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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Adjective to refer to a group of people
Hi. Please help. I believe we can use phrases like "the destitute" to refer to "the destitute people" or "the people who are destitute." Then it doesn't sound to correct to use the phrase "the sad" to refer to "the sad people." Could we use the phrase "the sad" to refer to "the sad people" like "the destitute" (if "the destitute" is correct as referring to "the destitute people.")
Also, could we mix the phrases like "the destitute" with what I would call regular words that refer to people like "widows" and "children"? Thank you in advance for your help.
He mainly cared for the destitute, widows, and children.
Also, could we mix the phrases like "the destitute" with what I would call regular words that refer to people like "widows" and "children"? Thank you in advance for your help.
He mainly cared for the destitute, widows, and children.
Top answer
Yes, that's all broadly OK. But your sentence seems to imply that the destitute does not include widows and children.
- Yes, that's all broadly OK.
- But your sentence seems to imply that the destitute does not include widows and children.
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3 Answers
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Yes, that's all broadly OK.
But your sentence seems to imply that the destitute does not include widows and children.
But your sentence seems to imply that the destitute does not include widows and children.
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You wrote:
Yes, I agree with your comment. I should have written the example sentence more carefully. By the way, could we use either the singular or the plural verb after phrases like "the destitute"? Thank you again in advance for your hel
But your sentence seems to imply that the destitute does not include widows and children.
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I used the singular verb because I was thinking of 'the destitute' as a word rather than as a group. I should have put it in quotes.
Clive
Clive
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