How can a noun be used as an adjective

Sometimes we use a noun to describe another noun. In that case, the first noun "acts as" an adjective. Just like a real adjective, the "noun as adjective" is invariable. It is usually in the singular form. A few nouns look plural but we usually treat them as singular for example news, billiards, athletics. When we use these nouns "as adjectives" they are unchanged:.

Exceptions : When we use certain nouns "as adjectives" clothes, sports, customs, accounts, arms , we use them in the plural form:. There are no easy rules for this. Not all nouns have related adjectives. But when there is a related adjective you get to choose. You can wear a silken scarf with your woolen sweater, or you can wear a silk scarf with your wool sweater. Both ways of saying it are correct. You can also mix and match, saying you wore a silk scarf with your woolen sweater, but I think it often sounds better to stick with the same form within one sentence.

Both terms are about equally common. Her popular LinkedIn Learning courses help people write better to communicate better. Jump to Navigation. We can use degree adverbs such as absolutely, completely, entirely, totally and other similar words before these adjectives:.

The garden is completely dry. The city centre is absolutely full of tourists at this time of year. Other degree adverbs which we can use before this type of gradable adjective include almost, barely, half, scarcely :. Brain cell regeneration is almost possible , say scientists. The situation in my old job was quite different. It was a very small new company. Gradable and ungradable.

We can use some adjectives before the noun or after the verb but the meaning differs. We can finish that job on Monday but this particular job needs to be done by today. My boss is very particular.

He checks all our work very carefully. His late wife came from a very rich family. The police are certain that the killer was known to the victim. A noun n is sometimes used before another noun to give more information about it. This is called a noun modifier. Adjectives adj come before noun modifiers:. When adjectives are used before the noun attributive function , there are also sometimes degree adverbs. Different degree adverbs require different positions for the adjective phrase.

Quite : quite a cold day The normal order with quite is quite a cold day. The normal order with rather is a rather cold day. A kind-hearted person is one who likes other people a lot and always wants to help them. Outsets and onsets! Adjective phrases: position. See also: Adjective phrases. Adjectives normally only used before a noun.

Numbers and first, last. Some adjectives of degree. Some adjectives of time and order. Some adjectives that limit the following noun. Adjectives normally only used after a noun. Adjectives normally only used after a verb. Adjectives with the prefix a -. S ome adjectives referring to states of health. Words and phrases that go before and after adjectives.

See also: Enough. Gradable adjectives and words and phrases that go before them. The waves are fairly high in the winter. The waves are quite high in the winter. The clock is over years old. How high are the waves? How high the waves are! These are called ungradable adjectives : The tree is dead. Not: The tree is fairly dead.

My dog is female. Not: My dog is sort of female. Not: My working day is completely long. My house is so hot. Not: My house is absolutely hot. This office is extremely small.

Not: This office is totally small. Maximum and minimum. Are you? See also: Quite Gradable and ungradable. Different meanings of adjectives before the noun and after the verb. Adjectives before nouns that modify other nouns. See also: Nouns. Order of adjectives in noun phrases with articles and degree modifiers.

Special cases. Quite : quite a cold day. Rather : a rather cold day. See also: Quite Rather. See also: Adverbs Enough Quite. Popular searches 01 Adverbs and adverb phrases: position 02 Other , others , the other or another? Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes. Image credits. Word of the Day kind-hearted. About this. Blog Outsets and onsets! Read More. November 08, To top.

Adjectives and adverbs Easily confused words Nouns, pronouns and determiners Prepositions and particles Using English Verbs Words, sentences and clauses Adjectives and adverbs Easily confused words Nouns, pronouns and determiners Prepositions and particles Using English Verbs Words, sentences and clauses Adjectives and adverbs Easily confused words Nouns, pronouns and determiners Prepositions and particles Using English Verbs Words, sentences and clauses Adjectives and adverbs Easily confused words Nouns, pronouns and determiners Prepositions and particles Using English Verbs Words, sentences and clauses.

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Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English. Click on the arrows to change the translation direction. Follow us. Choose a dictionary. Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English. Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English. Grammar Thesaurus. Word Lists. Choose your language. Adjectives Adjectives: forms Adjectives: order Adjective phrases: functions Adjective phrases: position Adjectives and adjective phrases: typical errors.

Comparison: adjectives bigger , biggest , more interesting Comparison: clauses bigger than we had imagined Comparison: comparisons of equality as tall as his father As … as.

Adverbs Adverb phrases Adverbs and adverb phrases: position Adverbs and adverb phrases: typical errors Adverbs: forms Adverbs: functions Adverbs: types Comparison: adverbs worse, more easily Fairly Intensifiers very, at all Largely Much , a lot , lots , a good deal : adverbs Pretty Quite Rather Really Scarcely Very.

Above or over? Across , over or through? Advice or advise? Affect or effect? All or every? All or whole? Allow , permit or let? Almost or nearly? Alone , lonely , or lonesome? Along or alongside? Already , still or yet?

Also , as well or too?