Grammar: Adjectives as nouns

here are the lessons matching your criteria

If I Were Omnipotent...

What would you do if you were omnipotent for a day? In this lesson, students will discuss hypothetical situations and things that are unlikely to happen. The lesson features a video from the popular TV show “Friends,” where a group discusses what they would do if they were omnipotent for a day. Students will learn and practice the second conditional, using adjectives as nouns, and relevant vocabulary. The lesson includes plenty of engaging discussion activities and worksheets developed for both adults and teenagers, ensuring an interactive and enjoyable learning experience.

B1 Intermediate   |   General English, Speaking Lessons   |   Video   |   Hypothetical Situations   |   45 min   | B1-18

Adjectives used as nouns, also known as nominal adjectives or substantivized adjectives, occur when adjectives are used to represent or describe a noun in the absence of the noun itself. In such cases, the adjective effectively functions as a noun, referring to a group of things or people that possess the characteristic described by the adjective.

Here's a simple example:

"The poor" - In this phrase, "poor" is an adjective that has been turned into a noun. It refers to a group of people who are in a state of poverty.

In this context, the adjective "poor" takes on the role of a noun, referring to a specific group or category of individuals without explicitly mentioning the noun it modifies (e.g., "people" or "individuals"). Adjectives used as nouns are often used to represent a general concept or category and can be singular or plural, depending on the context.

Here are some more examples in the context of English grammar:

"The rich and the poor live in different neighborhoods."

In this sentence, "the rich" and "the poor" are both adjectives turned into nouns, referring to wealthy and impoverished individuals or groups.

"The elderly need more support."

Here, "the elderly" refers to older people in general, with the adjective "elderly" serving as a noun.

"The brave are admired."

In this case, "the brave" represents courageous individuals, and the adjective "brave" functions as a noun.

Using adjectives as nouns can help simplify sentences, create emphasis, or refer to categories of people or things in a concise manner. It's important to note that the meaning of the adjective in its nominal form depends on the context and the specific adjective used.