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This sentence comes from Huddleston's Introduction to the Grammar of English (page 109)

The second candidate was holding forth at great length while the third was getting very impatient.

Accoding to Huddleston candidate is omitted by ellipsis. When I was learning English I was told that no Adjective Phrase could be left alone, without a Noun Phrase, in such cases one and ones would be used to replace a previously noun expressed in the dicourse, so from Huddleston's example could I have such a thing like I like the blue T-shirt but not the black? Is this ellipsis phenomenon easily applicaple and accepted?


Thanks

José

Yes, it's perfectly acceptable for 'a noun phrase to consist wholly of dependents/lack an overt head' (just taking a quick look at the page you mentioned). What, you don't believe Sir Rodney of Klingonstone?! (Could rival Rosetta!).

Anyway, I'll try to get back to you with some actual specifics on this stuff later today.

"The second" is an adjective phrase. "The third" is a noun phrase. The noun "candidate" has established the topical relationship of the sequence, so other parts of the sequence can now be used as pronouns. If you say "I will arrive on the third.", the context could imply a different identification by the word without even mentioning the month.

In written English, I don't think it's a good practice to do this with colors. I would suggest using a pronoun, "the black one". However, we do use colors as pronouns in oral English after representative relationships have been established.

Thanks people


I guess I got it, as far as I can tell pure adjectives cannot be left alone as easily as noun when functioning as adjective. Have I got it right?

*There's a nice boy and a nice too. (If there's a nice girl/man/woman whatever around and I want to refer to the other person even though it might be clear by context.)

José