106 The old, the rich, etc

There are some adjectives that we can use with the to talk about groups of people in society, e.g. the disabled, the blind. Here are some more examples.

BWhat adjectives can we use?

These are some of the adjectives and other words that we can use in a phrase with the.

To do with social or economic position:

the disadvantaged, the homeless, the hungry, the poor, the privileged, the rich, the starving, the strong, the underprivileged, the unemployed, the weak

To do with physical condition or health:

the blind, the deaf, the dead, the disabled, the handicapped, the living, the sick

To do with age:

the elderly, the middle-aged, the old, the over-sixties, the under-fives, the young

We can sometimes use an adverb before the adjective.

The very poor are left without hope. The severely disabled need full-time care.

There are some adjectives in this structure that normally have an adverb.

The less fortunate cannot afford to go on holiday.

Should the mentally ill be allowed to live in the community?

CThe young or the young people?

The young means 'young people in general'.

The young have their lives in front of them. When we mean a specific person or a specific group of people, then we use man, woman, people, etc.

There was a young man standing on the corner.

I know the young woman in reception. She lives in our street. None of the young people in the village can find jobs here.

106 Exercises

1 The old, the rich, etc (A)

Write in the missing words. Use the and these adjectives: homeless, hungry, old, sick, unemployed, young

The old, the rich, etc (A-B)

Rewrite the sentences using a phrase with the and an adjective instead of the underlined phrases.

►People who have lots of money have comfortable lives.

The rich have comfortable lives.

1We live near a special school for people who can't hear.

2The old soldiers were holding a service for those who had died.

3The government should do more for people who do not have enough money.

4I'm doing a course on caring for people who are mentally handicapped.

3 The young or the young people? (C)

Complete these sentences from a newspaper. Use the adjectives in brackets. Put in e.g. the hungry or the hungry people.

?Rich nations can afford to feed the hungry (hungry).

?The homeless people (homeless) whose story appeared in this paper last week have

107 Exercises

1 Interesting and interested (A-B)

What are they saying? Put in these words: depressing, exciting, exhausted, fascinating, interested

2 Interesting and interested (A-B)

3 Interesting and interested (A-B)

Complete the conversations using a word ending in ing or ed.