Connotation/Attitudes of Quantifiers

 Connotation/Attitudes of Quantifiers

 A few and few (for countable) as well as a little and little (for uncountable nouns) may seem very similar, but they actually hold very different connotations.

A few and a little indicate that the speaker feels positively about the quantity he/she is describing: though he/she may not have much, it is enough. Few and little indicates the speaker feels negatively about the quantity: he/she is lacking in the noun and would like more if it were available. 

Examples:

• I have a little money for lunch. ⇒ I have enough money for lunch. 

• I have little money for lunch. ⇒ I do not have enough money for lunch. 

• The scientist has a few techniques which she can use to determine his product. ⇒ The scientist has enough techniques which she can use to determine his product. 

• The scientist has few techniques which she can use to determine his product.⇒ The scientist does not have enough techniques which she can she use to determine his product.

AUTHOR

Dr L Suresh

Assistant Professor of English

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science

Coimbatore - 641020

Contact: 9944138137

e-mail ID: sureshenglit@rmv.ac.in

Subject-Verb Agreement and Common Errors - IV

 

Subject-Verb Agreement and Common Errors - IV

    Dear readers, in the previous post we discussed some of the common errors associated with Subject-Verb Agreement that English as non-native speakers encounter in their daily conversation. In continuation with that, this present post highlights the common errors that people tend to commit in terms of Subject-Verb Agreement. 

Mostly we commit mistakes based on subject-verb agreement in our English. We should learn that verb agrees with subject. If a subject is singular, it takes a singular verb; and if a subject is plural, it takes a plural verb. Let us look at some of the common errors that we might encounter in our daily conversations.

Either, neither, each, every one, many a must be followed by a singular verb. Examples:

• Either of my friends are honest.
• Either of my friends is honest.
• Neither of the answers are correct.
• Neither of the answers is correct.
• Each of your gifts were wonderful.
• Each of your gifts was wonderful.
• Every one of my relatives have got a government job.
• Every one of my relatives has got a government job.
• Many a person are sincere in returning debts.
• Many a person is sincere in returning debts.

 Let us discuss some more ideas on the same topic in the next post. 

Author:

Dr. K. Nandhakumar

Assistant Professor of English

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science (Autonomous)

Coimbatore- 641 020

Quantifiers

 Quantifiers

A quantifier is a word that usually goes before a noun to express the quantity of the object; for example, a little milk. Most quantifiers are followed by a noun, though it is also possible to use them without the noun when it is clear what we are referring to. For example,

Do you want some milk? – Just a little. (It’s clear that I mean ‘a little milk’.)

There are quantifiers to describe large quantities (a lot, much, many), small quantities (a little, a bit, a few) and undefined quantities (some, any). There are also quantifiers that express the idea of a sufficient amount (enough, plenty).

There are some quantifiers that have a similar meaning but differ because one is used with countable nouns and the other is used with uncountable nouns. Countable nouns are things that we can count; for example, a table, two chairs. Uncountable nouns are things that we cannot count and only have a singular form; for example, some furniture, some fruit.

AUTHOR

Dr L Suresh

Assistant Professor of English

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science

Coimbatore - 641020

Contact: 9944138137

e-mail ID: sureshenglit@rmv.ac.in

Demonstrative Adjectives and Demonstrative Pronouns

 Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative adjectives are used in order to describe or specify an object.

Examples of demonstrative adjectives are this, that, these and those. Their position and function in a sentence is what differentiates them from demonstrative pronouns

Eg: Can I take this bag to put in all my clothes?

Here, ‘this’ describes the bag.

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns, on the other hand, are used instead of a noun. It points out to the subject or object doing or receiving the action in the sentence

Examples of demonstrative pronouns are this, that, these and those.

Eg: You can take this to put in all your clothes.

Here, ‘this’ is the demonstrative pronoun that substitutes the noun ‘bag’.

AUTHOR

Dr L Suresh

Assistant Professor of English

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science

Coimbatore - 641020

Contact: 9944138137

e-mail ID: sureshenglit@rmv.ac.in

Subject-Verb Agreement and Common Errors - III

Subject-Verb Agreement and Common Errors - III

Dear readers, in the previous post we discussed some of the common errors associated with Subject-Verb Agreement that English as non-native speakers encounter in their daily conversation. In continuation with that, this present post highlights the common errors that people tend to commit in terms of Subject-Verb Agreement. 

Mostly we commit mistakes based on subject-verb agreement in our English. We should learn that verb agrees with subject. If a subject is singular, it takes a singular verb; and if a subject is plural, it takes a plural verb. Let us look at some of the common errors that we might encounter in our daily conversations.

Either Chief Minister or his ministers is visiting the flood situation.     (Incorrect)

Either Chief Minister or his ministers are visiting the flood situation. (Correct)

When we use either-or, the verb takes the singular or plural form depending on the subject closest to the verb. 

Neither my friends nor I are going to movie tonight.                 (Incorrect)

Neither my friends nor I am going to movie tonight.                 (Correct)

This example with neither-or indicates that the verb can be singular or plural depending on the subject closest to the verb.

Everyone are fine at home.                         (Incorrect)

Everyone is fine at home.                                 (Correct)

When we use everyone, everything, everybody, anybody and somebody the verb should be in singular form. 

Nobody are here.                                         (Incorrect)

Nobody is here.                                         (Correct)

The words like everybody, everyone, everything, nobody, and nothing always take singular verb only. 

Thangaraj, as well as his friends, want to present me a gift.                 (Incorrect)

Thangaraj, as well as his friends, wants to present me a gift.                 (Correct)

The phrases like ‘as well as’ and ‘together with’ do not change the number of the subject. If the subject is singular, the verb is singular.  If the subject is plural, the verb is plural. 

 Let us discuss some more ideas on the same topic in the next post. 

Author:

Dr. K. Nandhakumar

Assistant Professor of English

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science (Autonomous)

Coimbatore- 641 020