Ramanisblog

Tag: Noun

  • Some Examples On Degrees of Comparison and Tips,English Grammar.

    Some examples of Positive, Comparative and Superlative Degrees of Comparison.

    Positive Comparative Superlative

    Good Better Best

    Hot Hotter Hottest

    Sharp Sharper Sharpest

    Tall Taller Tallest

    Short Shorter Shortest

    Large Larger Largest

    Small Smaller Smallest

    Dry More dry (drier) Most dry (driest)

    Cold More cold (colder) Most cold (coldest)

    Proud More proud (prouder) Most proud (proudest)

    High Higher Highest

    Legible More legible Most legible

    Great Greater Greatest

    Cut Cut Cut

    Put Put Put

    Useful More useful Most useful

    Ferocious More ferocious Most ferocious

    Nutritive More nutritive Most nutritive

    Pretty More pretty (prettier) Most pretty (Prettiest)

    We should remember that we have two things to compare in Comparative degrees. We can say one is better than the other.

    In cases, when we have to make comparison between more than two Persons / Objects, we have to say one or one group is better or worse than the other.

    Ex: A, B, C and D are compared.

    A is taller than B

    B is taller than C

    D is of the same height of C

    B is taller than C and D, but, shorter than A.

    Changing the Degrees of Comparison

    – POSITIVE Degree occurs when we make a statement or a matter of fact without comparison.

    – COMPARITIVE Degree occurs when we compare two things / place / persons.

    – SUPERLATIVE Degree occurs when more than two things / place / persons are involved. Remember, beyond Superlative there is nothing more to be compared. If only two persons / places need to be compared, then one can use the Superlative.

    – When forming comparative degree, normally add

    a) ‘er’ to positive

    Ex: tall – taller sharp – sharper

    old – older short – shorter

    young – younger long – longer

    large – larger high – higher

    b) for superlative, add ‘est’ to positive.

    tall – taller – tallest sharp – sharper – sharpest

    old – older – oldest short – shorter – shortest

    young – younger – youngest long – longer – longest

    large – larger – largest high – higher – highest

    c) for word ending with ‘ y ’ remove ‘ y ‘ from positive and add ‘ier’ for comparative and ‘iest’ for superlative.

    heavy – heavier – heaviest lucky – luckier – luckiest

    pretty – prettier – prettiest dirty – dirtier – dirtiest

    merry – merrier – merriest dirty – more dirty – most dirty

    The Adjectives which have two syllables, will have ‘more’ for comparative and ‘most’ for superlative.

    Ex: beautiful – more beautiful – most beautiful

    honest – more honest – most honest

    popular – more popular – most popular

    reliable – more reliable – most reliable

    pretty – more pretty (prettier) – most pretty

    (prettiest)

    Some form themselves into comparative and superlative in an irregular pattern.

    Positive Comparative Superlative

    good / well better best

    bad / ill worse worst

    high higher highest

    little less least

    much / many more most

    far farther farthest

    fore former foremost / first

    You will become familiar with more words to use in Degrees of comparison by reading.

    For changing from one degree to another.

    From Positive to Comparative.

    a) Find out the comparative form of positive and place it in the place of positive adjective and follow it with ‘than’ or ‘to’ and follow it with the object.

    Rama is elder (comparative) to Lakshmanan

    To change into superlative, you should make sure or ensure that all the persons / places / things compared are taken into account. In superlative, you should leave nothing out of comparison.

    In the above example, in comparative, we have taken only two persons ; Rama and Lakshmanan

    If we are certain that we have to make a statement involving Rama and Lakshmanan to indicate who is elder of the two, comparative degree will do. But, if we have more than two people, if we say, ‘Rama is elder to Lakshmanan’, when two others namely, Bharata and Shatrugana are involved, if we say Rama is elder to Lakshmana, we will not know if Bharata or Shatrugana is elder to Rama. So, if we say, Rama is the eldest of four brothers, we have taken into account Bharata and Shatrugana. We get the clear picture that Rama is the eldest of the four.

    Let us see another example for changing from one degree to another.

    Madurai is the oldest town in Tamil Nadu (Superlative).

