[Grammar] Adjective

[Anil Giria]

Some people will receive gift .

I understand "gift" is adjective above. I could not understand why. I understand which describe a noun is an "adjective" like Ram is a good boy. Here "good" is and adjective as it describes noun. Please clarify.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I consider 'gift' a noun instead of an adjective in 'receive a gift', but I am not a teacher.

 

[MikeNewYork]

"Gift" is not an adjective. It is a noun and it needs an article (a) before it.

 

[emsr2d2]

Some people will receive a gift .

I understand "gift" is an adjective above. I could not understand why. I understand that a word which describes a noun is an "adjective" [strike]like[/strike] as in "Ram is a good boy". Here "good" is [STRIKE]and[/STRIKE] an adjective as it describes a noun. Please clarify.

Please see my amendments to your post above in red. You need to work on your use of articles.

As the others said, in your original sentence, "gift" is a noun. Why did you think it's an adjective?

 

[Anil Giria]

Because of analysis below:

1. Adjective/Noun/Verb.

Many people plan to gift (verb) their family members and friends next month. It's Christmas, so Santa Claus will be bearing (bringing) many gifts (noun) for good boys and girls. Some people will receive gift (adjective) cards for, say, $100. They can then go to a store and choose anything that is less than $100.

 

[MikeNewYork]

In "gift cards", "gift" functions as an adjective, but that was not your original question.

 

[Matthew Wai]

A noun used before another noun can act as an adjective modifying the second noun, e.g. company cars and car doors.

In "gift cards", "gift" functions as an adjective.

I think the same applies to 'gift shops', but I am not a teacher.

 

[Anil Giria]

In "gift cards", "gift" functions as an adjective, but that was not your original question.

Sorry. I missed to add cards.

Can you please explain why the "gift" is adjective if it is followed by cards?

 

[bhaisahab]

It's an adjective because it's describing the plural noun "cards".

 

[SoothingDave]

Sorry. I missed to add cards.

Can you please explain why the "gift" is adjective if it is followed by cards?

It's an adjective because that is how it is being used in the sentence.

The technical term is "attributive noun" for when a noun functions as an adjective. It is common. I opened the car door. I am looking at my computer screen. My wife wants me to build a new chicken coop.

In those sentences "car," "computer" and "chicken" are all nouns that are functioning as adjectives.

 

[emsr2d2]

As you can see from these responses, words are attributed a function based on the context and their usage in the sentence.

I will give you a gift. (Gift = noun)
He will gift his brother next month. (Gift = verb)
I bought you a gift card. (Gift = adjective)