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 position of adjectives?4 replies Forums · General English Grammar & Vocabulary, Listening & Speaking · General English Grammar Questions Hi! My name is Itatí, I`m from Argentina and I would like to know which are the differences in meaning that adjectives can have according to their position. For instance, the present students vs. the students present and if someone could provide further examples. THANKS YOU!!!!!! New Member03 You cannot use “the present students” and “the students present” interchangeably. For example, you can say: The present students are excluded. Or The students present are excluded. Both sentences are correct. However, not all adjectives function as immediate post-modifiers of nouns. For example, you can say The clever students are excluded. But you cannot say The students clever are excluded. Junior Member76 Thank you! Yep, I know what you mean and that same happens with adjectives like certain, proper. What I would like to know is of other cases (other adjectives) and how xxx certain is different from certain xxx. Sometimes the position of the adjective connotates a difference in meaning, isn`t it? What are examples of those cases?. If you could answer my doubt... Thanks a lot for the info!!! Itatí Like you said, a difference in an adjective’s position can result in a difference in meaning. Notice the semantic difference between the following sentences: 1. The present minister does not approve of the draft resolution. 2. The minister present does not approve of the draft resolution. In sentence 1 “present” means “current”. The minister might be in the presence of the speaker at the time of speaking, but he is still occupying the post of the minister In sentence 2, “present” means “being at the same place of the speaker.” The meaning is different. | Have a question? People are waiting to help. Interesting stuff |
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