adjective phrases ?

[hela]

Dear teachers,

Would you please tell me if the following phrases are adjectival or nominal ?

1) A beautiful young girl won the race.

2) The French boy will leave in June.

3) The very little boy broke his leg.

4) The old building opposite our school is being pulled down.

5) Someone remarkable saved her uncle’s life.


How do you differenciate a nominal phrase from an adjectival one?

Thanks a lot,
Hela

[Tdol]

If they're functioning as the subject, as these are, they're nominal.

[Casiopea]

Hela, are you still working from Greenbaum & Quirk?

[hela]

Yes, I am.

And I would like to know if a subject can be an adjectival phrase, or is it always a nominal phrase?

Many thanks,
Hela

[Casiopea]

What do Greenbaum & Quick have to say on the matter?

[hela]

A subject is always an nominal phrase even thought the latter may include an adjectival phrase ?

See you.

[Casiopea]

I see. It means, even though adjectives belong to the same category as nouns (i.e., the category "nominal"), adjectives cannot functions as subjects. Subjects are people, places, and things, whereas adjectives describe people, places, and things.