ADJECTIVES OF QUANTITY
145. Adjectives of quantity tell _how much_ or _how many_. They have
these three subdivisions:--
[Sidenote: _How much._]
(1) QUANTITY IN BULK: such words as _little_, _much_, _some_, _no_,
_any_, _considerable_, sometimes _small_, joined usually to singular
nouns to express an indefinite measure of the thing spoken of.
The following examples are from Kingsley:--
So he parted with _much_ weeping of the lady.
Which we began to do with _great_ labor and _little_ profit.
Because I had _some_ knowledge of surgery and blood-letting.
But ever she looked on Mr. Oxenham, and seemed to take _no_
care as long as he was by.
Examples of _small_ an adjective of quantity:--
"The deil's in it but I bude to anger him!" said the woman, and
walked away with a laugh of _small_ satisfaction.--MACDONALD.
'Tis midnight, but _small_ thoughts have I of sleep.--COLERIDGE.
It gives _small_ idea of Coleridge's way of talking.--CARLYLE.
When _some_, _any_, _no_, are used with plural nouns, they come under
the next division of adjectives.
[Sidenote: _How many._]
(2) QUANTITY IN NUMBER, which may be expressed exactly by numbers or
remotely designated by words expressing indefinite amounts. Hence the
natural division into--
(_a_) _Definite numerals_; as, "_one_ blaze of musketry;" "He found in
the pathway _fourteen_ Spaniards;" "I have lost _one_ brother, but I
have gained _fourscore_;" "_a dozen_ volunteers."
(_b_) _Indefinite numerals_, as the following from Kingsley: "We gave
_several_ thousand pounds for it;" "In came some five and twenty more,
and with them _a few_ negroes;" "Then we wandered for _many_ days;"
"Amyas had evidently _more_ schemes in his head;" "He had lived by
hunting for _some_ months;" "That light is far too red to be the
reflection of _any_ beams of hers."
[Sidenote: _Single ones of any number of changes._]
(3) DISTRIBUTIVE NUMERALS, which occupy a place midway between the
last two subdivisions of numeral adjectives; for they are indefinite
in telling how many objects are spoken of, but definite in referring
to the objects one at a time. Thus,--
_Every_ town had its fair; _every_ village, its wake.--THACKERAY.
An arrow was quivering in _each_ body.--KINGSLEY.
Few on _either_ side but had their shrewd scratch to show.--_Id._
Before I taught my tongue to wound
My conscience with a sinful sound,
Or had the black art to dispense
A _several_ sin to _every_ sense.--VAUGHAN.
Exercise
Bring up sentences with ten adjectives of quantity.
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