Adjectives: position

adjective + noun
subject + copula verb (be. seem, look..) + adjective

Most adjectives can go in two places in a sentence:

before a noun

• The new secretary doesn't like me.
  


• She married a rich businessman

after a 'copula verb' (be, seem, look, appear, feel and some other verbs)

• That dress is new, isn't it?


• He looks rich

A few adjectives can go before a noun, but not usually after a verb.
Examples are elder, eldest and little. After a verb we use older, oldest and small.

• My elder brother lives In Newcastle. (Compare: He's three years older than me.)


• He's a funny little boy. (Compare: He looks very small.)

Some adjectives can go after a verb, but not usually before a noun.
The most common are ill, well and afraid, alive, alone, asleep.
Before nouns we use sick, healthy, frightened, living, lone, sleeping.

• He looks ill (Compare: He's a sick man.)


• Your mother's very well (Compare: She's a very healthy woman.)


• She's asleep (Compare: a sleeping baby)

In expressions of measurement, the adjective comes after the measurement-noun.

• two metres high (NOT high two metres)


• ten years old


• two miles long