coward/cowardly

No, you have not. The word "stupid" is an adjective, and the word "cowardly" is an adjective--both words modify cat by description. The word "coward" is a noun, and should not be used to modify another noun by description.

That being said, it is not uncommon to see such a usage by speakers of English.

Many thanks, Setanta, for your help.

I'm surprised that even natives make such a mistake, as you have pointed out.

Best regards.

You're welcome. Many native speakers don't consider their idiosyncratic speech habits to be a mistake.

Thanks again, Setanta.

I always thought all native speakers make major errors, not minor ones like the the word 'cowardly'. What you said is news to me.

I'm to have you and the other experts on this forum who have unselfishly guided me.

Two dictionaries list 'coward' as both a noun and an adjective.

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M-W:
Main Entry:
cow·ard Listen to the pronunciation of coward
Pronunciation:
\ˈkau̇(-ə)rd\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English, from Anglo-French cuard, from cue, coe tail, from Latin cauda
Date:
13th century

: one who shows disgraceful fear or timidity
" coward adjective

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coward

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AHD

coward
SYLLABICATION: cow·ard
PRONUNCIATION: kourd
NOUN: One who shows ignoble fear in the face of danger or pain.
ETYMOLOGY: Middle English, from Old French couard, from coue, tail, from Latin cauda.
OTHER FORMS: coward "ADJECTIVE

http://www.bartleby.com/61/63/C0706300.html

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Hi JTT

Can I conclude that you mean both coward cat and cowardly cat are correct in Standard English?

Many thanks.

There is no hard and fast line between standard and nonstandard English, Tan.

For your purposes, which mainly seems to be helping your son in advancing his English grades, a noble cause to be sure, stick with what you've been taught. Why? Because the powers that be, in Singapore or Malaysia or where ever you might be, will decide what's "correct/incorrect", "standard/nonstandard".

English speakers use this form just as they use other nouns as adjectives - I just noticed another one as a thread title here at A2K - something like, "How long will juicer juice stay fresh?".

You determine a word's form by how it is used in a sentence.

Many thanks, JTT, for your response.

I'll use 'cowardly' as advised by Setanta and because that was what I was taught.

They'd be in good company. But I'd go further, saying "almost all native speakers".