In many sentences, adjectives are used to perform the purpose of nouns.
Examples are given below.
- The English are proud of their sense of humor.
Adjectives can be used with the article ‘the’. These expressions are plural. Examples are given below: the rich, the poor, the jobless, the unemployed, the deaf, the blind etc.
- The rich should help the poor.
- The unemployed are losing hope.
- The government should do something for the jobless.
The adjective cannot be used without the article ‘the’ in these expressions. In some cases, these expressions can have a singular meaning. Examples are: the accused, the injured, the diseased etc.
- The deceased is survived by his wife.
Some adjectives stand for persons. They can also be used as nouns.
- We should respect our elders.
- We should be kind to our inferiors.
- The seniors should not torment their juniors.
- The rights of minors should be protected.
Adjectives can form part of certain phrases.
- In short, you must behave well.
- The long and short of this is that he has lost his credibility.
- I shall stand by you through thick and thin.
- At best, I can arrange lodging for two more nights.
Nouns are commonly used as adjectives.
- She is a book worm. (Here the noun book acts as an adjective modifying the noun worm.)
- You lack table manners.