adjectivescarries

Adjectivescarries is a neologism used in some descriptive linguistics discussions to describe a class of adjectives that, in certain noun phrases, bear the grammatical information typically associated with the noun head. In languages with rich adjective inflection, adjectives may take marking for number, gender, case, and definiteness that mirrors or substitutes the noun’s morphology. In such contexts, the adjective effectively carries the grammatical burden of the noun phrase, especially when the noun is omitted or reduced in compact constructions.

Core features

- Morphology: adjectives display agreement and, in some cases, carry case or definiteness that aligns with or replaces the noun’s features.

- Syntax: this tendency is most visible in attributive positions or in reduced noun phrases where the noun is ellipsed or unpronounced.

- Semantics: the adjective maintains the reference of the full noun phrase; the property expressed by the adjective remains central to identifying the referent.

Cross-linguistic interest

The concept is discussed as a descriptive lens rather than a universal category. It has been noted in studies of languages with pro-drop tendencies, strong adjectival agreement, or analytic noun phrases.

Criticism

Some linguists argue that what is described as adjectives carries may simply reflect regular adjective–noun agreement patterns rather than a distinct category; the term can risk conflating morphological marking with lexical class.

See also

Noun phrase, adjective, agreement, ellipsis.

Notes

Adjectivescarries is informal and not widely standardized in mainstream grammars.