Question:
As I'm trying to learn English, I'd like to ask you a question:
Does English Grammar occasionally allow an adjective be treated as
if it were a noun?
Here are two examples that I have seen in a recent local newspaper:
a. Deliverables
instead of saying "deliverable items"
b. Whites, Blacks
instead of saying "the white, the black"
I've learned that one can say "the poor" or "the rich" to refer
to the whole group, but I have been unable to find
any rule in any grammar book that explains the rule of the above
examples.
By the way is there an English word describing a person
who discriminates against others based on their wealth or
their social status?
In other words, if a person practicing racism is called a racist,
then what is an English word describing a person who discriminates agains other
people based on their financial status or social status?
Answer:
the English language does allow the use of adjectives as nouns.
You pointed out two prime examples of this...
But to give you the benefit of the doubt, this is usually how slang terms in
various English speaking sub cultures come about. The generic part of the term
is usually dropped in casual conversation because it is understood.
From your example: "deliverable items" is shortened to "deliverables" since the
fact that there is an "item" of some sort involved becomes obvious.
In matters of principle, stand like a rock;
in matters of taste, swim with the current.
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