SUBSTANTIVISED ADJECTIVES

Substantivation is a process when a part of speech loses its original characteristics and develops the characteristics
of a noun. In inflected languages (for example, in the Russian language) adjectives get substantivised very easily. As
far as Modern English is an analytical (not inflected) language, the number of substantivised adjectives in it is
limilted.
When adjectives are substantivized they lose all or part of the characteristics of an adjective and acquire all or part
of the characteristics of a noun. In the sentence they function as nouns. In Modern English adjectives may become
wholly (fully) or partially substantivised.
WHOLLY SUBSTANTIVISED ADJECTIVES
W.S.adjectives have acquired all characteristics of a noun:
- they may be singular or plural;
- they may be used in the possessive case;
- they may be used with both articles (a/the).
Here belong the following classes of words:
a) Words denoting classes of persons: a relative, a native, a savage, a criminal, a black, a white, a liberal, a
conservative, a radical, a European, a commercial, a noble, a primitive, etc.
E.g.: He lived among savages for many years.
There was a natives hut near their camp.
b) Words denoting some nationalities: a Russian, an Italian, an American, etc. Note that such nationalities as
Swiss, Japanese, Chinese, Burmese, Maltese, Portugese have the same form in the singular an in the plural.
c) Word denoting languages (but they are uncountable and used in the singular only)
E.g. She speaks excellent Russian.
His French is not very good.
d) Words denoting periodical issues: a daily, a monthly, a weekly.
e) Words denoting names of colours. In their general meaning they are uncountable, but sometimes they can take
the definite article when modified by a limiting attribute.
E.g. Black suits you best. She was dressed in white. The green of the trees was perfect against the sky.

If the same nouns denote different tints or shades of colour they may become countable and be used with the
indefinite article or in the plural:
E.g. It was a picture in greens and blues. The sky was a rich darkening blue.

PARTIALLY SUBSTANTIVISED ADJECTVES
Partially substantivised adjectives have retained some adjectival characteristics. They are never used in the plural or
in the Possessive and always take the definite article.
Here belong:
a) Words denoting groups of people possessing the same quality: the brave, the honest, the rich, the poor, the deaf
and dumb, etc. Some participles 2 may get substantivised, too: the disabled, the unemployed. The accused is an
exception, for it may denote both one person and more than one.
E.g.: This money can be used to give health to the sick, strength to the weak, consolation to the sad.
b) Words denoting nationalities ending in ch or sh: the French, the Dutch, the English, the Irish, the Scotch (in this
form those word cant be used to denote a single individual. When referring to individuals, the second root man is
added: a Frenchman, a Dutchman, etc.)
c) Words denoting abstract notions: the beautiful, the past, the present, the sentimental, etc.
E.g. The beautiful is immortal. We must take the bitter along with the sweet.
d) In a number of set expressions:
in the negative
in the affirmative
on the contrary
on the whole
in the dead of night
a change for the better
to get the better (the best) of something
its all for the best
to be at ones best
not in the least
to be in the thick of smth
in the dark
in the cold
to touch somebody to the quick
all of a sudden
out of sudden
to appear out of the blue.