    The meaning is that there is no other city in Tamil Nadu which is older than Madurai. So, to convert the above into superlative and convey the same meaning, we should say ‘Madurai is older than any other city in Tamil nadu’. We can also express the same in another way.

    No other city in Tamil Nadu is older than Madurai.

    However, the emphasis we want to give on Madurai is slightly different or varied. This, we shall discuss later.

    Shakespeare is greater than any other English poet. (Comparative)

    Shakespeare is the greatest of English Poets (superlative).

    As a rule, make sure the meaning in various degrees remain the same, instead of blindly following hints. In fact, while dealing with grammar, we should pay more attention to the meaning conveyed, whatever be the circumstances.

    Change the degree of comparison without changing the meaning.

    1) The pen is mightier than the sword.

    2) Cow is more useful than any other animal.

    3) Mount Everest is the highest peak in the World.

    4) Mariana Trench is the deepest point in the ocean

    5) It is better to have loved and lost than to have not loved at all.

    6) Mango is sweeter than Lime.

    7) Very few Nations are as materialistic as the USA.

    8) Samudra Gupta was greater than any other King in India.

    9) No other orator was more powerful as Demosthenes.

    10) I have more books than you.

    ADJECTIVES USED AS NOUNS

    ‘The rich do not know the condition of the poor’

    The adjectives are ‘rich’ and ‘poor’.

    What do we mean by these adjectives?

    Rich – people who are rich or rich people.

    Poor – people who are poor or poor people.

    The nouns ‘People’ are not stated openly. They are implied or hidden behind the adjectives. So, when we say rich or poor in the above sentences, we mean rich (adjective) people (noun – collective noun), do not to know the sufferings of the poor (adjective) people (noun – collective noun). In practice, we use rich and poor. Hence, adjective is used as Plural Nouns.

    The future is happy. Here, future means futurity. It is an Abstract Noun. In such cases, the adjective (future) becomes Noun. It is in Singular.

    Some other adjectives derived from Proper Nouns become adjectives. They may relate to proper ethnicity – Indians, Americans, Tamilians.

    Some adjectives indicating persons also become Nouns. They may belong to particular profession or an activity that is common to all of them – juniors, seniors, Criminals.

    Yet some other adjectives denoting quantity / things in general become Nouns. It can be both in Singular and Plural.

    – Secrets, total, solids, liquids, gases, valuables.

    Some adjectives like sweet are used as Nouns in Plural and not in Singular. We can say sweets, it, that is, in a many eatables that are sweet.

    Some phrases also become Nouns whenever this make appear into the sentence below the proceeding one. In short, Before long, Ere long, At Best, At the very least, in black and white.

    In general, to identify an adjective functioning as a Noun, look for Plural Nouns, Singular Nouns of quality, derivatives of Nouns (means Adjectives formed of Noun). Or some phrases that indicate Nouns implicitly.

    Also, ‘the’ appears before Adjective functioning as Noun (in general).

    Remember the above guidelines are only indicative. Best way is to look for the meaning. i.e. what we speak about Persons / Places / Things and what we add to give more meaning to the forms and decide if the Noun is implied.

    Sometimes we use Noun as adjectives as well.

    I am a city boy.

    He always plays computer games.

    Adjective is normally placed before the Noun.

    He is a great man.

    In poetry, the adjective may appear after the Noun – ‘Men’, of great valour never die more than once’.

    We place adjectives after Noun in Prose also, when we have more than one adjective to emphasis.

    Lord Krishna was a great King, Philosopher and Leader.

    He was a kind man, patient, forbearing and of compassion.

    We also place adjectives after a Noun when we join some words or phrases to adjectives. This is to place emphasis.

    MS Dhoni is fertile in imaginative tactics..

    In some cases, in some phrases, Adjectives come after the Noun.

    God Almighty, time immemorial.

    In some instances, the adjectives are more of explanatory in nature or indicate a specific quality which we want to emphasis.

     

    Related:

    http://ramanisblog.in/2012/08/30/comparison-of-adjectives-or-degrees-of-comparisonenglish-grammar/

    Related articles

  • KINDS OF ADJECTIVES. English Grammar.

