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LeeSang Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Reason why single adjective is behind the noun

hello! ^^

I learned that singluar adjective usully comes before noun.

but frequently singluar adective comes after noun.

for example:

mission impossible, fish raw, money left

what is difference when adjective before/after noun?

What is difference fish raw / raw fish, impossible mission / mission impossible, left money / money left

please help.....
  

Top answer

Hi LeeSang, Let's take your examples one by one. 1. Mission impossible -- This started as a popular TV series, where it was actually Mission: Impossible.

  • Hi LeeSang, Let's take your examples one by one.
  • 1.
  • Mission impossible -- This started as a popular TV series, where it was actually Mission: Impossible.
  • The mission was classified as impossible to complete.
  • It's now entered the vocabulary as a set phrase, but the regular position for "impossible" is before the noun.
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4 Answers
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Hi LeeSang,

Let's take your examples one by one.

1. Mission impossible -- This started as a popular TV series, where it was actually Mission: Impossible. The mission was classified as impossible to complete. It's now entered the vocabulary as a set phrase, but the regular position for "impossible" is before the noun. It was an impossible journey. Actually, the more natual place f
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Hi,
I suppose you could say 'He likes his fish raw'. This is another example of the kind of adjective GG described in her point 3.
It's like 'He painted his house blue'.

Best wishes, Clive
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In French adjectives often follow nouns and because there was a lot of French influence on English after the Battle of Hastings for about 300 years, in some cases the French word order remains in modern English. Court martial is a good example. There are also many international companies in whose names the adjective international comes after a noun.

CB

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