A word can be an adjective, adverb or a noun based on the functions they perform. In this article, we will get to know if “crazy” is an adjective, adverb or a noun.
The word “crazy” is an adjective, adverb and a noun in different places and situations. Adjectives in simple words can be called as describing words which qualify naming words or pronouns. Words which modify action words, other adverbs or adjectives are adverbs. Nouns are nothing but naming words.
We will now find with suitable examples, how, why and when the word “crazy” can be an adjective, adverb or a noun.
When is “crazy” an adjective?
The word “crazy” can be an adjective. Here let us get to know when (at what places) exactly “crazy” will function as an adjective.
We shall now read through the table below which states the different instances when the word “crazy” functions as an adjective.
| Instances When “Crazy” Is An Adjective | Examples | Explanations |
| 1. When used to qualify an individual who is mentally ill or unsound | Since the loss of his wife, the old man has become crazy. | In this sentence, the word “crazy” is functioning as an adjective since it is qualifying the naming word ‘man’ (a person) by telling us that since the loss of his wife, the man has become mentally ill and affected. |
| 2. When used to tell about the irritating, annoying or angry state of mind of a person | Her continuous talking is making me crazy. | “Crazy” here in this sentence is utilized to qualify the noun phrase ‘her talking’ by telling us the irritated or annoying state of mind of me that is caused because of her continuous talking. Thus, the word “crazy” is taking the role of an adjective here. |
| 3. When used to say about the feeling of liking someone or something unconditionally | Vaishali has been crazy about Mughil since the day she met him. | In this given sentence, the word “crazy” is taking up the role of an adjective by telling us Vaishali liking Mughil unconditionally since the day she met him by describing the naming word ‘Vaishali’ (a person). |
| 4. When used to describe an individual’s surprising, excited, or enthusiastic state of mind | Seeing the actor in the mall, the entire crowd went crazy. | Here, the word “crazy” is an adjective since it is conveying to us about the excited and enthusiastic nature of the crowd after they saw the actor in the mall, thereby describing the collective noun ‘crowd’. |
| 5. When used to describe an individual, event or a situation that is foolish, strange, odd or stupid | The crazy idea he proposed was definitely not approved and sanctioned. | The word “crazy” is here conveying to us the stupid and the foolish nature of the idea that “he” proposed by modifying the naming word ‘idea’ and hence functioning as an adjective. |
Is “crazy” a descriptive adjective?
All adjectives modify, qualify or describe nouns or noun phrases in different and unique ways. Let us here analyze if “crazy” falls under the descriptive adjective type.
“Crazy” is a descriptive adjective as it is used to describe the naming words (nouns, noun phrases or pronouns) by stating the nature, behavior, characteristic features or state of mind of an individual, an idea, an event or a situation.
Example: Vittal is crazy about racing bikes and cars.
In the above sentence, the adjective “crazy” is regarded as a descriptive adjective since it is telling the nature and mental state of Vittal by qualifying the naming word ‘Vittal’ (a person). The descriptive adjective “crazy” is utilized to show Vittal’s unconditional liking and excitement about racing bikes and cars.
When is “crazy” a descriptive adjective?
The word “crazy” is a descriptive adjective when it is stating the excited, angry, upset, annoyed, surprised, strange, odd, stupid, unconditional liking, enthusiastic or unsound state of mind, characteristic feature, nature, or behavior of a noun or a noun phrase.
We shall now go through the following table to understand the examples where “crazy” is used as descriptive adjective.
| Examples | Usage Of “Crazy” As A Descriptive Adjective |
| 1. Suha always comes up with some crazy plans. | In this sentence, the attributive descriptive adjective “crazy” is placed right before the naming word ‘plans’ which it is modifying. “Crazy”, here tell us that Suha’s plans are stupid and foolish. |
| 2. It has been thirty years since they got married, and even today they are crazy about each other. | Here, “crazy”, the descriptive adjective is utilized to modify the pronoun ‘they’ (people), by telling us even though thirty years have rolled, they both are so fond of each other and shows their unconditional love and liking towards each other. |
| 3. The boy has become crazy after his little sister got lost. | “Crazy” is the predicate descriptive adjective utilized here in this sentence as it is located in the predicate and is modifying the naming word ‘boy’ (a person). “Crazy” here is letting us know that the mental state of the boy is unstable or unsound since his little sister got lost. |
| 4. The crazy mob became uncontrollable and started to attack the people on the dais. | The subject descriptive adjective “crazy” is modifying the collective noun ‘mob’ (group of people) in this sentence by revealing to us extra information about the angry state of mind of the mob as they started to attack the people on the dais. |
| 5. Pradyumna is crazy about the various super heroes. | “Crazy”, the predicate descriptive adjective here is qualifying the naming word ‘Pradyumna’ (a person) in the subject. “Crazy” here lets us know about the extreme liking and fondness that Pradyumna has towards the various super heroes. |
Is “crazy” an adverb?
