need some examples

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Anonymous

#385553 Fri, 29 Jun 07 01:33 AM

Hi,

It is noted that the English article is capable of transforming adjectives (and adjectives-equivalents) into nouns in Corollary Theorems (Online), English Grammar Notes #3. Can you give me some examples of this? Cases other than the kind that refers to perople like 'the poor' will be appreciated.

Anonymous

Articles, Grammar, Nouns, English grammar

Philip

#385573 Fri, 29 Jun 07 03:02 AM

Anonymous wrote:

Hi,

It is noted that the English article is capable of transforming adjectives (and adjectives-equivalents) into nouns in Corollary Theorems (Online), English Grammar Notes #3. Can you give me some examples of this? Cases other than the kind that refers to perople like 'the poor' will be appreciated.

obvious, usual, expected, unexpected, certain, deleted, proper, --- just a few. Use any list of adjectives to find many, many more, I'm sure.

Philip

Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005

USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)

Veteran Member (6,181)

At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen

Articles, Grammar, Nouns, List of Adjectives, English grammar

Anonymous

#386097 Sat, 30 Jun 07 05:17 AM

Thank you, Philip. What I have difficulty in is this: In regard to the use an adjective as a noun, can you do that to cover 'a thing', 'a circumstance', and many others? Only will context will tell which one is meant for that specific case?

The unexpected

What?

The unexpected phenomenon

The unexpected incidence

The unexpected remark

The unexpected visit

Anonymous

Regards, Nouns

Lovek323

#386120 Sat, 30 Jun 07 06:15 AM

The adjective 'unexpected' is being used substantively. This occurs frequently in English, e.g., 'Only the good die young'. The adjective is not, strictly speaking, functioning as a noun (although it is a nounal phrase) -- the noun still exists for the purposes of grammar, but it has been elided.

Lovek323

Joined on Sun, Apr 29 2007

Adelaide, Australia

New Member (23)

Grammar, Nouns

Anonymous

#386819 Mon, 02 Jul 07 02:24 AM

Thank you, Lovek323.

This elided part, Is that part only reserved for a person? I think not, then, could it mean it could be anything (or virtually anything that is appropriate) that fits the meaning?

The perfect

Which one could it be? Only knows by context?

The perfect person

The perfect people

The perfect good

The perfect usage ....

Your sentence:

Only the good die young

Could it also be?

Only the good dies young.

Anonymous