We know that the word a 'child' is a noun.?

Question

Then my question: what is the category of the word 'child' used in a phrase like "child singer'? Is the word still a noun or what?

Thanks

Answer 1

You said it yourself when you said "phrase". It is a noun phrase.

Child singer is a noun comprised of both words, the whole phrase, same as "rock star". "Child singer" is defined as a child who has a career as a singer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_singer

Answer 2

It's being used as an adjective in that case. A lot of nouns can be used that way. So can verbs (JUMP rope-- jump is usually a verb but in this case modifies the word rope.)
Well, I see that someone says it's still a noun. I guess it could be considered either if you really think about it. That's a hard one. If I were a teacher, I wouldn't count that one wrong either way as long as the student had a good explanation for why they marked it the way they did.

Answer 3

It's an adjective in this case. A good rule of thumb is to say 'the' in front of it - the cat, the dog, the house - then it's a noun. In this case the 'the' fits with the singer and 'child' is describing the type of singer.

Answer 4

In "child singer", the word child is an adjective used to describe the word singer.
Child singer - a singer who is a child

Answer 5

Yes it's still a noun. A noun is a person, place or thing. In the case of "child singer" it is a person.

Answer 6

child could be an adjective when telling a quality of another noun. (like the word "young")

Answer 7

Still a noun when used that way. Childish or child like would be an adjective.

Answer 8

There are nouns modifying other nouns. Look at the word "door knob". In that combination "door" still is a noun.

Answer 9

I think it's an adjective decribing what type of singer.

Answer 10

adjective. It is describing a singer