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Square Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Can we call "in deficit" an adjectival here?
Financial units are not expected to be in deficit in the long term.
Source: "Office of FINANCIAL SERVICES", MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY.
Can we call "in deficit" an adjectival here?
Source: "Office of FINANCIAL SERVICES", MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY.
Can we call "in deficit" an adjectival here?
Top answer
Yes. )
- Yes.
- )
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5 Answers
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You mean why not "in a/the deficit"? "in deficit" is a set expression. There are quite a number of idiomatic preposition+noun combinations where normally countable nouns drop the article:
to hand
in goal
in person
on deck
on site
etc. etc.
to hand
in goal
in person
on deck
on site
etc. etc.
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Thanks. I am glad to know that.
I meant the article "an" in your answer.
You would just say that it is "adjectival", not "an adjectival.
I meant the article "an" in your answer.
You would just say that it is "adjectival", not "an adjectival.
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SquareI meant the article "an" in your answer.Oh, yes, of course! Sorry!
"adjectival" is normally an adjective. It's true that it does occasionally seem to be used as a noun, so your "an adjectival" may not be impossible after all.
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