An adjectival phrase (also called an adjective phrase) is a group of words built around a head adjective, together with any modifiers or complements that expand its meaning. Where a single adjective says difficult, an adjectival phrase says very difficult to implement — adding detail, nuance and precision to the noun or pronoun it describes. Mastering adjectival phrases is a key step toward more sophisticated, natural-sounding English at B2 level and beyond on the CEFR scale. For example, in the sentence "The man in the blue jacket is my uncle," the phrase in the blue jacket is an adjectival phrase modifying the noun man, just as a single adjective would.
Adjectival phrases function exactly as single adjectives do: they can pre-modify a noun (appearing before it) or post-modify a noun (appearing after it, usually following a linking verb). The position you choose often depends on the complexity of the phrase and the effect you want to achieve.
Structure of Adjectival Phrases
Every adjectival phrase has a head adjective at its core. Around that head you can add pre-modifiers (like adverbs) and post-modifiers (like prepositional phrases or infinitive clauses). The table below shows the main structural patterns.
| Structure | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adverb + Adjective | extremely proud, surprisingly easy | An adverb of degree intensifies or softens the head adjective. |
| Adjective + Prepositional Phrase | full of antiques, keen on history | The preposition links the adjective to a noun complement. |
| Adjective + Infinitive Clause | difficult to implement, eager to learn | The infinitive explains in what respect the adjective applies. |
| Adjective + That-Clause | certain that it works, aware that time is short | The that-clause provides the content of the adjective. |
| Adverb + Adj + Complement | very difficult to implement | Combines pre-modification and post-modification for fuller detail. |
Key term: The word attributive means the phrase comes before the noun it modifies (a house full of antiques — note: complex adjectival phrases usually follow the noun even in attributive position). Predicative means it comes after a linking verb such as be, seem, feel, or appear (The solution seemed very difficult to implement).
Detailed Examples
Adjective + Prepositional Phrase: The house full of antiques
Here full of antiques is an adjectival phrase with the head adjective full post-modified by the prepositional phrase of antiques. Because the phrase is longer than a single word, it follows the noun it modifies:
- The house full of antiques sold for a record price. (post-nominal, inside a noun phrase)
- The house was full of antiques. (predicative, after was)
Notice that you cannot easily say the full-of-antiques house in natural English — longer adjectival phrases almost always sit after the noun or after a linking verb. This is the key positional rule for complex adjectival phrases.
Adverb + Adjective + Infinitive: The solution very difficult to implement
In very difficult to implement, the head adjective difficult is pre-modified by the adverb very and post-modified by the infinitive clause to implement. The infinitive tells us in what respect something is difficult:
- The solution proved very difficult to implement. (predicative)
- This is a problem very difficult to solve without expert help. (post-nominal)
The infinitive complement is particularly common with adjectives like easy, hard, difficult, impossible, ready, eager, reluctant, and likely.
Formation Examples in Sentences
The two main sentence positions for adjectival phrases produce different structures:
[Adj + Complement] + Noun (attributive — simple phrases only)
- a proud moment — single adjective before noun
- an extremely proud moment — adverb + adjective before noun
- a room full of light — longer phrase follows the noun
Subject + Verb + [Adj + Complement] (predicative)
- She seems keen on linguistics.
- The data appears surprisingly reliable.
- He is certain that the plan will work.
- The students felt ready to begin.
Position rule: Single adjectives normally go before the noun. Adjectival phrases with complements (prepositional phrases, infinitives, or clauses) normally go after the noun or after a linking verb. Moving a complex phrase before the noun almost always sounds unnatural.
Common Mistakes
-
Placing a complex adjectival phrase before the noun:
✗ The of-antiques-full house was remarkable.
✓ The house full of antiques was remarkable.
Complex phrases must follow the noun or come after a linking verb, not precede the noun. -
Confusing the head adjective with the whole phrase:
✗ She is very enthusiasm about the project.
✓ She is very enthusiastic about the project.
The head of an adjectival phrase must be an adjective, not a noun. -
Using an adjective where an adverb is needed to pre-modify:
✗ The task was surprising difficult.
✓ The task was surprisingly difficult.
Only adverbs (not adjectives) can modify another adjective within an adjectival phrase. -
Omitting the preposition in adjective + prepositional phrase patterns:
✗ She is very fond the countryside.
✓ She is very fond of the countryside.
Many adjectives require a specific preposition before their complement. Learn the collocations: fond of, keen on, aware of, responsible for.
Practice Tips
- Learn adjective + preposition collocations as fixed pairs: afraid of, interested in, responsible for, similar to, tired of. This reduces guesswork when building adjectival phrases.
