Using Adjectives as Nouns in English: The + Adjective

Hello English learners, and welcome to a new, clear and practical grammar lesson. Today, we are going to look at using adjectives as nouns in English, especially the very common structure the + adjective.

This structure is often used to talk about groups of people in a general way. You will see it in newspapers, formal writing, reports, essays and Cambridge exams such as B2 First, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency.

For example, instead of saying:

• poor people
• rich people
• unemployed people
• homeless people
• older people

we can sometimes say:

• the poor
• the rich
• the unemployed
• the homeless
• the elderly

This makes our English sound more formal, concise and advanced.

Let’s look at how adjectives can be used as nouns in English and how to use this structure correctly.

What does “the + adjective” mean?

When we use the + adjective, the adjective behaves like a noun. It refers to a whole group of people who share a particular characteristic, situation or condition.

Compare:

• The charity helps homeless people.
• The charity helps the homeless.

Both sentences have a similar meaning, but the second one sounds more formal and general.

Important grammar rules

There are a few important rules to remember when using adjectives as nouns in English.

1. The meaning is plural

Although the adjective itself does not look plural, the meaning is usually plural. Because of this, we normally use a plural verb.

• The rich are getting richer.
• The young have different priorities from the elderly.

Not:

• The rich is getting richer.
• The poor needs more support.

So, remember:

the + adjective + plural verb

2. There is no singular form

We do not usually use the + adjective to talk about one individual person.

Not:

• an unemployed
• a poor
• two poors

Instead, we say:

• an unemployed person
• a poor man / a poor woman
• Two poor people

Compare:

• An unemployed person came to the office.

Not: An unemployed came to the office.

3. We do not add -s to the adjective

The adjective does not become plural.

Correct:

• the rich
• the poor
• the young
• the elderly
• the unemployed

Incorrect:

• the riches
• the poors
• the youngs
• the unemployeds

The adjective stays the same.

Common examples of adjectives used as nouns

Here are some of the most common examples of the + adjective in English.

The rich and the poor

We often use the rich and the poor when talking about society, money and inequality.

• Robin Hood stole from the rich and gave to the poor.

The young and the old

We use the young and the old to talk about age groups. However, older people is often warmer and more respectful than the old, especially in everyday English.

• The young are often more open to change.
• The old may feel left behind by new technology.
• Many services are designed to support older people.

The elderly

The elderly means older people, especially those who may need care, protection or support. It is common in formal English, but in many everyday situations, older people sounds more natural and respectful.

• The elderly are particularly vulnerable during heatwaves.

The middle-aged, the over-fifties and the under-fives

Some age-related expressions are also used as nouns.

The middle-aged refers to people who are no longer young but not yet elderly.

• The middle-aged often balance work, family and financial responsibilities.

The over-fifties refers to people who are over fifty years old.

• The over-fifties bring valuable experience to the workplace.

The under-fives refers to children under five years old.

• The under-fives learn best through play and interaction.

These expressions are common in formal writing, reports and discussions about society, education, health and work.

The unemployed

The unemployed means people who do not have jobs.

• The government has introduced new training schemes for the unemployed.

The homeless

The homeless means people who do not have a home.

• The charity provides food and blankets for the homeless.
• Homeless people often face a combination of social, financial and health problems.

Again, both the homeless and homeless people are correct. The second one can sometimes sound more personal and human.

The disadvantaged and the privileged

We often use the disadvantaged and the privileged when talking about opportunity, education, money and society.

• Scholarships are available for the disadvantaged.
• The privileged are encouraged to support social equality.

These expressions are formal and often appear in essays, reports and academic discussions.

The sick, the wounded and the injured

We use the sick, the wounded and the injured to talk about people who are ill or hurt.

• Volunteers regularly visit the sick in their homes.
• Doctors treated the wounded immediately after the accident.
• The injured were taken to hospital.

These expressions are common in news reports, formal descriptions and historical writing.

The living and the dead

The living means people who are alive.

The dead means people who have died.

• We must protect the environment for the living and future generations.
• Families gathered to honour the dead.

These expressions are often used in serious, formal, literary or historical contexts.

A note on respectful language

Although the + adjective is grammatically correct, some expressions can sound formal, impersonal or old-fashioned.

