THE ADJECTIVE
An adjective is a word that qualifies or adds something to the meaning of a noun.
Some Facts About Adjectives and Their uses :
(A) Adjective can be used in two ways-Attributively and Predicatively When an adjective is placed just before the Noun, its use is attributive, but when it is used after the noun or pronoun, the use is called predicative.
Example :
(i) This is a sweet mango
(Attributive)
(ii) This mango is sweet
(Predicative)
(iii) Fame is the perfume of heroic deeds
(Attributive)
(iv) The judge declared him guilty
(Predicative)
USE OF SOME IMPORTANT ADJECTIVES
For avoiding errors in the use of adjectives it is necessary to study the use of some
important adjectives. It is so because.
(A) These adjectives are frequently used during conversation.
(A) They are of a very confusing nature. A wrong use or misplacement of these adjectives
can Change the sense of a sentence altogether.
List of these Adjectives
1.Some, Any, 2.0lder,Elder, 3.Few, a few, the few,
4.Farther, further 5.Less, Lesser, 6. Mutual, Common
7. Little a little, the little, 8. First, Former, 9. First, Foremost,
10. Much, Many, 11. All, Whole, 12. Less, Fewer,
13. Each Every. 14. Oral, Verbal, 15 Either, Neither,
16. Many, a many great many, 17.Whole, the whole the Whole of, a Whole
18. Sick 19. Enough. 20. Only, Nearest, next,
21.Later, Latter.Latest, Last, 22. Each other, one another.
Note: These adjectives are generally studied in 'groups'. So instead of mentioning them
separately.
they are written here according to the groups in which they exist.
Use of these Adjectives
1. 'Some is used in the affirmative sentences. 'Any' is used in the negative sentences.
(A) 'Some' is used as follows
(i) With uncountable nouns where it means- a little, a small quantity also with countable nouns where it means less in number.
(ii) In a question which shows some request.
EXAMPLES :
(i) There is some water in the bottle.
(ii) Some of the students were absent yesterday.
(iii) Will you have some milk ?
(iv) Will you buy some fruit for me ?
Note :'Sorne' is not used in negative sentences, but it can be used in questions of negative nature.
EXAMPLES :
(i) Can't you spare some time for social work ? .
(ii) Didn't I give you some money yesterday?
(B) 'Any' is used as follows
(i) In negative sentences
(ii) In interrogative sentences
(iii) After 'Hardly' 'Scarcely' and 'Barely'
(IV) After if
EXAMPLES :
(i) There is not any sugar in the pot
(ii) We haven't any rice in the house
(iii) Are there any girls in your school?
(iv) I have hardly any money.
(v) There are scarcely any plants in this field
(vi) If there is any danger, blow the whistle
(A) Older:
Older (and oldest), are used for persons, animals and things.
EXAMPLES :
(i) Radha is older than Shyama
(ii) This dog is older than that
(iii) This building is older than that
(iv) John is the oldest member of the staff
(v) This monument is oldest in the city
Note : 'Older' and 'Oldest' refer to the persons who do not belong to the same family.
(B) Elder (and eldest): are used in respect of the members of the same family like sons,
daughters, brothers, sisters etc.
EXAMPLES :
(i) My elder sister is a lecturer.
(ii) Sachin is the elder of the two brothers
(iii) Meenakshi is the eldest of the three sisters.
Note: (i)'Elder'is not followed by'than'
(ii) 'Elder' and 'Eldest' cannot be used for things
(iii) In some cases, it may be followed by 'to' e.g. My brother Ram is elder to me.
(A) Few is negative and is the opposite of 'Many'. It means not many.
(B) A few is positive and means "some at least". It is the opposite of None.
(C) The few means 'minority' and suggests 'whether there is'.
EXAMPLES :
(i) We have few holidays in school
(ii) Very few students have done well in the examination.
(iii) He is man of few words.
(iv) Happy is the man who has few cares.
(v) Few boys will fail in the examination.
(A) Further means something in addition (more) can also we use in place of farther.
(B) Farther means 'a greater distance'
EXAMPLES :
(i) Further discussion will be held in the office of the principal.
(ii) Amritsar is farther from Delhi than Ambala.
(A) Less means in a small degree'. It can be used as a pronoun, an adjective, a determiner and an adverb.
(B) Lesser can be used only as an adjective. As an adjective it is a step further to less.
EXAMPLES :
(i) The porter said that he would not charge less than ten rupees for his services.
(Pronoun)
(ii) My income is less than yours.
(Adjective)
(iii) Chemistry is less difficult than Physics.
(Adverb)
(iv) Choose the lesser evil of the two
(A) Mutual means reciprocal (two or more people doing or feeling same for each other).
(B) Common means 'belonging to two or more'.
EXAMPLES :
(i) The mutual friendship between Sudhir and Ashok is growing day by day.
(ii) English and Sanskrit share some common features.
(A) Little is negative. It means, 'not much', or hardly any'.
(B) A little is positive. It means, some quantity.
(C) The little denotes quantity. It means,'not much but all that is, or whatever quantity there is'
EXAMPLES :
(i) There is little hope of his success.
(ii) He has little affection for his cousin.
(iii) The teachers have little influence on him.
(iv) He knows a little of everything
(v) A little of money has been stolen.
(A) First shows 'order or position'
(B) Foremost means the most notable, best or leading.
EXAMPLES:
(i) I am feeling sick
(ii) He has been ill for the past ten days.
,
Enough is used with both countable (both singular and plural) and uncountable nouns. It conveys
the sense of 'sufficient'.
EXAMPLES:
(i) There is enough sugar in the pot.
(ii) There are enough eggs in the basket.
(A) Nearest expresses'at least distance'
(B) Next expresses 'position'.
EXAMPLES :
(i) He lives nearest to the office
(ii) He is next to me in rank.
(A) 'Later'expresses'late in time'or'after some time'
(B) Latter means 'second in position or order
"
(C) Latest expresses newest or recent
(D) last means 'Final in position or order.
EXAMPLES :
(i) My father reached later than I expected
(ii) The latter position was better than the former
(iii) What is the latest news?
(iv) He was the first to come and last to go.
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