nouns relared to adjectives

[Kontol]

My English grammar book explains some nouns can be used gradably in descriptions, rather like adjectives.

She's a great nuisance. (= She's very annoying)
The meeting is a relative success. (= ... relatively succesful)

Now, Is it the same as the words "menace", "help", "fun", "threat", etc., which they have meanings rather like adjectives in the following?

Manchester United are counter attacking with such menace. (= .... with very dangerous)
West Ham are looking decent now, but Spurs are a threat on the break. (= Spurs are threatening on the break)
You've been such a help. (= You've been helping so much.

 

[jutfrank]

Manchester United are counter attacking with such menace. (= .... with very dangerous)

I'm not completely sure I understand what you're thinking, but if you're thinking that the word such provides a sense of the degree of the menace, then yes, that's basically right.

(Note that dangerous is an adjective so it can't be the object of a preposition.)

West Ham are looking decent now, but Spurs are a threat on the break. (= Spurs are threatening on the break)

This sentence doesn't include any 'degree' word at all.

You've been such a help. (= You've been helping so much.

This sentence basically means 'You've been very helpful'.