For example, grammar books often teach expressions such as:

• the disabled
• the blind
• the deaf
• the old

These forms are still used, especially in formal writing, but in many real-life situations people may prefer more respectful or person-first language:

• disabled people
• people with disabilities
• blind people
• deaf people
• older people

So, this structure is useful, but tone matters. In essays, reports and newspapers, the + adjective is common. In personal conversation, it is often better to use people.

Compare:

• The disabled need better access to public buildings.
• People with disabilities need better access to public buildings.

The second sentence sounds more modern and respectful.

Also, avoid the expression the handicapped. It is old-fashioned and may sound offensive. Use people with disabilities instead.

The + nationality adjectives

We can also use the + nationality adjective to talk about the people of a country as a group.

This is especially common with nationality adjectives ending in:

• -sh: the British, the English, the Spanish, the Turkish
• -ch: the French, the Dutch
• -ese: the Chinese, the Japanese, the Portuguese
• -ss: the Swiss

Examples:

• The British often talk about the weather.
• The English have a long literary tradition.
• The French are famous for their cuisine.
• The Spanish are known for their lively festivals.
• The Japanese have a rich cultural tradition.
• The Swiss are famous for their precision and organisation.

Notice that the meaning is plural, so we use a plural verb:

The French are famous for their food.

Not: The French is famous for their food.

There is no singular form with these nationalities

We do not usually say:

• a French
• an English
• a Chinese

Instead, we say:

• a French person
• an English person
• a Chinese person

Be careful with other nationalities

Not all nationality words work in the same way. With many nationalities, we use the plural noun form:

• the Germans
• the Italians
• the Serbs
• the Brazilians
• the Americans
• the Greeks
• the Poles

Examples:

• The Germans are known for their engineering.
• The Italians are proud of their food and culture.
• The Serbs are known for their hospitality.

Not:

• the German
• the Italian
• the Serbian

when you mean the people of the country in general.

Use the plural form instead:

• the Germans
• the Italians
• the Serbs

Nationalities and languages

Be careful not to confuse people with languages.

The English = English people

English = the English language

Compare:

• The English are known for their sense of humour.
• English is spoken all over the world.

Not:

• The English is spoken all over the world.

In this sentence, we are talking about the language, so we do not use the.

Can we use any adjective as a noun?

No. This is very important.

We cannot use every adjective after the to talk about a group of people.

These are common:

• the rich
• the poor
• the young
• the elderly
• the unemployed
• the homeless
• the injured
• the sick
• the disadvantaged
• the privileged
• the living
• the dead

But we do not usually say:

• the friendly
• the beautiful
• the tired
• the hungry

Some expressions such as the brave, the wise, the guilty or the innocent are possible, but they are often formal, literary, legal or moral in tone.

Examples:

• The brave were honoured for their actions.
• The wise do not speak without thinking.
• The guilty were punished.
• The innocent must be protected.

Using adverbs before adjectives as nouns

We can use adverbs before adjectives used as nouns.

Common examples include:

• the very rich
• the less fortunate
• the most vulnerable

Common mistakes with adjectives used as nouns

Here are some common mistakes learners make.

Mistake 1: Using a singular verb

Incorrect: The rich is getting richer.

Correct: The rich are getting richer.

Mistake 2: Adding -s to the adjective

Incorrect: The poors need help.

Correct: The poor need help.

Mistake 3: Using the structure for one person

Incorrect: An unemployed came to the office.

Correct: An unemployed person came to the office.

Mistake 4: Confusing nationality adjectives and languages

Incorrect: The Japanese is an interesting language.

Correct: Japanese is an interesting language.

In sentence 5, both sentences are grammatically possible, but people with disabilities sounds more modern and respectful.

Final tip for learners

Using the + adjective helps you sound more formal, academic and concise. It is especially useful when you want to avoid repeating phrases such as people who are poor, people who are unemployed or people who are elderly.

However, this structure should be used carefully. It is most common in formal writing, news reports, essays and exam tasks. In everyday conversation, it is often more natural and respectful to use people:

• older people
• disabled people
• homeless people
• unemployed people

Once you start noticing adjectives used as nouns in English, you will see them everywhere — in newspapers, books, reports and Cambridge exam texts.

Related posts:

The Definite Article THE 

Adjectives and Adverbs in English 

Prepositional Phrases for Formal Writing 

Collocations for B2 First Writing and Speaking 

How to Write a Report for C1 Advanced (CAE) 

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