Summary

An ascriptive adjective is an adjective that functions as an attributive adjective and is NOT paired with the definite article.

Article

In this grammar, an adjective is classified as "ascriptive" if it is an indefinite adjective (that is, it does NOT take the definite article) and functions attributively.

Examples

Matthew 7:17 οὕτως πᾶν δένδρον ἀγαθὸν καρποὺς καλοὺς ποιεῖ

Luke 16:19 Ἄνθρωπος δέ τις ἦν πλούσιος

Luke 16:11 εἰ οὖν ἐν τῷ ἀδίκῳ μαμωνᾷ πιστοὶ οὐκ ἐγένεσθε

TO BE DELETED

Adjectives occur in five basic patterns when modifying a noun:

1. Noun-article adjective or with an article before the noun (article-noun-article-adjective)
2. Article-adjective-noun
3. Article-noun-adjective
4. Adjective-noun
5. Noun-adjective

Patterns 2, 3, 4, and 5, are classified as ascriptive in the Unlocked Greek Grammar.

INCORRECT DEFINITION OF ASCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVE FOR UNLOCKED GREEK GRAMMAR Some resources will describe an adjectival clause as restrictive if it narrows down (or identifies) the noun it is modifying. In other words it directs the reader to a specific person or thing (or persons or things) from a larger group. In contrast an ascriptive adjective provides additional information about a person or thing that has already been clearly identified. For the purposes of the Unlocked Greek Grammar, the terms “ascriptive” and “restrictive” are NOT being used in this manner. Restrictive adjectives are adjectives that are not functioning as a noun and follow the pattern Noun-Article-Adjective, or (article-noun-article-adjective). All other adjectives are classified as ascriptive if they are not functioning as a noun.