50 Attribute Examples (in Syntax)

Examples   /   by admin   /   June 01, 2022

The attribute is a word or a phrase that fulfills the syntactic function of verb complement and that states qualities, characteristics, properties or states of the subject. For example: the day is handsome, Laura is medical, that jacket looks new.

Attributes are only present in attributive sentences, that is, sentences whose verbs are copulatives (to be to be to look like). These verbs only perform the function of union between the subject and the attribute and do not have a specific content (which the attribute does).

In syntactic analysis, the attribute is considered to be a verbal modifier and, therefore, is found within the nominal predicate (that predicate that differs from the verbal predicate, because its nucleus is a linking verb).

  • It can serve you: Copulative sentences

Constructions or types of words that perform the function of attribute

Attributes can be:

  • noun phrases. Are nouns, pronouns, noun words or constructions whose nucleus is a noun, a pronoun or a noun word. For example: That is a book, The house is a beautiful place.
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  • Adjectival phrases. Are adjectives or constructions whose nucleus is an adjective. For example: The house is clean, the garden is very nice.
  • adverbial phrases. Are adverbs or constructions whose nucleus is an adverb. For example: They are very good, Dario is wonderfully.
  • prepositional phrases. They are constructions that are formed by a preposition and by a term, which can be a noun, adjectival, or adverbial phrase. For example: The house is of Mary, the report is unfinished.
  • infinitives. They are non-personal forms of the verb that end in -ar, -er or -ir. For example: lying is scam, The climber said that climbing was to live.
  • Some subordinate clauses. They are subordinate clauses to a main clause. For example: This is not as i had imagined, the building is falling apart.

Some linguistics specialists consider that the attribute can also be a gerund, because, in certain cases, it is possible to replace it with the invariable pronoun "lo".

However, others maintain that the gerund does not fulfill the function of an attribute and is part of the verbal nucleus, because it belongs to a verb periphrasis. For example: They are listening to music (In this case, "are listening" is the verbal head of the sentence and "listening" cannot be an attribute).

Attribute recognition tests

A complement fulfills the syntactic function of an attribute if:

  • It is found in sentences whose verbs are copulative. The attribute is found in sentences whose verbal nucleus is a linking verb (to be to be to look like). For example: the suit seems new, these roses are red. Some grammarians consider that the attribute is also found in sentences whose verbal nucleus is a verb pseudocopulative (those verbs that are predicative, but that in certain contexts can function as copulatives, for instance: meet, stay, get). For example: Analía is already there right, the man stood glad when he heard the news.
  • It can be replaced by the invariable pronoun lo. The attribute can be replaced by the pronoun "lo", which does not vary in gender or number. For example: Maria is The english teacher, Maria it it is (in this case, although professora and María are feminine nouns, the pronoun does not change in gender). When the attribute is a prepositional, adverbial or adjective phrase or when the verb is pseudo-copulative, the attribute can be replaced by "so" or "how". For example: Eugenie is cheerfulEugenie is So, ¿How is it Eugenie?
  • Agrees in gender and number with the subject nucleus. If the attribute is an adjective, it usually agrees in gender and number with the subject nucleus. For example: The movie is veryfun (in this case, the attribute —”funny”— agrees in gender and number with the nucleus of the subject —”film”—, which is feminine and singular), The amusement park rides are very fun (in this case, the attribute —”funny”— agrees in gender and number with the nucleus of the subject —”games”—, which is masculine and plural). This agreement also usually occurs if the attribute is a noun, but it is not possible when this complement is an adverbial or prepositional phrase.
  • It is obligatory in the prayer. The attribute is mandatory in attributive or copulative sentences, because it gives meaning to the sentence and because if it is removed, the statement is ungrammatical. For example: The weather is nice, *The weather is (in this case, the statement is ungrammatical and makes no sense).
  • It differs from predicative complement. The attribute differs from the predicative complement, because the latter is not mandatory in the sentence and because it is a modifier of predicative verbs, not of linking verbs or pseudocopulatives. For example: Mary is happy (in this case, "content" is an attribute, because it is mandatory and because it complements a linking verb), Mary entered happy to your house (in this case, “contenta” is a predicative complement, because it can be eliminated and the sentence still makes sense, and because the verb “enter” is predicative).
  • It differs from direct object. The attribute differs from the direct object, because it can be replaced by the invariable pronoun "it". Instead, the direct object is replaced by a pronoun that varies in person, gender, and number (me, you, it, the, us, the, the). For example: Sonya bought a chocolate, Sonya it I buy; Peter bought some magazines, Pedro the I buy.
  • It differs from circumstantial complement of place. In some cases, the verbs to be and to be can be accompanied by a circumstantial complement of place, which cannot fulfill the function of an attribute. For example: Andrea is in Madrid. However, some linguists consider that in this sentence the phrase "in Madrid" performs the syntactic function of an attribute.

