form "floating".
10The ship is ...............
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
After "is", "afloat" and "floating" are both correct here.
11The ............... child dreads strangers.
Wrong!
Before the noun "child", use the attributive adjective "fearful".
12The ............... man was taken to hospital.
Wrong!
Before the noun "man", use the attributive adjective "sick".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- My elder / older sister is a detective.
- He is older than me.
- Do not touch a live wire.
- His grandparents are still alive / living.
- It is a pretty little / small house.
- The house is very small.
- The baby is asleep / sleeping.
- Let sleeping dogs lie.
- The ant climbed onto a floating leaf.
- The ship is afloat / floating.
- The fearful child dreads strangers.
- The sick man was taken to hospital.