using adjectives with "ed" form as nouns?

[newyear2012]

Examples: the gifted, the talented, the scared.


I hear it often enough and feel comfortable using words that way. But I haven't dug into my grammar book to explain why this works. I consulted various dictionaries which didn't help.

 

[tedtmc]

the gifted - people who are gifted
the talented - people who are talented
the scared - people who are scared.

not a teacher

 

[Odessa Dawn]

Examples: the gifted, the talented, the scared.


I hear it often enough and feel comfortable using words that way. But I haven't dug into my grammar book to explain why this works. I consulted various dictionaries which didn't help.

***NOT A TEACHER***

This might help you, post #5