"Make the next more colorful." NEXT / adj? or pronoun?

Ken

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Just curious.

Make the next [one] more colorful.

"One" is understood of course. But even so it sorta seems that "next" becomes a pronoun in lieu of "one" that's left out. How do grammarians feel on the issue?

While on the subject, I suppose there might be a comma after "next" to signify that the pronoun one is left out.

Make the next, more colorful.

Thanks for your time and consideration.

Sincerely, Ken

ps One, the pronoun, alluding to a painting.
 

Marlys

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No,"next" is a noun in that case. In the OED, "next" is classified as adjective, adverb, preposition, and noun. As a noun, it can mean:
The next person or thing (in a sequence, hierarchy, etc., indicated in the context).
which seems to be how you're using it here. And no, the comma wouldn't be necessary.
 

Maryn

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IMO, the word next remains an adjective describing the understood-but-absent one/thing/item, or becomes a noun in its own right.

I don't get how you think it might have become a pronoun. Next simply isn't ever a pronoun. Granted, I'm not an official grammarian, but I have strong feelings on what it takes to be a pronoun, and this doesn't cut it. (Although this and it do.)

There's no reason to insert a comma.

Maryn, confuzzled
 

Chase

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Adjective, as in: She's as poised as the next model.

Other parts of speech:

Adverb: Next, we saw a movie.

Preposition: When next we see each other.
 

Chase

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IMO, the word next remains an adjective describing the understood-but-absent one/thing/item, or becomes a noun in its own right.

I was writing when others posted, then left to work on another computer. While the examples above are correct, noun does make better sense when the "understood" isn't there.

What part of slow is so hard to understand?:D
 
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Maryn

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For me, it's the silent W...
 

Silenia

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Nominal adjective, which is an adjective used independently, fulfilling a role very similar to noun in a sentence.