breakfast

[Bridget]

Is "breakfast" an adjective here?

"I'm not really a breakfast person."

[Pete]

Is "breakfast" an adjective here?

"I'm not really a breakfast person."
I think this is more often called a noun used attributively. Its use in the sentence is certainly as an adjective modifying person, but I'd say it is still a noun being used this way.

I think the main reason we don't want to call "breakfast" a true adjective is that in other sentences, it cannot be used the way an adjective can:

- That is a red flower. <==> That flower is red. [Both are fine with the adjective red.]

- He is certainly a breakfast person. [OK] <==> *That person is certainly breakfast. [The second form is obviously wrong.]

[Bridget]

- He is certainly a breakfast person. [OK] <==> *That person is certainly breakfast. [The second form is obviously wrong.]


He's a church person/He's certainly church.

International Executives Association/That executive association is international.

Sounds fine to me.