attributive (adj.)

In GRAMMATICAL description, a term normally used to refer to the role of ADJECTIVES and NOUNS when they occur as MODIFIERS of the HEAD of a noun PHRASE. For example, red has attributive function in the red chair, as has Jane’s in Jane’s hat. The term contrasts with the PREDICATIVE function of these words, as in the chair is red, the hat is Jane’s. Some MODELS of grammatical description have extended the use of this term to include such COMPLEMENT structures as he is my uncle, I called him a fool, and this usage can include the adjectival use above (i.e. in she is happy the adjective’s SEMANTIC role in relation to she is one of attribution). Ambiguity in this context is thus a real possibility.