Here's how it works:
1. Using an adjective as a noun to describe a group of people or things:
* The poor need help. (This refers to all poor people.)
* The young are often idealistic. (This refers to all young people.)
* The rich get richer. (This refers to all rich people.)
2. Using an adjective as a noun to describe a quality or concept:
* Good is its own reward.
* Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.
* Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
3. Using an adjective as a noun after a noun to modify it:
* The house is blue. (This modifies the noun "house".)
* The sky is gray. (This modifies the noun "sky".)
Important Note: While adjectives can function as nouns, they retain their original meaning as descriptive words. In these cases, the adjective represents a category or concept, not a specific individual or object.