Attribute Examples

  1. Andrea is the best opera singer in the world.
  2. Last Tuesday was the best day of my life.
  3. Francis is moodily.
  4. the theme is Sure.
  5. candle was put sad when she got the news.
  6. The restaurant on the corner is Excellent.
  7. The actress became delicious From one day to another.
  8. the glass is cleansed.
  9. reading is learn something new.
  10. The noodles are al dente.
  11. I follow fluBut I'm getting better little by little.
  12. enzo is who falls asleep standing up.
  13. she seems a good person.
  14. Not all that glitters is Prayed.
  15. That argument seems very sensible.
  16. Fabian is Surprised.
  17. my mind is in white.
  18. The table vise is a little loose.
  19. this jacket is from a parisian store.
  20. the food is ready.
  21. The secret ingredient in strawberry shortcake is condensed milk.
  22. mercury is a rocky planet.
  23. Romeo and Juliet it is a tragedy that was written by William Shakespeare.
  24. What you see in the lake is the reflection of the mountain.
  25. The movie was not so bad.
  26. This car is not for sale.
  27. With the humidity, the walls were put grays.
  28. The circle of the painting seems a sun.
  29. Life is So.
  30. Study is expand our knowledge.
  31. This TV looks like of good quality.
  32. these shoes are old, but they seem new.
  33. The best pots are of iron.
  34. In this place, the weather is fantastic!
  35. The report was unfinished.
  36. this bread is from the store on the corner.
  37. January is my favorite month.
  38. Gabriel is philosophy teacher.
  39. he was made famous when he won an Oscar.
  40. lately he is a little distracted.
  41. The new boss seems very responsible.
  42. Before defending his thesis, Darío got highly strungbut then he calmed down.
  43. the furniture seems of wood, but it really is melamine.
  44. the day is very fresh.
  45. Losing a basketball game is not World's End.
  46. traveling is get to know different cultures.
  47. this park is of all citizens.
  48. Jimena is very responsible in his work.
  49. the street is deserted.
  50. He has been here for hours wordlessly.

References:

  • Membrilla Fernandez, A. m. (May 22, 2021). The attribute, the direct complement and the regimen complement. commons https://procomun.intef.es/ode/view/1624500001559
  • Penades Martinez, I. (1987). The notion of attribute in Spanish linguistics. Linguistic Studies, 4, 127-137.
  • Royal Spanish Academy & Association of Academies of the Spanish Language. (2010). New grammar of the Spanish language. Manual. Spare.
  • Ruiz de Aguirre, A. (2020). new syntax. Own publication.
  • Veselko, V. (2017). About the subordinate clause depending on the attribute. Verba Hispanica, 25(1), 147-164. https://doi.org/10.4312/vh.25.1.147-164

It can serve you:

  • verb phrase
  • elements of the sentence
  • Syntax
  • Attributive verbs
  • Circumstantial
  • Nominal nonverbal predicate
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