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Jackson6612 Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

I wish you a very happy belated birthday

In the following sentence both happy and belated are adjectives. I don't think that an adjective can modify another adjective. Yes, an adverb can modify an adjective. Then, does that mean that the following sentence is correct because happy and belated stand side by side?

I wish you a very happy belated birthday.
  

Top answer

It's okay. [very happy] and [belated] both modify birthday.

— BarbaraPA

  • It's okay.
  • [very happy] and [belated] both modify birthday.
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5 Answers
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It's okay. [very happy] and [belated] both modify birthday.
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Hi,

In the following sentence both happy and belated are adjectives. I don't think that an adjective can modify another adjective. Yes, an adverb can modify an adjective. Then, does that mean that the following sentence is correct because happy and belated stand side by side?

I wish you a very happy belated birthday.
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Clive
However, I think it's not the birthday that is belated, but the birthday wish/greeting. To show this, you might say

I wish you a belated "Happy Birthday".

Best wishes, Clive

That's exactly the direction I was going to go with this. "Belated greetings for a happy birthday" is much better than t
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Happy returns of your belated birthday
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