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Is Vietnamese a noun or an adjective?
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If I say I am Vietnamese. Is Vietnamese a noun or an adjective? According to OALD, Vietnamese can be a noun or an adjective. If it’s a noun, why don’t we say I am a Vietnamese? Because its meaning is a person from Vietnam.
articles zero-article parts-of-speech
asked 2 hours ago
Thanhgiang
379313
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up vote
1
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If I say I am Vietnamese. Is Vietnamese a noun or an adjective? According to OALD, Vietnamese can be a noun or an adjective. If it’s a noun, why don’t we say I am a Vietnamese? Because its meaning is a person from Vietnam.
articles zero-article parts-of-speech
asked 2 hours ago
Thanhgiang
379313
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
If I say I am Vietnamese. Is Vietnamese a noun or an adjective? According to OALD, Vietnamese can be a noun or an adjective. If it’s a noun, why don’t we say I am a Vietnamese? Because its meaning is a person from Vietnam.
articles zero-article parts-of-speech
asked 2 hours ago
Thanhgiang
379313
If I say I am Vietnamese. Is Vietnamese a noun or an adjective? According to OALD, Vietnamese can be a noun or an adjective. If it’s a noun, why don’t we say I am a Vietnamese? Because its meaning is a person from Vietnam.
articles zero-article parts-of-speech
articles zero-article parts-of-speech
asked 2 hours ago
Thanhgiang
379313
asked 2 hours ago
Thanhgiang
379313
asked 2 hours ago
Thanhgiang
379313
asked 2 hours ago
Thanhgiang
379313
asked 2 hours ago
Thanhgiang
379313
379313
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
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up vote
3
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In
I am Vietnamese.
Vietnamese is an adjective. This is the correct way to say that you are from Vietnam (= are Vietnamese).
Vietnamese can be a noun in certain usages.
The Vietnamese are known for their exquisite cuisine.
Notice the usage of the definite article. This is what the Cambridge Dictionary says on the matter:
the
- used before some adjectives to turn the adjectives into nouns that refer to people or things in general that can be described by the adjective:
She lives in a special home for the elderly.
The French were defeated at Waterloo in 1815.
There is also
?I am a Vietnamese.
The Cambridge Dictionary suggests this usage is grammatically fine:
Nationalities, languages, countries and regions
from English Grammar Today
When we refer to a nation or region, we can use:
[...]
– a singular noun that we use for a person from the country or region: a Turk, a Japanese, a German, a Brazilian, an Asian
However, in my opinion, at best, I find this usage questionable (?) or awkward. To me, it borders on ignorant or offensive, especially if it's said about the person (e.g. ?She is a Vietnamese). That's why you're less likely to hear it. So although it is grammatical, my recommendation is to reword it instead (e.g. She is/I am Vietnamese). The awkwardness has also been discussed on ELU: Can I say “A Chinese†in English?.
answered 1 hour ago
Em.♦
35.1k1099119
+1 for pointing out the 'awkwardness'
– CinCout
1 hour ago
To be clear, Vietnamese is fine as a plural noun, but awkward as a singular noun.
– Andrew
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
In
I am Vietnamese.
Vietnamese is an adjective. This is the correct way to say that you are from Vietnam (= are Vietnamese).
Vietnamese can be a noun in certain usages.
The Vietnamese are known for their exquisite cuisine.
Notice the usage of the definite article. This is what the Cambridge Dictionary says on the matter:
the
- used before some adjectives to turn the adjectives into nouns that refer to people or things in general that can be described by the adjective:
She lives in a special home for the elderly.
The French were defeated at Waterloo in 1815.
There is also
?I am a Vietnamese.
The Cambridge Dictionary suggests this usage is grammatically fine:
Nationalities, languages, countries and regions
from English Grammar Today
When we refer to a nation or region, we can use:
[...]
– a singular noun that we use for a person from the country or region: a Turk, a Japanese, a German, a Brazilian, an Asian
However, in my opinion, at best, I find this usage questionable (?) or awkward. To me, it borders on ignorant or offensive, especially if it's said about the person (e.g. ?She is a Vietnamese). That's why you're less likely to hear it. So although it is grammatical, my recommendation is to reword it instead (e.g. She is/I am Vietnamese). The awkwardness has also been discussed on ELU: Can I say “A Chinese†in English?.
answered 1 hour ago
Em.♦
35.1k1099119
+1 for pointing out the 'awkwardness'
– CinCout
1 hour ago
To be clear, Vietnamese is fine as a plural noun, but awkward as a singular noun.
– Andrew
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
In
I am Vietnamese.
Vietnamese is an adjective. This is the correct way to say that you are from Vietnam (= are Vietnamese).
Vietnamese can be a noun in certain usages.
The Vietnamese are known for their exquisite cuisine.
