We are not, as far as I can see, in disagreement.  There is a difference
between a word's structure and its function.  If a noun modifies a noun, its
function is adjectival.  The same is true for a verb, as you show, because
"moving" is a verbal--a present participle--and can function as a verb or as
an adjective or as a noun:

I am moving.
It is a moving van.
Moving is tiresome.

Nancy





Date sent:              Sun, 3 Nov 2002 15:24:18 -0600
Send reply to:          "T. S. Eliot Discussion forum." <[log in to unmask]>
From:                   Carrol Cox <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:                Re: Handelsblatt newspaper  --  Wall St. Poet story
To:                     [log in to unmask]

Nancy Gish wrote:
>
> a "play date" (adjective)

This means "date of the play," hence is not "play" a noun modifying a noun
rather than an adjective. Consider "moving moving moving van":

"Moving" I: An adjective indicating the moving of the moving van is an
emotional experience ???

"Moving" II: A present participle, indicating that the van is in motion.

"Moving" III: A noun, indicating that the van is a van for moving.

Perhaps I and II could be reversed, but neither could reverse with III.
With two modifiers before a noun in English, if one of them is a noun, the
order is adjective noun noun. If the van were clean,

Clean moving moving moving van would be possible, but not

"Moving clean moving moving van"

French Spanish teacher. A woman who is French (adjective) teaching
Spanish (nou)

Spanish French teacher: Spanish an adj.; French a noun.

Or "dirty dirt farmer" but not "dirt dirty farmer." Or "European Chinese
teacher" but not a "Chinese European teacher"

Carrol