What is adjective and it use
USES OF THE VARIOUS KINDS OF ADJECTIVES
Quantitative Adjectives
Some, any. There is much different in the way in much the two Adjectives
are used:-
(a) Some is used in affirmative sentence; as-
‘He has bought any bread.’ We cannot say, ‘He has bought any bread.’
(b) Any is used in Negative sentences; as-
‘He has not bought any bread.’ We cannot say, ‘He has not bought some bread.’
(c) Any and Some can both be used in interrogative sentences:-
Has he bought any bread?
Has he bought some Bread?
But in such sentences ‘any’ is more commonly used than ‘some’ and is to be preferred to it.
Little, a little, the little. Each of these expressions has a distinct meaning of its own:-
(a) Little is a Negative Adjective, and means not’ much’.
He had little money = (not much money).
There is a little hope of her recovery.
(b) A little is an affirmative Adjective, and means ‘Some at least’ :- a certain quantity, however little.
He had a little money= (some money at least, although the amount was small).
A little learning is a dangerous thing.
Hurry up! We have only a little time left.
(c) The little implies two statements- one Negative, and the other affirmative.
He spent the little Money that he had.
Numeral Adjectives
Few, a few, the few. Each of these expressions has a distinct meaning of its own:-
(a) Few is a Negative Adjective, and signifies ‘not many;
He read few books (he did not read many books)
Few women can keep a secret.
(b) A few is an Affirmative Adjective and signifies ‘some at least’- certain number, however few.
He read a few books (that is he read some books at least, thought the number was small).
He had only few rupees left.
A few days’ rest is needed.
(c) The few implies two statements, one Negative and the other affirmative
He read the few books he had.
That is (1) The books he had not were not many (Negative)
(2) He read all the books he had (Affirmative)
Many a. Here ‘a’=’one’, ‘many a man’ means ‘man times one man’ or ‘many men’. It is used with a Noun and Verb in the singular, but has in reality a plural meaning. Many men takes the men collectively; many a man takes them singly.
Many a young man has served his country nobly.
Definite numeral Quantities are sometimes collective nouns; and , as in the case of ‘many ‘, the of is understood after them.
A dozen (of) sheep; a million (of) stars.
A hundred (of) years; a thousand (of) years.
A hundred-thousand rupees. But we must say a lakh of rupees’, and not ‘a lakh rupees’.
With a score and a gross the of must be expressed, but not with two score, etc.