Adjectives Of Quantity - Bulk/Number/Numerals - Parts Of Speech-ESL/Learn English Grammar

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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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