ADJECTIVES USED AS NOUNS
Adjectives are often used as Nouns.
(1) As Plural Nouns denoting a class of persons; as,
The cautious (= cautious persons) are not always cowards.
The rich (= rich people) know not how the poor (= poor people) live. The wicked (= wicked people) flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous (= righteous people) are bold as a lion. Blessed are the meek.
As Singular Nouns denoting some abstract quality; as, The future (= futurity) is unknown to us.
He is a lover of the beautiful (= beauty in general)
Some Adjectives actually become Nouns, and are hence used in both numbers:-
(a) Those derived from Proper Nouns; as, Australians, Canadians, Italians.-
(b) Some denoting persons; as, juniors, seniors, mortals, inferiors, superiors, nobles, criminals, savages, elders, minors.
(c) A few denoting things generally; as. secrets, totals, liquids, solids, valuables. [Some adjectives arc used as Nouns only in (he plural; as, valuables, eatables]
In certain phrases; as,
In general; in future; in short; in secret; before long; at present; for good;
at best; through thick and thin; for better or for worse; in black and white; right or wrong; from bad to worse; the long and short.
In future I shall charge you for medical advice. In short, we know nothing.
The negotiations were carried on in secret.
I shall see you before long. Before long,
he will be appointed to a higher post.
At present, he is in pecuniary difficulties.
I do not want any more at present.
He has left India for good.
At best we shall get no more dividend than five paise in a rupee.
At best he is a clever versifier : but a poet he is certainly not.
It must be said to his credit that he stood by his friend through thick and thin.
I must have your teams down in black and white.
Right or wrong, my country.
I am afraid the young man is going from bad to worse.
The long and short of it is that I distrust you.
Nouns used as Adjectives
The use of Nouns as Adjectives is very common in English; as, I met a little cottage girl.
He is always playing computer games.
POSITION OF ADJECTIVES
An Adjective used attributively is generally placed immediately before the noun; as, King Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport.
Where are you going, my pretty maid, with your rosy cheeks and golden hair? O Captain ! my Captain ! our fearful trip is done.
Observe the difference in meaning between:-
a great nobleman's son, and
a nobleman's great son.
In poetry, however, the Adjective is frequently placed after the noun; as.
Children dear, was it yesterday.
We heard the sweet bells over the bay. man with sisters dear!
When several Adjectives are attached to one noun they are sometimes placed after it for emphasis; as
There dwelt a miller hale and bold.
The King, fearless and resolute, at once advanced.
Franklin had a great genius, original, sagacious, and inventive.
When some word or phrase is joined to the Adjective to explain its meaning, the Adjective is placed after its noun; as,
He was a man fertile in resource.
A Sikh, taller than any of his comrades, rushed forward.
In certain phrases the Adjective always comes after the noun; as
Heir apparent, time immemorial, lord paramount, viceroy elect, letters, patent, knights temporal, notary public, body politic, God Almighty.
Adjectives are often used as Nouns.
(1) As Plural Nouns denoting a class of persons; as,
The cautious (= cautious persons) are not always cowards.
The rich (= rich people) know not how the poor (= poor people) live. The wicked (= wicked people) flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous (= righteous people) are bold as a lion. Blessed are the meek.
As Singular Nouns denoting some abstract quality; as, The future (= futurity) is unknown to us.
He is a lover of the beautiful (= beauty in general)
Some Adjectives actually become Nouns, and are hence used in both numbers:-
(a) Those derived from Proper Nouns; as, Australians, Canadians, Italians.-
(b) Some denoting persons; as, juniors, seniors, mortals, inferiors, superiors, nobles, criminals, savages, elders, minors.
(c) A few denoting things generally; as. secrets, totals, liquids, solids, valuables. [Some adjectives arc used as Nouns only in (he plural; as, valuables, eatables]
In certain phrases; as,
In general; in future; in short; in secret; before long; at present; for good;
at best; through thick and thin; for better or for worse; in black and white; right or wrong; from bad to worse; the long and short.
In future I shall charge you for medical advice. In short, we know nothing.
The negotiations were carried on in secret.
I shall see you before long. Before long,
he will be appointed to a higher post.
At present, he is in pecuniary difficulties.
I do not want any more at present.
He has left India for good.
At best we shall get no more dividend than five paise in a rupee.
At best he is a clever versifier : but a poet he is certainly not.
It must be said to his credit that he stood by his friend through thick and thin.
I must have your teams down in black and white.
Right or wrong, my country.
I am afraid the young man is going from bad to worse.
The long and short of it is that I distrust you.
Nouns used as Adjectives
The use of Nouns as Adjectives is very common in English; as, I met a little cottage girl.
He is always playing computer games.
POSITION OF ADJECTIVES
An Adjective used attributively is generally placed immediately before the noun; as, King Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport.
Where are you going, my pretty maid, with your rosy cheeks and golden hair? O Captain ! my Captain ! our fearful trip is done.
Observe the difference in meaning between:-
a great nobleman's son, and
a nobleman's great son.
In poetry, however, the Adjective is frequently placed after the noun; as.
Children dear, was it yesterday.
We heard the sweet bells over the bay. man with sisters dear!
When several Adjectives are attached to one noun they are sometimes placed after it for emphasis; as
There dwelt a miller hale and bold.
The King, fearless and resolute, at once advanced.
Franklin had a great genius, original, sagacious, and inventive.
When some word or phrase is joined to the Adjective to explain its meaning, the Adjective is placed after its noun; as,
He was a man fertile in resource.
A Sikh, taller than any of his comrades, rushed forward.
In certain phrases the Adjective always comes after the noun; as
Heir apparent, time immemorial, lord paramount, viceroy elect, letters, patent, knights temporal, notary public, body politic, God Almighty.
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