Grammar-Quizzes › Noun Phrases › Determiners › Articles–The › The Group Characteristic
The – Group Characteristic
Refer to a group by a shared attribute (trait)
Adjective + Noun vs. "The Adjective"
| A / NO MARKER + ADJECTIVE + NOUN |
|---|
Usually when we are describing something in general (unspecific), we mention both the adjective and the noun—both elements |
A blind person uses assistive technologies. Blind people use assistive technologies. |
A young person expects to be able to find a job. Young people expect to be able to find a job. |
An accused man has a right to a fair trial. Accused men have a right to a fair trial. |
A poor person hopes to have better opportunities. Poor people hope to have better opportunities. |
An unemployed person hopes to find a suitable job. Unemployed people hopes to find a suitable job. |
A dying person loses consciousness. Dying people lose consciousness. |
| THE + ADJECTIVE |
|---|
However, in some cases, we use the + adjective (without a noun) to talk about an unspecific group of people who are in a particular physical or social condition. |
The blind use assistive technologies. (the deaf, the handicapped) |
The young expect to be able to find jobs. (the restless, "the good, the bad, the ugly") |
The accused was sent to jail to await his trial. (the undersigned– legal term) |
The poor hope to live a better life. (the rich, the wealthy, the homeless) |
The unemployed hope to find new jobs quickly. (the retired, the underemployed, the jobless) |
The living are conscious. (the dead, the dying, the deceased) |
assistive technology (N) – portable reading devices, talking GPS and so on.
consciousness (N) — the state of being conscious; awareness of one's own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc.
The Group
Name by nationality
Adjective–Nationality Names
| AN + ADJECTIVE |
|---|
An adjective for a particular nationality can be used to modify a singular noun, such as person, man, woman, child, etc. |
An English person enjoys a good strong cup of tea. English people enjoy a good strong cup of tea. |
A Chinese person loves his or her country. Chinese people love their country. |
| THE + ADJECTIVE |
|---|
With some nationalities, the + adjective is used if no noun exists. The singular word (a mass noun) uses plural agreement. |
The English drink strong black tea. (French, Irish, Dutch Welsh) |
The Chinese love their country. (Japanese, Burmese, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Portuguese) |
See previous page: The-Nationality -ese / -ish
Selected-Quality Name
Name by substance, color or size
Named by a selected quality
| AN + ADJECTIVE |
|---|
When thinking about a choice between two or more things, we often use an adjective. |
Only a wheat and a sour dough roll is left. (Two) |
We have a white or a blue car. |
Would you like a large or a small coffee? "a coffee" (a cup of coffee) is restaurant speech |
| THE + ADJECTIVE |
|---|
When the choice has already been mentioned, we often leave out a noun, especially with colors, material, ingredients and size. |
He'll take the wheat. (the noun is not repeated) |
I would like the blue. |
I'd like the large, please. |
Unique-Quality Name
Name by unique order or characteristic
| A + ADJECTIVE |
|---|
Either former or latter can be used as a modifier to a noun. |
Michael Jackson, a former pop star, died in June 2009. (past, previously, no longer)
|
Elizabeth Taylor's career peaked near the latter half of the 20th century. (comparatively near the end)
|
| THE + ADJECTIVE |
|---|
After a sentence in which one or more items is mentioned, former refers to the earliest item mentioned and latter refers to the last item mentioned. The word should be placed close to the word or idea to which it refers so as not to confuse the reader. Another option is to simply repeat the noun instead of using former or latter. |
Michael Jackson(1) and Elizabeth Taylor(2) appeared at a birthday celebration together in 1997.
|
The former(1) was the King of Pop and the latter(1) was a Hollywood legend. |
Pop-Q "Latter" (about using former and latter)
| A + ADJECTIVE |
|---|
A word indicating order first or last can be used to modify a noun. |
A first kiss is something a young man or woman looks forward to. |
A last child quickly learns to out-guess his/her siblings. (brothers and sisters) |
| THE + ADJECTIVE |
|---|
After a sentence in which an adjective and noun have been mention, the second mention may use just the adjective: first refers to the earliest one (unique). |
The first is always the most memorable. |
The last learns quickly to survive. |
ordinal numbers—first, second, third, fourth, and so on.
| AN + ADJECTIVE |
|---|
When an adjective modifies a noun, the noun is included. |
He's the tallest guy in my class. |
She is the most hardworking employee of all. |
| THE + ADJECTIVE |
|---|
However, after superlative adjectives, nouns are often left out . |
He's the tallest in my class. (the noun is not repeated) |
She is the most hardworking of all.
|
See The-Superlatives
Practice 1
A Piece of the Pie
Select the verb form that agrees with the group.
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" button.
Practice 2
World Exports
What is the group name for the people?
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" button.
The World's Largest Exporters and How they Make their Money. Herald Daily. 29 Mar 2010. http://heralddaily.com/2010/03/29/the-worlds-largest-exporters-and-how-they-make-their-money/
Practice 3
The former / The latter
Is it the former or the latter?
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" button.