    ADJECTIVE adds meaning to Noun. There are various kinds of Adjectives. They are:

    1. Adjective of Quality: Kind or quality of a person or thing

    Bangalore is a cosmopolitan city.

    Mahatma Gandhi was an honest man.

    If you ask the question, ‘of what kind’?, you get Adjective of quality.

    2. Adjective of Quantity: shows how much of a thing or quantity.

    We have enough food

    There has been insufficient rain this season.

    3. Numeral Adjective or Adjective of Numbers: Indicates the number of things indicated.

    The hand has five fingers. Some numeral adjectives: few, many, all, most, several.

    To find ‘Adjective of quantity ask ‘How much or how many?

    Adjectives of Number are further classified into:

    a) Definite Numeral Adjectives: denotes exact numbers as one, two, three etc. (These are called Cardinals).

    First, Second, third etc., (these are called Ordinals).

    b) Indefinite Numeral Adjectives do not indicate exact number as few, man, several, all.

    c) Distributive Numeral Adjectives refer to each one of a number as

    India expects every one to do his / her duty.

    Some Adjectives may be grouped as Adjective of identity or Numeral Adjective according to its use.

    E.g.; Adjective of Quantity – Number

    He has lost all his money. All men must die.

    4. Demonstrative adjective – point out / emphasis which person / thing is meant.

    This boy is my son

    That house is mine.

    If you ask ‘which’?, you shall get Demonstrative adjective.

    NOTE: What / which / where: When you use these words with Nouns to ask question, you shall get Interrogative Adjectives.

    5. ‘OWN’ and ‘VERY’ are used for emphasis.

    These are called Emphasis Adjective.

    I saw it with my own eyes.

    6. Exclamatory Adjectives use ‘What!’, ‘What an Idea !’.

    Adjectives are formed from Nouns / Verbs / Adjectives

    From Nouns: Boy – Boyish, Storm – Stormy

    From Verbs: Talk – Talkative, Move – Moveable

    From Adjectives: Two – Two-fold, Sick – Sickly

    http://ramanisblog.in/2012/08/27/declension-of-nouns-know-your-english-grammar/

    Related articles

  • MODE OF ADDRESS, English Grammar

    When we speak, if we reflect, we speak mostly about ourselves. Therefore, the word that we use to denote ourselves is said to be in the FIRST PERSON i.e. ‘I’. It is in Singular, the Plural is ‘We’.

    Next, we speak to people who are right before us. That is our second priority. The Singular ‘You’ is in second person, the Plural is also ‘You’ (you have to find if ‘You’ is in Singular or Plural by referring to context.

    Then we speak of people who are not right before us. They may be either male or female. Then we use ‘He’ for masculine and ‘She’ for feminine gender. Plural is ‘They’.

    When we speak of Non-Living things, we use ‘It’. Plural is ‘They’.

    First Person Singular Plural

    I       We

    Second Person    You You

    Third Person        He, She They

    Masculine or Feminine

    Gender – Neuter Gender– It They

    Related articles

    http://ramanisblog.in/2012/08/27/declension-of-nouns-know-your-english-grammar/

  • DECLENSION OF NOUNS, Know Your English Grammar

    When we give in order the various cases of a Noun / Pronoun in the two numbers, we are said to give its Declension.

    Singular Plural Case

    Boy Boys Nominative case

    Boy Boys’ Possessive case

    – Cases – Singular+Plural

    THIRD PERSON SINGULAR PLURAL

    Masculine Gender

    Nominative case He They

    Possessive case His Their, Theirs

    Accusative case Him Them

    Feminine Gender

    Nominative case She They

    Possessive case Her, Her’s Their, Theirs

    Accusative case Her They

    Neuter Gender

    Nominative case It They

    Possessive case Its These

    Accusative case It Them

    DATIVE CASE

    When a noun is used as the indirect object of a verb in a sentence, it is said to be in the DATIVE CASE.

    Ex: Father gave a watch Father gave Anand a watch

    In each of the sentences, the Noun WATCH is the object.

