The Communicative Grammar of English Workbook - Edward Woods, Rudy Coppieters 2002

6.3. Adjectives as heads
Unit six. Adjectives

Section 448; 90; 579-580

Some adjectives can be heads of noun phrases and have generic reference:

• adjectives denoting a class of people, including some nationality adjectives (plural): the English

• adjectives denoting an abstract quality (singular): the symbolical

Task one *

Use adjectives acting as heads of noun phrases to refer to the following classes of people.

1. people who are out of work:

2. people who have a physical handicap:

3. people who are well-off:

4. people who have great faith in God:

5. people who are victims of oppression:

6. people who have nowhere to live:

7. inhabitants of Great Britain:

8. inhabitants of Wales:

9. inhabitants of Ireland:

10. inhabitants of Spain:

11. inhabitants of France:

12. inhabitants of the Netherlands:

Task two ***

Complete the following sentences, using adjectives acting as heads of noun phrases to refer to the abstract qualities referred to by the phrases in brackets.

1. Some people believe in ... .

(= things that are impossible to explain by natural causes)

2. Why do some politicians keep stating ...?

(= things that are already clear to everyone)

3. The name of Samuel Beckett is associated with the theatre of ... .

(= things that do not make sense at all)

4. Police officers and firefighters did ... .

(= succeed in doing what an ordinary person cannot achieve)

5. This type of extreme behaviour borders on ... .

(= typical of people who belong in a mental hospital)

6. Leave everything to me - I’ll do ... .

(= whatever is required under the circumstances)

7. has captivated me over ... as long as I can recall.

(= things that endure for ever vs things that do not)

8. On 11 September 2001 ... happened.

(= something that nobody can accept or even imagine)