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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Nationalities: Noun vs. Adjective

Hello,

Picking up from the postings in this link, would you say it is never correct to write or say the following, which are using the different nationalities as a noun?

I'm a Chinese.
I'm an American.
We are Canadians.

If so, these diffirent nationalities should be used as an adjective like the following. Would you agree?

I'm Chinese.
I'm American.
We are Canadian.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.
  

Top answer

-- No, I would not say that. If so, these diffirent nationalities should be used as an adjective like the following. -- They may also appear in that form.

— Mister Micawber

  • -- No, I would not say that.
  • If so, these diffirent nationalities should be used as an adjective like the following.
  • -- They may also appear in that form.
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7 Answers
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...would you say it is never correct to write or say the following, which are using the different nationalities as a noun?-- No, I would not say that.

If so, these diffirent nationalities should be used as an adjective like the following. Would you agree?-- They may also appear in that form.
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Thank you for your response, Mister Micawber.

From your answers, does it mean all of the example sentences I gave are correct? I just got confused because the link I attached said we should not say "I'm a Chinese", but "I'm Chinese"
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Also, with the word "British", I often hear "He is British", and I'm not sure if "He is a British," is spoken. Is "He is a British," also correct?
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From your answers, does it mean all of the example sentences I gave are correct? I just got confused because the link I attached said we should not say "I'm a Chinese", but "I'm Chinese"-- All the examples you gave are unimpeachable.

Also, with the word "British", I often hear "He is British", and I'm not sure if "He is a British," is spoken. Is "He is a British," also corre
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I see it is not possible for all countries. Thank you for that clarification.

If Spaniard is for Spanish people, is there an equivalent for British people? So that I can use for "He is a ____"

I believe English is not the equivalent. "He is an English" is incorrect, I think.
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He is a Briton (familiarly, "Brit').
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Oh, yes, I've come across the word. It's just that I didn't remember it.

Thank you for the answer. That was really helpful.
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