underlying
west
western
woollen
2.43 There are no colour adjectives (see paragraphs 2.30 to 2.35) that are restricted to this position.
Emphasizing adjectives (see paragraphs 2.36 to 2.39) are usually used in front of a noun.
adjectives that always follow a linking verb
2.44 Some adjectives are normally used only after a linking verb and not in front of a noun. These adjectives are called predicative adjectives.
For example, you can say She felt glad, but you do not normally talk about a glad woman.
Here is a list of adjectives usually used in this way:
afraid
alive
alone
apart
asleep
awake
aware
content
due
glad
ill
likely
ready
safe
sorry
sure
unable
unlikely
well
Note that they do not have to be followed by a prepositional phrase.
2.45 Some adjectives are usually followed by a prepositional phrase because their meaning would otherwise be unclear or incomplete. For example, you cannot simply say that someone is accustomed. You have to say that they are accustomed to something.
The following usage note explains which prepositions you use after a particular adjective.
2.46 There are a few adjectives that are followed by the preposition to when they are used after a linking verb.
She’s allergic to cats.
Older people are particularly susceptible to heart problems.
Here is a list of adjectives that are usually or always used after a linking verb and are followed by to:
accustomed
adjacent
allergic
attributable
attuned
averse
close
conducive
devoted
impervious
injurious
integral
prone
proportional
proportionate
reconciled
related
resigned
resistant
similar
subject
subservient
susceptible
unaccustomed
2.47 There are a few adjectives that are followed by the preposition of when they are used after a linking verb.
He was aware of the danger that faced him.
They seemed capable of winning their first game of the season.
He was devoid of any talent whatsoever.
His mind seemed to have become incapable of any thought.
Here is a list of adjectives that are usually or always used after a linking verb and are followed by of:
aware
bereft
capable
characteristic
desirous
devoid
fond
full
heedless
illustrative
incapable
indicative
mindful
reminiscent
representative
2.48 There are a few adjectives that are followed by the preposition with when they are used after a linking verb.
His surprise became tinged with disbelief.
The plastic has to be compatible with the body tissues that make contact with it.
This way of life is fraught with danger.
Here is a list of adjectives that are usually or always used after a linking verb and are followed by with:
compatible
consonant
conversant
filled
fraught
riddled
tinged
2.49 Some adjectives are followed by other prepositions when they are used after a linking verb.
These ideas are rooted in self-deception.
Didn’t you say the raid was contingent on the weather?
Darwin concluded that people were descended from apes.
Here is a list of adjectives that are usually or always used after a linking verb and are followed by the preposition indicated:
contingent on
descended from
inherent in
lacking in
rooted in
steeped in
swathed in
unhampered by
In some cases, there is a choice between two prepositions.
Many of their courses are connected with industry.
Such names were arbitrarily given and were not connected to any particular event.
Here is a list of adjectives that are usually or always used after a linking verb and that are followed by the prepositions shown:
answerable for
answerable to
burdened by
burdened with
connected to
connected with
dependent on
dependent upon
immune from
immune to
inclined to
inclined towards
incumbent on
incumbent upon
insensible of
insensible to
intent on
intent upon
parallel to
parallel with
reliant on
reliant upon
stricken by
stricken with
2.50
Students today are different from the students ten years ago.
adjectives followed by to-infinitive clauses
2.51 To complete the meaning of some adjectives that are used predicatively, you need to follow with a clause beginning with a to-infinitive. For example, you cannot just say He is unable. You have to add a clause beginning with to-infinitive such as to do: He is unable to do it. To-infinitive clauses are explained in the Reference Section.
They were unable to help her.
I am willing to try.
She is bound to notice there’s something wrong.
I’m inclined to agree with the minister.
Here is a list of adjectives that are always or nearly always followed by a to-infinitive clause:
able
bound
destined
doomed
due
fated
fit
inclined
liable
likely
loath
prepared
unable
unwilling
willing
2.52 You can also use a clause beginning with a to-infinitive after many other adjectives to give more information about something.
I was afraid to go home.
I was happy to see them again.
He was powerless to prevent it.
I was almost ashamed to tell her.
The path was easy to follow.
Note that the subject of the main clause is also the subject of the to-infinitive clause.
adjectives followed by that-clauses
2.53 When adjectives that refer to someone’s beliefs or feelings are used after a linking verb, they are often followed by a that-clause (see paragraphs 8.119 to 8.121). The subject of the that-clause is not always the same as the subject of the main clause, so you need to specify it.