Re: self-aggrandizing ignorant

From: Marshall <marshall.spight_at_gmail.com>
Date: 17 May 2006 19:42:08 -0700
Message-ID: <1147920128.729352.191540@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>

Bob Badour wrote:
>
> Like the subject of the following sentence, the noun is silent.

Rather than go with an assumed, missing noun, I'd just say that an adjective can function as a noun in the right context. The fact that we often pluralize adjectives the way we do nouns when doing so backs that up.

"Do you like those colored candies? The reds are my favorite."

Consider also that we use an article in front of an adjective used this way.

"You know Sydney Greenstreet? He often used to play the heavy."

I think there's probably something witty a la Safire's "You can verb anything" floating around here somewhere.

Marshall

PS. Maltese Falcon rules. Received on Wed May 17 2006 - 21:42:08 CDT