adjective and adjective phrase

Question 1

adjectives used as nouns

Answer 1

• denoting a whole class people: the blind, the Irish, …
• denoting individual persons: an Irishwoman, a Chinese, …
• denoting an abstract idea (with or without ‘the’): the unexpected, the very best, from bad to worse

Question 2

attributive vs predicative use of adjectives

Answer 2

• attributive: normally before the noun => premod./ part of noun phrase
• predicative: normally after the verb => Cs/ Co

Question 3

kinds of adjectives

Answer 3

• central: can be used both attributively and predicatively
  (sometimes with different meanings)
• can only be used attributively: before the noun/ DIRECTLY after the noun (postposed)
• can only be used predicatively

Question 4

characterize the adjective:
1. It’s the only available book
2. It’s the only book which is available
3. It’s the only book available

Answer 4

1. attributive use
2. predicative use (Cs of rel. cl., after the verb)
3. attributive use, postposed