CORRECT USE OF SOME TYPICAL ADJECTIVES

 

 1_Each: It is used for two or more than two things or persons when the number is definite; as: -

a_ The two soldiers had each a gun.

b_ Five boys stood in each row.        

c _ Each person in the family attended to Uncle Podger.

 2_Every: It is used for two or more than two things or persons when the number is not definite; as:

a_ Every man wishes to be happy.   

b_ Indian expects every man to do his duty.

c _ Every refugee looked bent and beaten.

 3_Each-other: It is used for two things or persons for mutual interaction; as: -

a_ Jolly and Albion loved each-other.

 4_One-another: It is used for more than two things or persons for mutual interaction; as: -

a_ The meeting broke and the members quarelled with one-another.

 5_Few: It means ‘not many’. It has a negative sense. In other words, it means smaller number that is not useful; as: -

a_ Few men now live in the caves.

b_ Very few people are selfless.

c _ He has read few books.

d_ Few men can keep a secret.

e_ Few people are free from faults.

 6_ A few: It means ‘some at least’. It has a positive sense. In other words, it means smaller number that is useful; as: -

a_ He has a few friends. 

b_ A few men live a pious life.

c _ Only a few clerks in this office are honest.

d_ My father gave me a few instructions.

 7_The few: It means ‘whole of smaller number’; as: -

a_ The few pictures I have are excellent.

b_ The few clothes he had were torn and dirty.

c _ The few are rich, the many are poor.

d_ He lost the few friends he had.     

 8_ Little: It means ‘not much’. It has a negative sense. In other words, it means smaller quantity that is not useful; as: -

a_ There was little food in the house.

b_ There is little hope of his recovery.

c _ Budha had little interest in the luxuries of life.

d_ I had little knowledge of the dangers ahead.

 9_ A little: It means ‘some at least’. It has a positive sense. In other words, it means smaller quantity that is useful; as: -

a_ Give me a little attention.    

b_ The old man wanted a little water to drink.

c _ There is a little hope of her recovery.       

d_ He has a little money.

10_The little: It means ‘whole of smaller quantity’; as: -

a_ He wasted the little money he had.

b_ The little money I have is at your disposal.

c _ You do not make use of the little understanding you have.

11_Enough: It is used with Singular as well as plural to mean ‘Sufficient’; as: -

a_ I have enough patience to deal with this situation.

b_ You should not worry; I have enough money in the bank.

c _ There is enough milk in the pot.

12_Less: It refers to smaller quantity; as: -

a_ This sack of wheat weighs no less than one quintal.

b_ No less than 10 kilogram of sugar is needed for making sweets for the party.

c _ This boy weighs no less than forty kilograms.

d_ He does not sell less than five kilogram of sugar.

13_Fewer: It refers to smaller number; as: -

a_ No fewer than forty soldiers were wounded.

b_ No fewer than two thousand people were present there.

c _ There are no fewer than 5000 books in the library.

d_ No fewer than five boys were absent from the class.

14_Much: It denotes a great quantity; as: -

a_ Much money should not be spent on marriage ceremonies.

b_ He should not spend much time in useless discussion.

c _ There is not much tea in the pot.

15_Many: It denotes a great number; as: -

a_ How many men were there?                

b_ Many people came to listen to their leader. 

c _ Many villagers were hit by the Famine.

16_ Many a : It indicates many things or persons but one at a time. It is used with a noun or a verb in singular. However its sense is plural; as: -

a_ Many a flower is born to blush unseen.

b_ Many a young man has died for his country.

c _ Many a man died of Cholera.        

d_ Many a passenger was injured in the accident.

17_Some: It has a positive sense. It is used in affirmative sentences to mean unspecified amount or number. It is used in interrogative sentences also to ask for something; as: -

a_ He had some vague memories of his childhood.

b_ Group life also led to the development of some qualities.

c _ Some members of the group must stay at home to look after the children.

d_ I gave him some butter.

e_ Will you give me some sugar?     

