She was sure that he meant it.
He was frightened that something terrible might be said.
I’m aware that I reached a rather large audience through the book.
Note that the word that is not always used in a that-clause.
They were sure she had been born in the city.
Here is a list of common adjectives often followed by a that-clause:
afraid
angry
anxious
aware
certain
confident
frightened
glad
happy
pleased
proud
sad
sorry
sure
surprised
unaware
upset
worried
Note that all of these adjectives except angry, aware, unaware, upset, and worried can also be followed by a to-infinitive.
I was afraid that she might not be able to bear the strain.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
She was surprised that I knew about it.
The twins were very surprised to see Ralph.
Position of adjectives in noun phrases
2.54 When you use more than one adjective in a noun phrase, the usual order for the adjectives is: qualitative adjectives, followed by colour adjectives, followed by classifying adjectives.
…a little white wooden house.
…pretty black lacy dresses.
…a large circular pool of water.
…a beautiful pink suit.
…rapid technological advance.
…a nice red apple.
…the black triangular fin.
This order is nearly always followed in English. Occasionally however, when you want to focus on a particular characteristic of the person or thing you are describing, you can vary this order, especially when one of the adjectives refers to colour or size.
…a square black hole.
Note that you sometimes put a comma or and between adjectives. This is explained in paragraphs 8.180 to 8.186 and paragraph 8.201.
…the long, low caravan.
It was a long and tedious business.
2.55 Comparatives (see paragraphs 2.103 to 2.111) and superlatives (see paragraphs 2.112 to 2.122) normally come in front of all other adjectives in a noun phrase.
…better parental control.
…the highest monthly figures on record.
position of noun modifiers and adjectives
2.56 When a noun phrase contains both an adjective and a noun modifier (see paragraphs 2.169 to 2.174) the adjective is placed in front of the noun modifier.
…the booming European car industry.
…the world’s biggest and most prestigious book fair.
two or more adjectives after a linking verb
2.57 When you use two adjectives after a linking verb, you use a conjunction, usually and, to link them. If you use more than two adjectives, you usually put a conjunction such as and between the last two adjectives and commas between the others. This is fully explained in paragraphs 8.180 to 8.186 and paragraph 8.201.
The room was large and square.
We felt hot, tired, and thirsty.
Note that you put the adjectives in the order that you think is the most important.
adjectives after nouns
2.58 There are a few adjectives that are usually or always used after a noun. Here is a list showing the different groups of adjectives used after a noun:
designate
elect
galore
incarnate
manqué
~
broad
deep
high
long
old
tall
thick
wide
~
concerned
involved
present
proper
responsible
~
affected
available
required
suggested
2.59 The adjectives designate, elect, galore, incarnate, and manqué are only used immediately after a noun.
She was now president elect.
There are empty houses galore.
2.60 The adjectives broad, deep, high, long, old, tall, thick, and wide are used immediately after measurement nouns when giving the size, duration, or age of a thing or person. This use is fully explained in paragraph 2.253.
…six feet tall.
…three metres wide.
…twenty five years old.
2.61 The adjectives concerned, involved, present, responsible, and proper have different meanings depending on whether you put them in front of a noun or immediately after one. For example, the concerned mother describes a mother who is anxious, but the mother concerned simply refers to a mother who has just been mentioned.
…the approval of interested and concerned parents.
The idea needs to come from the individuals concerned.
All this became a very involved process.
He knew all of the people involved.
…the present international situation.
Of the 18 people present, I know only one.
…parents trying to act in a responsible manner.
…the person responsible for his death.
…a proper training in how to teach.
…the first round proper of the FA Cup.
2.62 The adjectives affected, available, required, and suggested can be used in front of a noun or after a noun without any change in meaning.
Newspapers were the only available source of information.
…the number of teachers available.