• can function like an adjective or like a noun;
• can be in three persons;
• agree with the nouns they modify, just like the article;
• can be in any of the4 three genders, just like the article.

Positions of an adjective. Adjectives can be in one of three positions.

• An adjective in the attributive position gives a quality (or an attribute) to the word is modifing (e.g. "The tall man plays basketball.")  The function is always adjectivally.
• An adjective is the predicate position tells us (predicates) something about the word (e.g. "the Bible is black." "The idea is good." The predicate adjective can function either adjectivally or substantivally.
• When an adjective is functioning as a noun, it does not modify another word, and we say it is in the independent position. The function is always substantivally.

When an adjective functions substantivally,  its case is determined by its function as is true of any adjective.  Its gender and number are determined by waht it stands for.  For example, if it stands for one thing, and that thing is masculine, then the adjactive would be masculine singular.   example:
-- oJ ajgaqovV ejstvin  . . .  --
-- The good  is . . . --

  To tell the difference between the two functions, ask yourself the question "is the adjective modifying something?"  If is is, then the adjective is functioning adjectivally.  If it is not , if there is no noun for it to modify, then it must be functioning substantivally.

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