LoginNominal Adjectives
This lesson delves into the complexities of nominal adjectives, exploring their roles in various grammatical structures. It offers comprehensive explanations, advanced exercises, and a quiz.
What Are Nominal Adjectives?
Nominal adjectives (also called adjectival nouns or nominalized adjective) are adjectives that function as a noun in a sentence when the noun they originally modify is omitted but implied.
Nominal Adjectives: Form
Nominal adjectives are formed from an adjective preceded by the definite article "the." These nouns cannot be pluralized, and do not need another noun after them.
the rich
the unknown
Nominal Adjectives: Types
Nominal adjectives are mainly used to represent a group of people based on their shared characteristics, but there are also nominal adjectives with a non-collective sense. The following classes of adjectives can be nominalized:
Adjectives of Human Attributes
Adjectives of human attribute are commonly nominalized to refer to groups of people based on their shared physical or non-physical characteristics, such as:
physical attributes: the blind, the deaf, the short, the tall, the wounded, the elderly
non-physical attributes: the homeless, the wealthy, the poor, the rich, the privileged
The rich should help the poor.
As you can see, no noun follows these adjectives because they act as nouns themselves.
We should respect the elderly.
Nationality and Proper Adjectives
Most nationality adjectives can be nominal adjectives to talk about the general population sharing that nationality. Such as:
The French have a love for debate and questioning.
I'm interested in the customs of the Chinese.
Warning
Not all nationality adjectives can be nominalized. Many of the nationalities must be plural proper nouns to represent a group of people, and they cannot be considered nominal adjectives. For example:
the Germans (Not 'the German')
the Russians (Not 'the Russian')
the Americans (Not 'the American')
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Comparative adjectives are used to compare two things. In this case, no collective meaning is intended. The nominal adjective simply represents an entity with a higher degree of a quality. Take a look at some examples of nominal adjectives in the comparative form:
My sister is the shorter, but she is the prettier.
Of the two watches, I picked the more expensive.
Superlative adjectives are used to compare three or more things, and they can also function as nominal adjectives. Nominal superlative adjectives represent an entity with the highest degree of a quality. For example:
Fred is the strongest.
When you cut the cake into slices, give me the largest.
Abstract Adjectives
Some abstract adjectives are used nominally to represent a person or thing through their characteristic. For example:
the contrary
the good
the opposite
the impossible
the red, green, blue, etc.
The opposite of slow is fast.
I walked home across the green.
Nominal Adjectives: Function
Since nominal adjectives act as noun, they can serve as the subject, object, subject complement, and object complement in sentences.
Nominal Adjectives as Subjects
As subjects, nominal adjectives act as the doer of the action, or the topic of the sentence. For example:
The British take their tea with milk, sugar, lemon or just plain.
The best is yet to come.
The brave deserve respect.
Nominal Adjectives as Objects
Nominal adjectives can also be the direct object, indirect object, and the object of the preposition in a sentence. Take a look at some examples:
We must help the homeless.
direct object
He gives the poor a share of his salary each month.
indirect obejct
They relied on the elderly to guide them.
object of preposition
Nominal Adjectives as Subject Complement
As subject complement, nominal adjectives rename or describe the subject after linking verbs. Here are some examples:
Her greatest fear is the inevitable.
The winners are the deserving.
Nominal Adjectives as Object Complement
An object complement is a word or phrase that follows a direct object and provides additional information about it, such as renaming or describing it. While the use of nominal adjectives in this function is more limited that the others, it is grammatically possible.
They called me the brave.
We all considered him the strongest.
Review
Nominal adjectives are formed using the definite article "the" and an adjective. They act as nouns and as such are not followed by another noun. The following types of adjectives can form nominal adjectives that serve as subjects, objects, and subject complements in sentences:
Adjectives of human attributes
Nationality and proper adjectives
Comparative and superlative adjectives
Abstract adjectives
Quiz:
Which sentence correctly uses a nominal adjective?
Wealthy donated to charity.
She admired the beautiful sunset.
The rich should pay higher taxes.
The tall building stood in the city center.
Match each nominal adjective with its correct type.
Which nominal adjective is NOT used correctly?
The English won the match.
The Russian are known for ballet.
The Chinese invented paper.
The Spanish enjoy siestas.
Sort the words to form a sentence using a nominal adjective as the indirect object.
Complete the table by identifying the function of the nominal adjective in the sentence.
The hardest part was the unexpected. | |
The clinic treats the uninsured for free. | |
The young enjoy classical music. | |
The government offered the illiterate training programs. | |
The judges declared her the most talented. |
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