Adjective Phrases
What Is It?
An adjective phrase describes a noun and may include modifiers or complements: Adj (+ PP/Clause) → “A release rich in features shipped.”
Why Use Adjective Phrases?
- Detail — clarifies attributes without extra sentences.
- Conciseness — shortens “which is” relative clauses.
- Flow — avoids stacking adjectives directly on noun.
When to Choose Adjective Phrases
Product pages (“tool easy to use”), UX copy, performance summaries.
Forming Adjective-Phrase Sentences
| Position | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Attributive | AdjP + N | “Mission‑critical data replicated.” |
| Predicative | N + be + AdjP | “Latency is too high for users.” |
| Post‑positive | N + AdjP | “Metrics available on demand help ops.” |
Tips for Writing with Adjective Phrases
- Avoid piling > 2 pre‑noun adjectives.
- Use hyphens for clarity (“read‑only access”).
- Keep technical jargon minimal.
- Ensure phrase is next to noun it modifies.
Exceptions & Nuances
Some adj‑phrases are fixed collocations (“open source”). Resist splitting them.