AN INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH GRAMMAR & LANGUAGE
* Adjectives of more than two syllables, and many of Every one of these chairs is broken.
those with two, form the Comparative by using the adverb Leap year falls in every fourth year.
more with the Positive Form and the Superlative by using
He can to see us every five days.
the adverb most with the positive from.
It rained every day during my vaction.
Positive Comparative Superlative
3. Little, a Little and the little
Beautiful More beautiful Most beautiful
Splendid More splendid Most splendid Little means not much (i.e. hardly any).
Difficult More difficult Most difficult Thus, Little has a negative meaning.
Proper More Proper Most Proper For example, There is little hope of his recovery.
Learned More learned Most learned He showed little concern for his cousin.
Industrious More industries Most industries He has little influence with his old followers.
Courageous More courageousMost courageous He showed little mercy to the culprit.
* The Adjectives whose Comparative and Superlative He has little appreciation of good poetry.
degrees are not formed from the Positive Degree. A little means some though not much. It has a positive
Positive Comparative Superlative meaning.
Good Better Best For example,
Bad Worse Worst There is a little hope of his arrival.
Little Less Least A little thought would have saved the situation.
Much More Most A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Many More Most The little means not much, but all what is.
Late Later Latest For example,
Old Older Oldest The little information he had might lead him to
Far Farther Farthest conclusion.
Nigh Nigher Next The little knowledge of astrology that he had possessed
Fore Former Formost stood him in great stead.
In Inner Innermost 4. Few, a few and the few
Up Upper Upmost Few means not many, hardly any.
Out Outer Utmost Few has a negative meaning.
For example,
CORRECT USE OF SOME ADJECTIVES
Few persons can keep a secret.
1. Some, any
Few people are so rockless as gamblers.
Some is used to express quantity or degree in
Few college in India have scientific libraries.
affirmative sentences while, any is used to express the
same in negative or interrogative sentences. Few men are free from faults.
For example, Fewmen reach the age of a hundred years.
I shall buy some books. A few means some. It has a Positive meaning and is
apposed to ‘none’.
I shall not buy any books.
For example,
Have you bought any books?
A Few of the members were present in the meeting.
But, some is also used in questions which actually
express – commands or requests. A few words of love will cheer her up.
For example, A few Europeans have their offices in Delhi.
A few days rest is all that is needed.
Will you please lend me some money?
A few words spoken in earnest will convince line.
Bring me some sweet to eat.
When I met him after a few years, he looked old and
2. Each, every
haggard.
Each and every are similar in meaning, but every
It is a question of spending a few rupees.
is a stronger word than each.
The few means not many, but all there are.
Each is used in speaking of two or more things.
Each is used only when the number in the group is limited For example,
and definite. The few friends that he has are all very poor.
Every is used in speaking of more than two things. The few poems he has written are all of great
Every is also used when the number is indefinite. excellence.
For example, The few remarks that he made were very suggestive.
Every seat was taken. The few days that are left to him he spends in solitude.
Five girls were seated on each bench. The few clothes they had were all tattered and torn.
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