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Mr. Tom Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Something borders on something

Hi

(Sorry for the careless wording of this question, but...)

When we say that "something borders on something" -- does the second something have to be an adjective only? For example?

(Are these sentences natural?) 

Her actions were bordering on the obscene.
This sentence borders on the ungrammatical.
The new film, I would say, borders on the awesome. 

Thanks,

Tom
  

Top answer

You examples are correct, but your second "somethings" are nouns made from adjectives, not adjectives. ), but it doesn't seem as idiomatic. "Ordinary" nouns are also possible: "bordering on cowardice", "bordering on greatness", etc.

— GPY

  • You examples are correct, but your second "somethings" are nouns made from adjectives, not adjectives.
  • ), but it doesn't seem as idiomatic.
  • "Ordinary" nouns are also possible: "bordering on cowardice", "bordering on greatness", etc.
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2 Answers
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You examples are correct, but your second "somethings" are nouns made from adjectives, not adjectives. I think it is not impossible to use adjectives ("bordering on ungrammatical", "bordering on obscene", etc.), but it doesn't seem as idiomatic. "Ordinary" nouns are also possible: "bordering on cowardice", "bordering on greatness", etc.
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We'd place the definite article before an adjective to make an absolute (used as a noun): Bordering on THE ridiculous
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