Using Adjectives as Nouns

Hello English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. Today, we will learn about using adjectives as nouns.

We can use the structure the + adjective to talk about groups of people.

The sick need care, patience, and support to recover.
The old carry wisdom from years of experience, guiding the younger generations.

Age

The young	*The young* are full of energy and fresh ideas, paving the way for tomorrow’s innovations.
The old	*The old* remember many stories from the past.
The elderly	*The elderly* sometimes need extra help from their families.
The middle-aged	*The middle-aged* often work hard to take care of their children.
The over-fifties	*The over-fifties* have special knowledge from years of experience. Using Adjectives as Nouns
The under-fives	*The under-fives* are happy when they play with their friends.

Health and physical condition

The sick	Volunteers in our town visit the sick* in their homes every week.*
The disabled	A community center organizes fun activities for the disabled.
The wounded	After the accident, paramedics quickly helped the wounded.
The blind	At the library, helpers read books aloud to the blind.
The deaf	Some schools teach sign language so that the deaf* can communicate better.*
The dead	Families often visit the cemetery to honour the dead.
The handicapped	City officials are adding ramps to buildings to help the handicapped* move around.*
The living	Local leaders work hard to improve life for the living. Using Adjectives as Nouns

Social and economic status

The rich	The rich often support local charity events in our city.
The poor	Many programmes are designed to help the poor* with basic needs such as food and shelter.*
The homeless	In the winter, volunteers work together to care for the homeless* in our community.*
The unemployed	At the new community center, the unemployed* can attend free job training sessions.*
The disadvantaged	Local charities offer special classes for the disadvantaged* so they can learn new skills.*
The hungry	Every weekend, groups of volunteers prepare meals for the hungry* at a nearby shelter.*
The privileged	Sometimes, the privileged* are invited to join discussions about making life fairer for everyone.*
The unemployed	New job fairs are organized every month to help the unemployed find better opportunities. Using Adjectives as Nouns

Nationalities ending in -ch, -sh, -ese, –ss

The French	I visited Paris and met the* French, who were very friendly and kind.*
The British	*The British* usually enjoy a cup of tea every afternoon.
The Chinese	When I was in Beijing, I saw the Chinese* celebrating their traditional festivals with bright lanterns.*
The Swiss	On my trip to Switzerland, I learned that the Swiss* take great care of their beautiful cities and nature.*

Characteristics and qualities

The brave	Many people thank the brave* who risk their lives during emergencies.*
The wise	We often ask the wise* for advice when we are unsure of what to do*
The righteous	The community honours the righteous* who work to make life fair for everyone.*
The guilty	After the trial, the guilty* were dealt with according to the law.*
The educated	In our school, the educated* share what they have learned with others.*
The ignorant	Sometimes, the ignorant do not understand new ideas. Using Adjectives as Nouns
The gifted	Our class applauds the gifted* who solve problems very quickly.*
The foolish	Often, the foolish* make mistakes by not thinking before they act.*

Conditions and circumstances

The happy	*The happy* gathered at the festival, smiling and sharing music with everyone.
The sad	Volunteers often visit the hospital to comfort the sad* during hard times.*
The lonely	Community centers organize activities for the lonely* so they can meet new friends.*
The hopeful	At the town meeting, the hopeful* shared their ideas for a better future.*
The strong	In emergencies, many admire the strong* who work hard to help others.*
The weak	Neighbors come together to support the weak* after difficult weather has caused damage.*
The fit	The local gym offers free classes for the fit* who enjoy staying active.*
The frail	Special care is given by the community to the frail to ensure they remain safe and comfortable. Using Adjectives as Nouns

We can use an adverb before adjectives used as nouns.

At the charity event, the very rich donated money to help those in need.
At the annual charity event, donations were collected for the less fortunate and the very poor.

Using adjectives as nouns

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Using Adjectives as Nouns

Published by My Lingua Academy on 30 Apr 202530 Apr 2025