    In the second sentence, Anand is the person to whom ‘Father’ gave a watch. The noun ‘Anand’ is the indirect object. It is in DATIVE CASE. In the first sentence, ‘Watch’ is the object.. As the object is directly visible to us, it is called direct object. It is in Accusative case.

    First Person Singular Plural

    Nominative case I We

    Possessive case My, Mine Our, Ours

    Accusative case Me Us

    Nominative means one who is entitled to. Therefore, Nominative case indicates immediate / direct beneficiary. Possessive means ‘owning’. Therefore, possessive case is used to point out ownership.

    Accusative means to be intimated or informed of possession or action. Normally, it is used in indirect reference.

    Second Person Singular Plural

    Nominative case Thou You

    Possessive case Their your, yours

    Accusative case Thee thine

    http://ramanisblog.in/2012/08/26/case-english-grammar/

    Related articles

  • THE NOUN – NUMBER, Essentials of English

    When we speak of one person or one thing, the word (Noun) is in Singular.

    When we speak of more than one person or thing, the name is said to be in Plurals.

    SINGULAR PLURAL

    Man Men

    Boy Boys

    Computer Computers

    FORMATION OF PLURALS (some guidelines – by adding ‘s’ to singular )

    Pen – Pens, Television – Televisions, Book – Books, Dog – Dogs

    – by adding ‘es’, ‘sh’, ‘ch’

    Clash – Clashes, Flash – Flashes, Wish – Wishes, Lass – Lasses, Branch – Branches, Catch – Catches, Kiss – Kisses , Watch – Watches

    – by adding ‘es’ to words ending with ‘O’

    Buffalo – Buffaloes, Mango – Mangoes, Negro – Negroes, Volcano – Volcanoes

    – For some words ending with ‘O’, add ‘s’

    Radio – Radios Kilo – Kilos

    – For words ending with ‘Y’ add ies for plurals instead of ‘Y’

    City – Cities Army – Armies

    – For words ending with ‘F’, add ‘ves’ in place of ‘F’

    Life – Lives, Wife – Wives, Knife – Knives, Wolf – Wolves

    – For some words ending with ‘F’, we can add ‘S’ or ‘ES’. Both are correct.

    Scarf – Scarves Scarfs, Dwarf – Dwarves Dwarfs

    By changing the inside vowel :- Man – Men, Foot – Feet

    – By adding ‘EN’ : Child – Children , Ox – Oxen

    – in some nouns, Singular and Plural are the same as in : Pair, Sheep, Dozen.

    – Some nouns are used only in Plural. Scissors, Spectacles, trousers

    – Some Noun that are Singular are generally used in Plurals : Alms, Riches

    – Some Noun are Singular but they look like Plurals – Mathematics, Billiards, News, Mumps

    – Some Collective Nouns are used as Plurals, though they are Singular

    – Poultry, Cattle, People

    – Some special Plurals – Commander – in-Chief , Commanders-in-Chief,

    Son -in-law, Sons-in-law, Man of war – Men of war, Stepson – Stepsons

    – Some Nouns have the meaning in Singular but one meaning in Plural:

    People – Nation

    men + Women – People – Nation

    Light – Radiance – Lamp – Lights – Lamps

    Some Nouns have one meaning in Singular but two meanings in Plural:

    GROUND Singular Plural

    1. Earth Grounds – enclosed land attached

    2. Reason Reasons

    EFFECT – Result Effects – Results

    Property

    NUMBER – a Quantity Numbers – quantities

    Verses

    SPECTACLE – a sight Spectacles – Sights

    Eye glasses

    Some Nouns have two forms of Plural, each with a different meaning

    Brother – Brother – Sons of the same parent

    BRETHERN – members of a society

    Die – Dies – stamps for coining.

    Dice – small cubes used in games

    Some Nouns have different meaning in Singular and the Plural

    Advice – Counsel – Advice – Information

    Good – Well being l – Goods – Merchandise

    Letters and figures can be changed into Plural by marking ‘apostrophe.’.

    Add two two’s and five Five’s

    – Abstract Nouns have no Plural, because they are uncountable. Love and Kindness

    Abstracts do not have Plural – Gold, Wood

    Related:

    http://ramanisblog.in/2012/08/24/gender/

    Related articles