Adjectives as Noun Phrase Heads

Adjectives as Nouns

Adjectives are sometimes used as nouns. When they are, they don't have all the attributes of a normal noun: they cannot normally be used in the plural, and they can be modified by adverbs, whereas normal nouns cannot.

• Close down the ineffectual or toxic . (Charles and Keast 2016)
  
  There is no subject in this sentence because is an imperative (in fact, a suggestion). The adjectives "ineffectual" and "toxic" are here used as nouns. Notice that they could be modified by an adverb (e.g. very), but not by an adjective (they remain adjectives even though they are used as nouns), and cannot be used in the plural.
• We see hands touching the newborn , the young , the aged , the disabled , and the sick adjective as noun. (Duckett 2020)
  
  Many of the adjectives used as nouns refer to people, often those most vulnerable or in need of help. This is the case in the above example. Notice that with the exception of "newborn" they could be modified by an adverb (e.g. very), but not by an adjective (they remain adjectives even though they are used as nouns), and cannot be used in the plural.
• Relative to emissions reductions, expensive adaptation schemes are less likely to benefit indigenous populations, future generations and the poor – the groups that are most vulnerable to climate change. (Allison and Miller 2019)
  
  This is another example of an adjective as noun used to refer to a vulnerable group; in this case the "poor". The caveats above (concerning adverbs and plural) also apply here.
• During the festival of Feralia food and gifts were brought to cemeteries, to honour the dead and keep them happy so they would not rise and haunt the living. (Parish 2022)
  
  The "dead" referring to dead people. The caveats above (concerning adverbs and plural) also apply here.
• The unexpected can, and does, happen. (Kejriwal 2021)
  
  The "unexpected" means things you don't expect to happen. The caveats above (concerning adverbs and plural) also apply here.
• It’s easy to criticise the pursuit of the unlikely , but “miracles” can and do occur, sometimes on our doorstep. (Ritchie 2017)
  
  The "unlikely" , as in the previous example, means things you don't expect to happen, at least not very often. The caveats above (concerning adverbs and plural) also apply here.