18_Any: It has a negative sense. It is used in negative and interrogative sentences to mean unspecified amount or number. Sometimes it is used in affirmative sentences also; as: -

a_ I did not give him any butter.      

b_ Have you given him any mango?

c _ I do not believe there is any man who does not like to be called brave.

d_ Any person can try his luck.        

e_ His brother did not give him any help.

f_  You can have any of these books.

19_First: It denotes position in respect of place, time or degree; as: -

a_ He stood first in his class.    

b_ I met him for the first time. 

c _ He reached the cottage first of all.  

20_Foremost: It denotes something first in significance; as: -

a_ It is the foremost duty of every citizen to serve his motherland.

b_ Obedience to parents should be our foremost duty.

21_Further: It denotes ‘more’ or ‘in addition’; as: -

a_ Let us not discuss this topic any further.

b_ If there is any further development, I shall write to you.

c _ I will do this without further delay.

22_Farther: It means ‘physical distance’. It refers to space; as:-

a_ Delhi is farther from Chandigarh than Ambala.

b_ Sun is farther from Earth than Moon.

23_Elder: It is used for the members of the same family. It denotes position of a member of the family with reference to another. It is never followed by ‘than’; as: -

a_ He is my elder brother.     

b_ She is my elder sister.      

c _ What is your elder brother?           

24_Older: It is used for both things and persons. It denotes position of one with reference to another. It is followed by ‘than’; as: -

a_ I am older than my brother.  

b_ Sun is older than Earth.    

25_Eldest: It is used for the members of the same family. It denotes position of a member of the family with reference to all others; as: -

a_ His eldest son joined the army. 

26_Oldest: It is used for both things and persons. It denotes position of one with reference to all others; as: -

a_ This is the oldest building in our town.

b_ He is the oldest man in the village.        

c _ This is the oldest house in the city. 

27_Whole: It is used for the entire thing; as: -

a_ Whole country is in trouble because of poor leadership.

28_A whole: It is used for a common Noun and a collective noun; as: -

a_ He ate a whole packet of biscuits.

29_The whole: It is used for a Proper Noun; as: -

a_ The whole of India mourned the death of Azad.

b_ The whole of America was shocked at the death of President.

30_That of: It is used with regard to a thing; as:-

a_ The climate of Shimla is colder than that of Delhi.

b_ Your sentence construction is better than that of your friend.

31_Those of: It is used with regard to more than one thing; as: -

a_ The people of hilly areas are more innocent than those of plains.

b_ The streets of Delhi are narrower than those of Chandigarh.

32_Nearest: It denotes space or distance; as: -

a_ The injured were rushed to the nearest Hospital.

b_ The nearest town is at a distance of 10 kilometres.

c _ We took the thief to the nearest police station.

33_Next: It denotes position or sequence; as: -

a_ My house is next to yours.           

b_ What is the next item?      

c_ He lives in the next house.                     

34_Late: It denotes condition; as: -

a_ I reached the college quite late.

b_ My message reached him late.     

35_Later: It denotes time; as: -

a_ Many speakers addressed the gathering. Later, they took some decisions.

b_ He came later than I.          

36_Latter: It denotes condition; as: -

a_ The latter part of the story is ridiculous.

b_ Smith and Jones went together. The former was a painter, the latter an artist.

37_Latest: It denotes time; as: -

a_ What is the latest news?      

b_ This is the latest technology.   

38_Last: It denotes condition; as: -

a_ The President spoke last of all.       

b_ He lives in the last house.      

39_Either: It denotes ‘one of two’ or ‘each of two’; as: -

a_ You can go by either road. (by one road or the other)

b_ On either side (both sides) of the road the trees grew.

40_Neither: It denotes ‘none of two’; as: -

a_ He took neither side. (neither this side nor that)    

b_ Neither you nor your brother is to blame.