Adjective part-5 adjectives-comparing-unequal-quantities/
Adjectives comparing unequal quantities
To compare two things that are unequal, we use the pattern:
adjective indicating quantity + (noun) + than
The quantity adjective you use depends if the noun in the comparison is countable or uncountable.
Countable nouns
Use more and fewer with countable nouns. Note that the noun may be ommitted when it is understood from the context, as in the last example below.Examples
- They have more children than we do.
- We have more customers than they do.
- Tom has fewer books than Jane.
- There are fewer houses in his village than in mine.
- You know more people than I do.
- I have visited the States more times than he has.
- I have three brothers. That's more than you have. ("brothers" is understood)
Uncountable nouns
Use more or less with uncountable nouns. Note that the noun may be omitted when it is understood from the context, as in the last example below.Examples
- John eats more food than Peter.
- Jim has less patience than Sam.
- You've heard more news than I have.
- He's had more success than his brother has.
- They've got less water than we have.
- I'm not hungry at all. I've had more than I want. ("food" is understood)
on Friday, 24 June 2016
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Adjective part-4 :adjectives-comparing-equal-quantities/
Adjectives comparing equal quantities
To compare two things that are equal, we use the pattern:
as + adjective indicating quantity + (noun) + as
The quantity adjective you use depends if the noun in the comparison is countable or uncountable.
Countable nouns
Use as many and as few with countable nouns. Note that the noun may be ommitted when it is understood from the context, as in the last example below.Examples
- They have as many children as we do.
- We have as many customers as they do.
- Tom has as few books as Jane.
- There are as few houses in his village as in mine.
- You know as many people as I do.
- I have visited the States as many times as he has.
- I have three brothers. That's as many as you have. ("brothers" is understood)
Uncountable nouns
Use as much or as little with uncountable nouns. Note that the noun may be ommitted when it is understood from the context, as in the last example below.Examples
- John eats as much food as Peter.
- Jim has as little patience as Sam.
- You've heard as much news as I have.
- He's had as much success as his brother has.
- They've got as little water as we have.
- I'm not hungry. I've had as much as I want. ("food" is understood)
Adjectives part-3
Ordering multiple adjectives
When a number of adjectives are used together, the order depends on the function of the adjective. The usual order is:
Quantity, Value/opinion, Size, Temperature, Age, Shape, Colour, Origin, Material
| What the adjective expresses | Examples |
|---|---|
| Quantity | four, ten, a few, several |
| Value/Opinion | delicious, charming, beautiful |
| Size | tall, tiny, huge |
| Temperature | hot, cold |
| Age | old, young, new, 14-year-old |
| Shape | square, round |
| Color | red, purple, green |
| Origin | Swedish, Victorian, Chinese |
| Material | glass, silver, wooden |
Examples
- They have a lovely old red post-box.
- The playroom has six small round plastic tables.
- I bought some charming Victorian silver ornaments at the flea market.
- She is selling her flashy 3-year-old Italiancar.
- It was a beautiful cold day.
Adjectives part -2
Using adjectives in English
| Meaning | Adjective placed before the noun | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| I want to see the people who have something to do with this matter. | It was an involved discussion. | The discussion was detailed & complex. |
| Here is a list of the people who were at the meeting. | The present situation is not sustainable. | The current situation is not sustainable. |
| I need to see the man who has been accused. | A concerned father came to see me today. | A worried father came to see me today. |
