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Some Adjectives Differences Basic English Grammar Ielts Exams

Some Adjectives Differences Basic English Grammar Ielts Exams

THE CORRECT USE OF SOME ADJECTIVES

Few, a few, the few. Note carefully the use of :-
(1) few,
(2) a few,
(3) the few.

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 Americans write Urdu correctly.

Few men reach the age of one hundred years.
Few towns in Pakistan have public libraries.
Few works of reference are so valuable as the Britannica Encyclopaedia.
Few women are free from faults.

The few = not many, but all there are.
The few remarks that he made were very suggestive.

Comparison Adjective exercise

Many Americans study French, but only — Hindus study English.
— days’ rest is all that is needed.
—Have you got — potatoes left?
It is a question of spending — rupees.
— hints on essay-writing are quite to the point.

Some, any- To express quantity or degree some is used normally in affirmative sentences, any in negative or interrogative sentences.

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.

  1. He has little influence with his old son.
  2. He showed little mercy to the man.

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.

  1. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
  2. A little tact would have saved the situation.

The little = not much, but all there is.

  1. The little information he had was not quite reliable.
  2. The little knowledge of carpentry that he possessed stood him in good stead.