Adjectives are often used without nouns.
To refer to some well-known groups of people
The
structure the + adjective is used to
talk about some well-known groups of people. Examples are: the blind, the deaf, the
unemployed, the rich, the poor, the young, the old, the dead etc.
He is
collecting money for the blind. (=
He is collecting money for blind people.) Blessed
are the meek. The
government should do something for the
poor.
Note
that these expressions are always plural. The
blind means all blind people.
Similarly, the dead means all dead people. Adjectives are not normally used in this way without the.
Blessed are the meek. (NOT Blessed are meek.)
These expressions cannot be
used with a possessive ‘s.
The problems of the blind should
be properly addressed. OR Blind people’s
problems should be properly addressed.
(NOT The blind’s problems should be properly addressed.)
In a few
fixed phrases, the + adjective can
have a singular meaning. Examples include: the
accused, the former, the latter, the
deceased etc.
The accused was released
on bail.
Note that plural meanings are also possible.
Abstract ideas
An adjective can be used
after the to refer to some abstract
quality or idea.
She doesn’t believe in the supernatural.
The future (= futurity) is unknown to us.
Adjectives of nationality
Some adjectives of
nationality ending in -sh or -ch can
be used after the without nouns.
These adjectives include
Irish,
Welsh, English, British, Spanish, French etc.
The Irish are proud of their sense of humor.
Note
that the expressions the Irish, the
English etc., are plural.The singular equivalents are for example an
Irishman or an Englishwoman.
