Which were signed on December 10. 2012

II.3 Analysing adjective phrases in the sentence
Many people are surprised to learn that adjective phrases do not just modify nouns: they can also modify pronouns! Look at the following two examples: “He is from Boston” and “Tom is from Boston” both have an adjective phrase, namely, “from Boston.”
It does not matter if the noun is a pronoun or not: the adjective phrase still functions in the same way. If you are looking for a more complex way to modify a noun than just using a simple adjective, try using this type of phrase! Use many adjectives in a row, use a phrase with a preposition, or a phrase starting with an adverb to modify the noun at hand.¹³
The best way to understand this type of phrase and how it functions is to examine some examples of these phrases in action. Let’s take a look at an example with an adjective: “The beautiful house” and “The house that is beautiful” mean the same thing, but the former has an adjective, whereas the latter has an adjectival phrase.
Another set of examples is, “the angry dog” and “the dog that is acting very angry.” The latter phrase uses the phrase “that is acting very angry” to modify the subject, which is the noun “dog.” Thus, the latter example has an adjectival phrase.
Some adjective phrases modify nouns or noun phrases. Following are some sentences with the phrases underlined:
The very small kitten jumped at the big dog.
The cost of the car was way too high.
The man covered with sweat, trudged his way home.
Something in the corner was moving.
The big bug under the blanket is moving towards me.
Other adjective phrases modify the predicate of the sentence. Here are some examples: Extra buttons came with the coat.
Gremlins cause mischief inside of machines.
We were saddened by the news of his demise.
The brownies smell deliciously sweet.
I was delighted that he was chosen.
Adjective phrases can also modify objects and will follow the word they are modifying. Examples are: She wanted to paint her room lemony yellow.
My new kitten makes me very happy.
I sometimes pity people living in large cities.
We are collecting money for children born with heart defects.
They were proud of their team winning the championship.
The adjective phrases are underlined in the following example sentences, the head adjective in each of these phrases is in bold, and how the adjective phrase is functioning—attributively or predicatively—is
The nearby motel offers cheap but comfortable rooms.
(In this example, the head adjective starts the adjective phrase.)
These are unbelievably expensive shoes.
(In this example, the head adjective ends the adjective phrase.)
Sarah was fairly bored with you.
(In this example, the head adjective is in the middle of the adjective phrase.)
Like a normal adjective, an adjective phrase¹⁴ can be used before the noun it is modifying (like in the first two examples above) or after the noun it is modifying (like in the last example).
More Examples of Adjective Phrases
Here are some more examples of adjective phrases (with the head adjectives in bold):
The extremely tired lioness is losing patience with her overly enthusiastic cub.
My mother was fairly unhappy with the service.
Her baking always smells very tempting.
The consequences of agreeing were far too serious.
The dog covered in mud looked pleased with himself.
Adjective Phrases Can Be Used Attributively or Predicatively
An adjective phrase can be an attributive adjective or a predicative adjective.
Attributive Adjective. An attributive adjective is one that sits inside the noun phrase of the noun it modifies.¹⁵
Look at these two examples: The beautifully carved frames are worth more than the painting.
This is an attributive adjective phrase. It sits inside the noun phrase The beautifully carved frames.
The frames beautifully carved by monks are worth more than the painting.
(This is also an attributive adjective phrase. It sits inside the noun phrase The frames beautifully carved by monks.)
When an adjective appears before its noun, it is very likely to be an attributive adjective. However, an adjective that appears after its noun can also be attributive.
Predicative Adjective.
A predicative adjective sits outside the noun phrase of the noun it modifies. Typically, a predicative adjective is linked to the noun it modifies with a linking verb. For example: The curtains look far too long.¹⁶
(This is a predicative adjective phrase. The linking verb is look.)
The frames were beautifully carved by monks.
(This is a predicative adjective phrase. The linking verb is were.)
Examples of Adjective Phrases Used Attributively and Predicatively
Let's look at the earlier examples: The extremely tired lioness is losing patience with her overly enthusiastic cub.
(Both adjective phrases are used attributively. They appear inside the noun phrases The extremely tired lioness and her overly enthusiastic cub.)
My mother was fairly unhappy with the service.
(The adjective phrase is used predicatively. It appears outside the noun phrase My mother. The linking verb is was.)
Her baking always smells very tempting.
(The adjective phrase is used predicatively. It appears outside the noun phrase Her baking. The linking verb is smells.)
The consequences of agreeing were far too serious.
(The adjective phrase is used predicatively. It appears outside the noun phrase The consequences of agreeing. The linking verb is were.)
The dog covered in mud looked pleased with himself.
(In this example, the first adjective phrase is used attributively. It appears inside the noun phrase the dog covered in mud. The second is used predicatively. It appears outside the same noun phrase. The linking verb is looked.
stated to the right of each example:
The distinguishing characteristic of an attributive adjective phrase is that it appears inside the noun phrase that it modifies. An interesting trait of these phrases in English is that an attributive adjective alone generally precedes the noun, e.g. a proud man, whereas a head-initial or head-medial adjective phrase follows its noun, e.g. a man proud of his children. A predicative adjective (phrase), in contrast, appears outside of the noun phrase that it modifies, usually after a linking verb.¹⁷
e.g. The man is proud.
Adjective phrase vs. adjectival phrase