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Navitasan Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
The + adjective
In general,
'the + adjective' and 'the + past participle' could be used instead of a plural noun phrase.
The good die young.
The damned will bury the dead.
I think in certain cases that structure could be used instead of a singular noun.
There was a movie called 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly' (the movie was Italian actually)
I was not the hunter but the hunted. (the hunted one)
Am I correct so far?
The question is whether this structure is ever used for non-humans?
Is it ever used for non-living things?
Could 'the' be replaced by another determiner?
'God's anointed' seem to exist.
Gratefully,
Navi
'the + adjective' and 'the + past participle' could be used instead of a plural noun phrase.
The good die young.
The damned will bury the dead.
I think in certain cases that structure could be used instead of a singular noun.
There was a movie called 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly' (the movie was Italian actually)
I was not the hunter but the hunted. (the hunted one)
Am I correct so far?
The question is whether this structure is ever used for non-humans?
Is it ever used for non-living things?
Could 'the' be replaced by another determiner?
'God's anointed' seem to exist.
Gratefully,
Navi
Top answer
For non-humans, yes. For example: The pride of lions had been without food for days but had managed to dispatch an elephant after an exhausting struggle. Most of the pride was exhausted and could not immediately feed on the catch, but the famished dove right in despite their exhaustion and started feeding immediately.
- For non-humans, yes.
- For example: The pride of lions had been without food for days but had managed to dispatch an elephant after an exhausting struggle.
- Most of the pride was exhausted and could not immediately feed on the catch, but the famished dove right in despite their exhaustion and started feeding immediately.
- For inanimate objects, also yes.
- For example: Most of the sloops could not keep pace with the powerful motor yacht, but the fastest managed to stay within sight of her.
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7 Answers
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For non-humans, yes. For example:
The pride of lions had been without food for days but had managed to dispatch an elephant after an exhausting struggle. Most of the pride was exhausted and could not immediately feed on the catch, but the famished dove right in despite their exhaustion and started feeding immediately.
For inanimate objects, also yes. For example:
Most
The pride of lions had been without food for days but had managed to dispatch an elephant after an exhausting struggle. Most of the pride was exhausted and could not immediately feed on the catch, but the famished dove right in despite their exhaustion and started feeding immediately.
For inanimate objects, also yes. For example:
Most
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Possessives can be used instead of "the," for example:
Their bravest were selected to lead the assault.
Their bravest were selected to lead the assault.
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We have a local radio show, 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly' where they discuss and rate various topics or ideas as "good, "bad" or "ugly."
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navitasanI think in certain cases that structure could be used instead of a singular noun.There was a movie called 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly' (the movie was Italian actually)I was not the hunter but the hunted. (the hunted one)Am I correct so far?That is very uncommon. The name of the film was effectively a one-off, a direct translation from the Italian
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Thank you all very much indeed.
I am sold on the non-human bit. As for the inanimate, well, you are using the superlative. Not a normal adjective. It is a bit different to my way of thinking. But I might be wrong.
The superlative can easily be used as a singular noun.
They were all fast, but the fastest was John.
Gratefully,
Navi.
I am sold on the non-human bit. As for the inanimate, well, you are using the superlative. Not a normal adjective. It is a bit different to my way of thinking. But I might be wrong.
The superlative can easily be used as a singular noun.
They were all fast, but the fastest was John.
Gratefully,
Navi.
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navitasanAs for the inanimate, well, you are using the superlative. Not a normal adjective. It is a bit different to my way of thinking. But I might be wrong.You are not: The impossible interests him. (Impossible things interest him.)
CB
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