CHAPTER 11: ADJECTIVES USED AS NOUNS

EXERCISE IN COMPOSITION-22 Insert 'a few' or 'the few' whichever is suitable. 1. [____] public libraries that we have are not well equipped. 2. [____]days that are left to him he spends in solitude and meditation. 3. Many Hindus study Sanskrit, but only[____]Parsees study Avesta. 4. [____]days' rest is all that is needed. 5. Have you got [_____] potatoes left ?6. It is a question of spending [____]rupees.

1. The few public libraries that we have are not well equipped. 2. The few days that are left to him he spends in solitude and meditation. 3. Many Hindus study Sanskrit, but only a few Parsees study Avesta. 4. A few days' rest is all that is needed. 5. Have you got a few potatoes left ? 6. It is a question of spending a few rupees.

EXERCISE IN COMPOSITION-21 Insert 'a little', or 'the little' whichever is suitable. 1. [_____]grain they had was damaged by sea water. 2. [_____]precaution is necessary in handling that machine. 3. [_____]care could have prevented the catastrophe. 4. [_____] influence that he has, he uses to the best advantage. 5. [_____] knowledge of French that he has is likely to be very useful to him on the continent.

1. The little grain they had was damaged by sea water. 2. A little precaution is necessary in handling that machine. 3. A little care could have prevented the catastrophe. 4. The little influence that he has, he uses to the best advantage. 5. The little knowledge of French that he has is likely to be very useful to him on the continent.

A few = some. 'A few' has a positive meaning, and is opposed to 'none'.

A few words spoken in earnest will convince him. A few Parsees write Gujarati correctly.

101. Little, a little, the little— Note carefully the use of— [1] little, [2] a little, [3] the little. Little = not much ( i.e., hardly any). Thus, the adjective little has a negative meaning. There is little hope of his recovery, i.e., he is not likely to recover.

He showed little concern for his nephew. He has little influence with his old followers. He showed little mercy to the vanquished. He has little appreciation of good poetry.

4) In certain phrases; as,

I do not want any more at present. He has left India for good. We can't arrive before Saturday at best. It must be said to his credit that he stood by his friend through thick and thin. I must have your terms down in black and white. Right or wrong, my country. I am afraid the young man is going from bad to worse. The long and short of it is that I distrust you.

93. Nouns Used as Adjectives. The use of Nouns as Adjectives is very common in English; as,

I met a little cottage girl. He is always playing computer games.

CHAPTER13: THE CORRECT USE OF SOME ADJECTIVES Some, any—To express quantity or degree some is used normally in affirmative sentences, any in negative or interrogative sentences.

I will buy some mangoes. I will not buy any mangoes. Have you bought any mangoes ? But any can be used after if in affirmative sentences. If you need any money I will help you.

4) In certain phrases; as, in general; in future; in short; in secret; before long; at present; for good ; at best; through thick and thin; for better or for worse; in black and white; right or wrong; from bad to worse; the long and short.

In future I shall charge you for medical advice. In short, we know nothing. The negotiations were carried on in secret. I shall see you before long. Before long, he will be appointed to a higher post. At present, he is in pecuniary difficulties.

A few words spoken in earnest will convince him. A few Parsees write Gujarati correctly.

The few remarks that he made were very suggestive. [The sentence means—The remarks that he made were not many; but all those remarks were very suggestive.] The few friends he has are all very poor. The few clothes they had were all tattered and torn.

2) As Singular Nouns denoting some abstract quality; as,

The future (= futurity) is unknown to us. He is a lover of the beautiful (= beauty in general).

The little = not much, but all there is.

The little information he had was not quite reliable. The little knowledge of carpentry that he possessed stood him in good stead.[The sentence means—The knowledge of carpentry he possessed was not much; but all that knowledge stood him in good stead.]

3) Some Adjectives actually become Nouns, and are hence used in both numbers.

a) Those derived from Proper Nouns; as, Australians, Canadians, Italians. b) Some denoting persons; as, juniors, seniors, mortals, inferiors, superiors, nobles, criminals, savages, elders, minors. c) A few denoting things generally; as, secrets, totals, liquids, solids, valuables.[Some adjectives are used as Nouns only in the plural; as, valuables, eatables.]

7. [____]hints on essay-writing are quite to the point. 8. [____]months that he spent in Ooty did him a lot of good. 9. When I met him [____]years after, he looked old and haggard. 10. [____]short poems in the volume show signs of genius. 11. In [____]words he expressed his gratitude to his friends. 12. [_____]Americans have their oces in Kolkata. 13. [_____]trinkets she has are not worth much. 14. [_____] poems he has written are all of great excellence.

7. The few hints on essay-writing are quite to the point. 8. The few months that he spent in Ooty did him a lot of good. 9. When I met him a few years after, he looked old and haggard. 10. A few short poems in the volume show signs of genius. 11. In a few words he expressed his gratitude to his friends. 12. a few Americans have their oces in Kolkata. 13. The few trinkets she has are not worth much. 14. The few poems he has written are all of great excellence.

95. In poetry, however, the Adjective is frequently placed after the noun; as,

Children dear, was it yesterday? We heard the sweet bells over the bay. O man with sisters dear !

100. Each, every— Each and every are similar in meaning, but every is a stronger word than each; it means, 'each without exception'. Each is used in speaking of two or more things; every is used only in speaking of more than two. Each directs attention to the individuals forming any group, every to the total group. Eachis used only when the number in the group is limited and definite ; every when the number is indefinite.

Every seat was taken. Five boys were seated on each bench. Each one of these chairs is broken. Leap year falls in every fourth year. He came to see us every three days [i.e., once in every period of three days]. It rained every day during my holidays. I was away ten days and it rained each day.

102. Few, a few, the few —Note carefully the use of the following : [1] few, [2] a few, [3] the few. Few = not many, hardly any, 'Few' has a negative meaning. Few persons can keep a secret. Few people are so hopeless as drunkards.

Few towns in India have public libraries. Few works of reference are so valuable as the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Few men are free from faults. Few men reach the age of one hundred years. Few Parsees write Gujarati correctly.

97. When some word or phrase is joined to the Adjective to explain its meaning, the Adjective is placed after its noun; as,

He was a man fertile in resource. A Sikh, taller than any of his comrades, rushed forward.

CHAPTER12: POSITION OF ADJECTIVES. An Adjective used attributively is generally placed immediately before the noun; as,

King Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport. Where are you going, my pretty maid, with your rosy cheeks and golden hair ? O Captain ! my Captain ! our fearful trip is done.

Adjectives are often used as Nouns. 1) As Plural Nouns denoting a class of persons; as,

The cautious [= cautious persons] are not always cowards. The rich [= rich people] know not how the poor [= poor people] live. The wicked [= wicked people] flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous [= righteous people] are bold as a lion. Blessed are the meek.

96. When several Adjectives are attached to one noun they are sometimes placed after it for emphasis; as,

There dwelt a miller hale and bold. The King, fearless and resolute, at once advanced. Franklin had a great genius, original, sagacious, and inventive.

A little = some though not much. 'A little' has a positive meaning.

There is a little hope of his recovery, i.e., he may possibly recover. A little tact would have saved the situation. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing

Some is used in questions which are really offers/requests or which expect the answer "yes".

Will you have some ice-cream? [Offer] Could you lend me some money? [Request] Did you buy some clothes? [= I expect you did.]

98. In certain phrases the Adjective always comes after the noun; as,

heir apparent, time immemorial, lord paramount, viceroy elect, letters patent, knights temporal, notary public, body politic, God Almighty.

Observe the difference in meaning between:

i) a great nobleman's son, and ii) a nobleman's great son.