- Expand single adjectives in your writing. Instead of writing a difficult problem, practise adding a complement: a problem extremely difficult to resolve.
- Read and underline adjectival phrases in newspaper or academic texts. Identify the head adjective and each modifier or complement to understand how they connect.
- Practise both positions. Write a sentence using a phrase after a linking verb (The task was incredibly complex), then try the post-nominal version (a task incredibly complex to coordinate).
- Use a learner’s dictionary to check which preposition follows an adjective. Most entries show the pattern clearly: pleased (with / about / that …).
Practice Exercises
Cloze Dropdown
Select the correct adjectival phrase to fill each gap in context.
Complete the Sentence
Type the missing adjectival phrase to finish each sentence correctly.
Quiz
Choose the correct form and position of adjectival phrases in context.
Matching Pairs
Match adjectives with their correct prepositional complements.
Flash Cards
Drill adjective + preposition collocations and phrase structures.
Unjumble
Reorder scrambled words into correct adjectival phrases.
Practise Adjectival Phrases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is an adjectival phrase?
An adjectival phrase is a group of words built around a head adjective that functions as a single adjective in a sentence. It modifies a noun or pronoun, giving more detail than a single adjective can. For example, full of antiques is an adjectival phrase in which full is the head adjective and of antiques is a prepositional complement.
What is the difference between attributive and predicative position?
An adjective or adjectival phrase in attributive position comes directly before (or, for longer phrases, directly after) the noun it modifies: a very proud moment or a house full of antiques. In predicative position it follows a linking verb such as be, seem, appear or feel: The house was full of antiques. Both positions are common, but complex phrases are more natural in predicative or post-nominal position.
Can all adjectives be used in both attributive and predicative positions?
Most adjectives can appear in both positions, but some are restricted. A few are attributive only: the main reason (not the reason is main). Others are predicative only: She is afraid (not an afraid woman). When you add a complement to form an adjectival phrase, the phrase almost always goes in predicative or post-nominal position, because placing it before the noun becomes unnatural.
What structures can follow the head adjective in an adjectival phrase?
Four main structures can post-modify the head adjective: (1) a prepositional phrase — fond of reading; (2) an infinitive clause — eager to learn; (3) a that-clause — certain that it works; (4) a wh-clause — unsure what to do. In addition, an adverb can pre-modify the head adjective: extremely proud.
Why do complex adjectival phrases usually follow the noun rather than precede it?
English noun phrases typically place heavy or complex modifiers after the head noun to avoid awkward or ambiguous pre-nominal strings. Saying the full-of-antiques house is grammatically marginal and stylistically awkward. Instead we say the house full of antiques or the house that was full of antiques. Single-word adjectives, by contrast, comfortably precede the noun: the old house.
What is the role of adverbs in adjectival phrases?
Adverbs of degree — such as very, extremely, surprisingly, quite, rather, fairly, incredibly — are used to pre-modify the head adjective within an adjectival phrase. They intensify or soften its meaning: very difficult to implement is stronger than difficult to implement. Note that adjectives cannot modify other adjectives; you need the adverb form: surprisingly easy, not surprising easy.
How do I know which preposition to use after an adjective?
Adjective + preposition collocations must generally be learned individually, as there is no reliable rule. Common patterns include: afraid / aware / fond / proud / tired of; interested / keen / good at; angry / happy / surprised about/at; responsible / famous / sorry for; similar / married to. A good learner’s dictionary lists the typical preposition in each entry. Practising in context is the most effective way to memorise them.
What is the difference between an adjectival phrase and a relative clause?
Both modify nouns, but they have different structures. An adjectival phrase has an adjective as its head: a problem difficult to solve. A relative clause is introduced by a relative pronoun such as who, which or that and contains a finite verb: a problem that is difficult to solve. Both express the same meaning, but adjectival phrases are more compact and are preferred in formal or academic writing.
Can adjectival phrases be used with non-linking verbs?
In predicative position, adjectival phrases follow linking verbs — verbs that connect the subject to a description rather than describing an action. Common linking verbs include be, seem, appear, become, feel, look, sound, smell, taste, and remain. With action verbs you would need an adverb instead: She ran quickly, not She ran quick. However, some verbs can function as either linking or action verbs depending on context.
At what level are adjectival phrases taught?
Simple adjectival phrases (adverb + adjective) are introduced at A2–B1. Complex patterns — adjective + prepositional phrase, adjective + infinitive, and adjective + that-clause — are typically consolidated at B2 (upper-intermediate) on the CEFR scale. Confident use of adjectival phrases signals grammatical sophistication and is expected in writing tasks at Cambridge B2 First, IELTS band 6–7, and equivalent examinations.