Peter asks excellent questions!  

 

As an example of how muddled things can get, I would probably think that
"red" in the examples below is an adjective functioning nomially (noun-ial?
How does one specify that again?), and that the final sentence shows the
word "red" as an adjective.  I admit my bias: I was "taught" that colors
were adjectives, back in the Old Days of my grammar school, and only learned
later that "some adjectives can be nouns, too" (how I remember it being
explained at the time - again, back in the Old Days).  Hence now I still
think of colors as adjectives which can behave as nouns.

 

I'm fascinated by distinctions like this, which makes my students think I am
a Nerd.  I have embraced this, and laugh about it with them, although I
prefer "language geek," really.

 

-patty

 

  _____  

From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Peter Adams
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 5:32 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: tion & nouns

 

Martha,

 

Could help me a little further with the form/function distinction.

 

I'm wondering about a word like "red," which seems to be an adjective but
also seems to satisfy the tests for a noun:

 

Many of the reds in Carpaccio's paintings have faded over the years. (has a
plural form)

 

The red's intensity drew my eye to the corner of the painting. (takes
possessive; takes determiner)

 

But would that mean that "red" in the following sentence is a noun in form
but functioning as an adjectival?

 

The red bathrobe was draped over the back of the chair.

 


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