1.4 Nouns Used as Adjectives

Some nouns, especially place names and material nouns, may be used as adjectives by putting them before other nouns (attributive position).

• summer holidays
• winter sports
• tennis shoes
• coffee-cup
• murder stories

Places names:

• the London Underground
• the Antwerp Zoo
• Canterbury Cathedral
• Brussels sprouts
• Cambridge University

Material nouns:

• a gold ring
• a steel knife
• a leather handbag
• a brick building
• a plastic cup