I have heard "Government officials," "Government officers" etc. Here, the word "government" is used as adjective, but it is not a real adjective. So where should I use "governmental" and where I should not? The below sentence is an example that has used the word "governmental." Can I replace it with "government"? Does its meaning change?
The possibility of an attack on Indian Point, a nuclear power plant, has caused local governmental officials to plan evacuation routes, build shelters, and offer citizens potassium pills in order to have fewer casualties in case of a leak.
Best Answer
"Government" is an attributive noun, "governmental" is an adjective. They mean the same thing, and I believe you can use either word whenever you want. That said, I do believe "government" is a little more commonplace, but that may differ depending on the phrase.
For example, I think "government official" is probably more commonplace than "governmental official," at least in modern English. Another example: I've seen "governmental bodies" many times. In formal English, you might see "governmental" more often.
Ultimately, I think it doesn't matter which you use, but it might be a good idea to pick one and be consistent with it.