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Arbizonne Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Past participles used as nouns
Hello,
I'm wondering about past participles used as nouns. My instinct tells me that they work like adjectival nouns, to describe general categories of people (the homeless and the displaced, for example), but what about something like "the accused"? Is it true to say that past-participles-as-nouns tend to refer to people?
Many thanks in advance for your help,
Arbi
I'm wondering about past participles used as nouns. My instinct tells me that they work like adjectival nouns, to describe general categories of people (the homeless and the displaced, for example), but what about something like "the accused"? Is it true to say that past-participles-as-nouns tend to refer to people?
Many thanks in advance for your help,
Arbi
Top answer
arbizonne Is it true to say that past-participles-as-nouns tend to refer to people? I suppose that, on average, they do tend to refer to people more than to things. I can't think of an example where they refer to things, but I don't know of a rule that says they can't refer to things.
- arbizonne Is it true to say that past-participles-as-nouns tend to refer to people?
- I suppose that, on average, they do tend to refer to people more than to things.
- I can't think of an example where they refer to things, but I don't know of a rule that says they can't refer to things.
- CJ
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1 Answers
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arbizonneIs it true to say that past-participles-as-nouns tend to refer to people?I suppose that, on average, they do tend to refer to people more than to things. I can't think of an example where they refer to things, but I don't know of a rule that says they can't refer to things.
CJ
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