Correct use of ADJECTIVES - part-2

Difference between 'fewer' and 'less'

'Fewer'-the comparative of few, is used before countable nouns, and less-the comparative of little, before uncountable words.

Examples :

§  There are fewer actors working in the theatre than there used to be.

§  She earns lesser than a peon does.

Take a note of the following:

Positive.           Comparative.       Superlative

Few.                 Fewer.                     Fewest

Little.               Less/Lesser.            Least

'Fewer' and 'Less' are followed by than as they are the comparative forms.

'Many' like 'few' is used before a countable   noun.

Example:

§  Many/few students flunked the geography examination.

'Much' like 'less' is used before a non-countable or a material noun.

Example:

§  Much/less water.  

MODIFIERS- 'Too', ‘Very’, 'Enough'.

Very means to a high degree, but does not suggest impossibility.

§  Sushma is very intelligent.

 Too suggests impossibility or undesirable degree.

§  Maria is too weak to attend your party.

It is advisable not to use 'too' with a positive adjective. Instead of using 'too' it is better to use 'very'.

Enough suggests possibility or sufficient degree.

Example:

§  He is smart enough to win the competition.

Please take a note of the following:

§  Always make sure to put enough after the adjective.

§  Always add to+v(infinitive) after enough.

§  Enough can come before or after a noun to express sufficiency.

Examples:

NOUN

Dennis had enough money to buy a villa.

NOUN

Dennis had money enough to buy a villa.

MODIFIERS-Negation

Here are some words that have negative meanings even though you can't make out that they deliver a negative message.

Examples:

only, scarcely,rarely, hardly,seldom and without.

§ Gary had scarcely enough money to buy movie tickets.

§ They went to the picnic without food.

Please make a note of the following:

§'Scarcely' and 'Hardly' are followed by WHEN.

§  Hardly had I seen the space shuttle when it disappeared.

§  Hardly did I see the space shuttle when it disappeared.

§  'No sooner' is followed by than.(which means as soon as)

§  As soon as I reached the theatre the movie started.

§  No sooner had I reached the theatre than the movie started.

§  No sooner+ had+subject+past participle......than.

§  No sooner+ did+ subject+ present tense verb....than.

§  No sooner did I reach the theatre than the movie started.

§  Hardly/ Scarcely+ had + subject+ past participle....when.....

§  Hardly had  I seen the space shuttle when it disappeared.

§  Hardly/Scarcely+did+ subject+ present tense verb.....when.

§  Hardly did I see the space shuttle when it disappeared.

H.A.P.P.Y-L.E.A.R.N.I.N.G....