/prɪˈdɪkətɪv; US ˈpredɪkeɪtɪv ||; ˈprɛdɪˌketɪv/adj (
grammar语法) (used about an adjective 指形容词) not used before a noun 不用于名词前:
You cannot say ‘an asleep child’ because ‘asleep’ is a predicative adjective. 不能说an asleep child，因为asleep是表语形容词。 An adjective thatcanbe used before a noun is called attributive. Many adjectives, for example ‘big’, can be either predicative or attributive The house is big. It's a big house. 能用于名词前的形容词叫做定语(attributive)。big等许多形容词既可作表语，也可作定语：The house is big.这房子很大。·It's a big house.这是一幢大房子。 ➔predicatively adv ‘Asleep’ can only be used predicatively. asleep只能用作表语。