[§ 426]. Uninflected parts of speech, used as substantive.—When King Richard III. says, none of your ifs, he uses the word if as a substantive = expressions of doubt.
So in the expression one long now, the word now = present time.
[§ 427]. The convertibility of words in English is very great; and it is so because the structure of the language favours it. As few words have any peculiar signs expressive of their being particular parts of speech, interchange is easy, and conversion follows the logical association of ideas unimpeded.
The convertibility of words is in the inverse ratio to the amount of their inflection.
CHAPTER II.
SYNTAX OF SUBSTANTIVES.
[§ 428]. The phenomena of convertibility have been already explained.
The remaining points connected with the syntax of substantives, are chiefly points of ellipsis.