Faithful as uncountable noun

Question

Hi,Which is the correct one:1. The faithful pray five times a day.2. The faithful prays five times a day.Wiktionary says the the noun "faithful" is an uncountable noun, then the verb "pray" should be written as "prays", right?Thanks, AL

Ozzourti · Accepted Answer

I would use 'pray'.

The faithful (people) pray five times a day.

It's not uncommon to turn an adjective into a plural noun by adding the definite article. You can also see it as a form of ellipsis.

RandomGuy · Answer

It should be pray. The faithful is understood as “those who are faithful”, so Wiktionary is wrong to call faithful an uncountable noun.

Anonymous · Answer

Aspara GusIt should be pray. The faithful is understood as “those who are faithful”, so Wiktionary is wrong to call faithful an uncountable noun.

Hi GPY.

There is a test for the singularity of a noun. For cats you have a cat, for tables, a table, for doctors a doctor, etc., but what is it with the faithful?

Ozzourti · Answer

When 'faithful' is used as a countable noun, it's: a faithful ----> faithfuls

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/faithful_4

However, 'the faithful' is plural (at least when it means 'those who are faithful').

Anonymous · Answer

ozzourtiWhen 'faithful' is used as a countable noun, it's: a faithful ----> faithfulshttp://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/faithful_4 However, 'the faithful' is plural (at least when it means 'those who are faithful').

It is understood that the faithful is a plural noun, but as I take it, it's in the category of the plural, formed from adjectives, like the rich, the poor, the excluded, etc., but what I've been asking about is the countability of the faithful. Can one shift it to the singularity the way you do with a count noun.

Faithful as uncountable noun

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