Similarity of NOUN modifier with Adjective and

Question

Take a look at bellow two words;Education BackgroundEducational BackgroundI had a long debate on the first word, Educational and Education. I know that educational is an adjective and education is a noun but how about their functions ? Are they not the same? Are they not modifying what kind of background? I want your prompt response along with solid convincing reasons and proofs.Looking forward to hearing ASAP. Thanks in advance.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

mansoor99 I want your prompt response along with solid convincing reasons and proofs.Looking forward to hearing ASAP.

A polite request might be more effective than a demand.

BillJ · Answer

MM is right, mansoor99 - you really shouldn't demand urgent responses to your questions.

Anyway, the answer is that both "Education" and "Educational" are functioning as a pre-head (or attributive) modifier of the noun "background".

When we analyse clauses using a tree diagram, the various constituents have two labels. The first indicates their function in the clause, the second their category (part of speech). So in your example the noun "Education" would be labelled thus: function = modifier; category = noun.

And the adjective "Educational" would be labelled: function = modifier; category = adjective.

The mistake is to think that "Education" somehow becomes an adjective when it is modifying a noun, but that's quite incorrect. "Education" has all the properties of indisputable nouns (not adjectives), and hence must belong solely in that class even when it is modifying a noun.

BillJ

Mansoor99 · Answer

Thank you so much for your useful reply. Unluckily I was really tired of debating and wanted to know what you internet friends think.That is why, I could not concentrate on my wording.
Anyway, I will remember your advice next time.

Take care

Similarity of NOUN modifier with Adjective and

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