Adjectives without nouns

Adjectives are used to describe nouns. In some cases the noun is left out.

→The + adjective (used for well-known groups of people)
Social condition: the unemployed, the jobless, the homeless, the young, the old, the rich, the poor
Physical condition: the disabled, the deaf, the blind, the injured

e.g. There should be more facilities for the disabled. The unemployed should be given jobs.

→Nationality
the English, the Welsh, the Irish, the Scots, the British, the Spanish, the Dutch, the French, the Poles, the Turks, the Swedes, the Finns, the Danes, the Swiss, the Portuguese, the Congolese, the Chinese, the Thais, the Israelis, the Iraqis, the Greeks, the Russians, the Palestinians, the Norwegians, the Italians, the Americans, the Belgians, the Brazilians, the Kenyans, the Europeans, the Moroccans etc.

e.g. The Swiss are well known for making delicious chocolates.

→When the noun has been mentioned before

e.g. Do you want some tea? Jasmine or Green.

→Superlatives
the tallest, the shortest, the highest, the smallest, the biggest, the smartest, the cheapest, the best, the worst, the greatest, the fastest, the slowest, the friendliest, the most significant, the most important, the most expensive

e.g. Which car are you buying? I think I’ll go for the cheapest. I wouldn’t buy the most expensive.

You have read this article with the title Adjectives without nouns. You can bookmark this page URL http://apostolosmakrides.blogspot.com/2010/08/adjectives-without-nouns.html. Thanks!