Notice the usage of the definite article. This is what the Cambridge Dictionary says on the matter:
the
- used before some adjectives to turn the adjectives into nouns that refer to people or things in general that can be described by the adjective:
She lives in a special home for the elderly.
The French were defeated at Waterloo in 1815.
There is also
?I am a Vietnamese.
The Cambridge Dictionary suggests this usage is grammatically fine:
Nationalities, languages, countries and regions
from English Grammar Today
When we refer to a nation or region, we can use:
[...]
– a singular noun that we use for a person from the country or region: a Turk, a Japanese, a German, a Brazilian, an Asian
However, in my opinion, at best, I find this usage questionable (?) or awkward. To me, it borders on ignorant or offensive, especially if it's said about the person (e.g. ?She is a Vietnamese). That's why you're less likely to hear it. So although it is grammatical, my recommendation is to reword it instead (e.g. She is/I am Vietnamese). The awkwardness has also been discussed on ELU: Can I say “A Chinese†in English?.
answered 1 hour ago
Em.♦
35.1k1099119
+1 for pointing out the 'awkwardness'
– CinCout
1 hour ago
To be clear, Vietnamese is fine as a plural noun, but awkward as a singular noun.
– Andrew
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
In
I am Vietnamese.
Vietnamese is an adjective. This is the correct way to say that you are from Vietnam (= are Vietnamese).
Vietnamese can be a noun in certain usages.
The Vietnamese are known for their exquisite cuisine.
Notice the usage of the definite article. This is what the Cambridge Dictionary says on the matter:
the
- used before some adjectives to turn the adjectives into nouns that refer to people or things in general that can be described by the adjective:
She lives in a special home for the elderly.
The French were defeated at Waterloo in 1815.
There is also
?I am a Vietnamese.
The Cambridge Dictionary suggests this usage is grammatically fine:
Nationalities, languages, countries and regions
from English Grammar Today
When we refer to a nation or region, we can use:
[...]
– a singular noun that we use for a person from the country or region: a Turk, a Japanese, a German, a Brazilian, an Asian
However, in my opinion, at best, I find this usage questionable (?) or awkward. To me, it borders on ignorant or offensive, especially if it's said about the person (e.g. ?She is a Vietnamese). That's why you're less likely to hear it. So although it is grammatical, my recommendation is to reword it instead (e.g. She is/I am Vietnamese). The awkwardness has also been discussed on ELU: Can I say “A Chinese†in English?.
answered 1 hour ago
Em.♦
35.1k1099119
In
I am Vietnamese.
Vietnamese is an adjective. This is the correct way to say that you are from Vietnam (= are Vietnamese).
Vietnamese can be a noun in certain usages.
The Vietnamese are known for their exquisite cuisine.
Notice the usage of the definite article. This is what the Cambridge Dictionary says on the matter:
the
- used before some adjectives to turn the adjectives into nouns that refer to people or things in general that can be described by the adjective:
She lives in a special home for the elderly.
The French were defeated at Waterloo in 1815.
There is also
?I am a Vietnamese.
The Cambridge Dictionary suggests this usage is grammatically fine:
Nationalities, languages, countries and regions
from English Grammar Today
When we refer to a nation or region, we can use:
[...]
– a singular noun that we use for a person from the country or region: a Turk, a Japanese, a German, a Brazilian, an Asian
However, in my opinion, at best, I find this usage questionable (?) or awkward. To me, it borders on ignorant or offensive, especially if it's said about the person (e.g. ?She is a Vietnamese). That's why you're less likely to hear it. So although it is grammatical, my recommendation is to reword it instead (e.g. She is/I am Vietnamese). The awkwardness has also been discussed on ELU: Can I say “A Chinese†in English?.
answered 1 hour ago
Em.♦
35.1k1099119
edited 38 mins ago
answered 1 hour ago
Em.♦
35.1k1099119
answered 1 hour ago
Em.♦
35.1k1099119
answered 1 hour ago
Em.♦
35.1k1099119
35.1k1099119
+1 for pointing out the 'awkwardness'
– CinCout
1 hour ago
To be clear, Vietnamese is fine as a plural noun, but awkward as a singular noun.
– Andrew
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
+1 for pointing out the 'awkwardness'
– CinCout
1 hour ago
To be clear, Vietnamese is fine as a plural noun, but awkward as a singular noun.
– Andrew
1 hour ago
+1 for pointing out the 'awkwardness'
– CinCout
1 hour ago
+1 for pointing out the 'awkwardness'
– CinCout
1 hour ago
To be clear, Vietnamese is fine as a plural noun, but awkward as a singular noun.
– Andrew
1 hour ago
To be clear, Vietnamese is fine as a plural noun, but awkward as a singular noun.
– Andrew
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
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