Adjective complement with noun phrase

• look: The stairs looked a bit tatty for a place which has been open only a day.

• get: They are often exposed to the weather, so the internal decorations were beginning to get a trifle tatty.

• make: All manner of dirt and mold streaks soon build up, making the trailer look tatty.

Modifies a noun

• clothes: These old boys had tatty clothes and had pewter mugs out of which they were drinking.

• appearance: Despite our rather tatty appearance we thought we would try to go inside in search of what must surely be a safe cuppa.

• bag: Why not have a clearout of old tatty carrier bags next time you go shopping?

• piece: Decompression was done on a tatty piece of rope tied to the tip of the mast.

• town: Aug. 8th 2003 19:12 tatty seaside town Senior Member Registered: May.

• one: That'll be interesting because burning is one of the endorsed methods of disposing of an old and tatty one.

Modifying Another Word

• rather: Despite our rather tatty appearance we thought we would try to go inside in search of what must surely be a safe cuppa.

• slightly: When the contents look even slightly tatty, re-mount the work.

• little: A new stand would brighten up a stadium that is starting to look a little tatty.

• very: In the area we stopped there were lots of very tatty shops.

• really: If you have a really tatty castle destroy it!

• somewhat: Big new stores like Waterstones, Borders, Hennes and HMV have raised the somewhat tatty profile but it still lacks a heart.

Used with adjective complement

• look: Despite the best efforts of the painters, why does Bangor always manage to look tatty?

• get: I think the flowers would get tatty quickly outdoors.

• become: He noticed that the pages of the book became more tatty the closer one was to the front.