There are some instances when a word can take up more than one part of speech as they perform more than one function. We will get to know if “crazy” can be an adverb.
The word “crazy” is an adverb as it does the function of modifying or qualifying an action (a verb), an adverb or an adjective by giving us additional and supplementary information about them.
Example: We had crazy delicious food at the party last evening.
In the above sentence, the word “crazy” is functioning as an adverb. The adverb “crazy” in this sentence is describing or qualifying the adjective ‘delicious’ by telling us how much (very much) delicious the food at the last evening party was.
When is “crazy” an adverb?
The word “crazy” is an adverb when it is providing additional information such as very much, extremely or wildly about the verb, another adverb or an adjective.
We shall have a better understanding of how and when “crazy” is an adverb when we go through the following examples listed in the tabular column.
| Examples | Usage Of “Crazy” As An Adverb |
| 1. Amrita is crazy good in making all these art and craft items. | In this sentence, the adverb “crazy” is modifying the adjective ‘good’ by telling us that Amrita is extremely good in making the art and craft items. |
| 2. Last night, Lokesh drove the car crazy fast that all of us were waiting to reach home safe. | The adverb “crazy” in this sentence, is telling us how wildly fast Lokesh drove the car last night by qualifying another adverb ‘fast’. |
| 3. This particular music band is crazy popular almost all over the world. | In this given sentence, the adverb “crazy” is describing the adjective ‘popular’ by telling us that this particular music band is very much popular almost all over the world. |
| 4. We have to do our best as our opponent team is crazy strong. | The adverb “crazy” in this sentence, is saying to us how extremely strong the opponent team is by qualifying the adjective ‘strong’. |
| 5. The movie is crazy slow that I started to sleep in between. | In this given sentence, the adverb “crazy” is modifying the adjective ‘slow’ by stating to us that the movie is very much slow that ‘I’ started to sleep in between. |
Is “crazy” a noun?
Well, we already got to know that “crazy” can be an adjective and an adverb. Here we will find out if the word “crazy” can also function as a noun.
The word “crazy” can be and is a noun. A word which is utilized to name singular or plural individual, animal, place, thing, idea and so on can be regarded as a noun.
Example: The crazy who shouts all day lives next door.
In this sentence, the word “crazy” is functioning as a noun as it is utilized to name an individual (a person) who may be mentally affected, weird or odd, who lives next door and keeps shouting all day.
When is “crazy” a noun?
The word “crazy” is a noun when it is utilized to name an individual who is stupid, insane, foolish, eccentric, strange, odd or weird.
The table below consists of examples which will help us to get a clear understanding on how and when the word “crazy” is a noun.
| Examples | Usage Of “Crazy” As A Noun |
| 1. I still can remember the chaos and confusion the crazy caused at the dinner. | In this sentence, the noun “crazy” is used to name a foolish person (he /she) who caused chaos and confusion in the dinner. |
| 2. Somebody has to control that crazy else, he will cause trouble to all. | Here, the noun “crazy” is utilized in order to name an individual who is insane and the one who will cause trouble to all. |
| 3. This crazy always does something that will create problems. | The noun “crazy” in this sentence is utilized to name an odd and stupid person who will create problems for everyone. |
| 4. The crazy in our class seldom talks with us. | The noun “crazy” in the given sentence is naming a weird and strange boy or girl in who seldom talks with us in the class. |
| 5. This is the crazy who shouted in between the meeting. | In this sentence, the noun “crazy” is used to name an eccentric or a stupid person who shouted when the meeting was going on. |
Conclusion
Thus, this article clearly explains to us how and when the word “crazy” can take up the role of an adjective, adverb and a noun in different situations and instances.
Hi… I am Sowndharya Jagadeeswaran, a university rank holder in M.A. English Literature. I have also done my master’s in Business Administration. Inquisitive as I am, my interest in action-oriented research helped me publish research papers in reputed journals. Now, as a career, I am an instructor where I teach young and adorable students the intricate technicalities of Public Speaking and Creative Writing. I also enjoy writing articles on topics I specialize and research in.
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