Describing Words
Adjective of Quantity for Class 3 English
Words describing quantity are important in a sentence as it answers the question “how much”. Basically it specifies the adjective of quantity and adds meaning to a sentence. In this chapter, class 3 English students will be able to identify the words describing quantity with meaning and examples.
Students can also learn the following from this concept about:
- Identifying the words of quantity to be used with singular and plural nouns.
- Usage of quantity words in sentences.
- Common mistakes that coccur while using them.
Each of the concepts have been covered remarkably well using illustrations, charts, and examples. Learners can assess their understanding by attempting to solve the describing words worksheet consisting of grade specific exercises given at the end of the page. The answers can be verified with those of the solutions available in PDF format.
Definition:
- Words describing quantity are used to explain an adjective or a noun. For instance, ‘small’ or ‘little’, ‘a little’, and ‘a few’ are words that describe quantity.
- ‘Little’ and ‘few’ can mean negatively. It is used to mean ‘not as much as expected’ or ‘not as much as wanted to’.
- Some of the common diminutive phrases are:
- little / a little
- I know little French.
- Add a little sugar in my cup of tea.
- few / a few
- Few of his pictures have come out well.
- There are a few good books in the library.
Examples:
Examples:
Other words used to indicate quality as given below:
| Words Indicating Quantity | |
|---|---|
| plenty of | a little |
| all of | a few |
| much | none of |
| little | few |
| too much | all |
| too many | many |
| a lot of | very little |
| lots of | very few |
How to Use Words Describing Quantity in a Sentence?
|
Word |
Meaning |
Examples |
|
Plenty |
More than enough |
Plenty of food has been wasted. |
|
Too many |
The number is high that it is difficult to count. It is used with countable nouns. |
This library has too many books. |
|
Too much |
Excessive.
It is used with uncountable nouns. |
There is too much noise here. |
|
‘all of’ and ‘all’ can be used interchangeably depending on the sentence. |
The whole of the thing or lot or people. ‘All of’ is usually used with a pronoun. |
All of them in the class burst into laughter after hearing the joke. |
|
A lot of, lots of |
Large amount |
|
|
A little, little |
Small in amount or size. Use ‘a little’ with mass nouns. In a negative way, “a small amount of something”, use little. |
|
|
A few, few |
To focus on how small a number is. |
|
|
None, none of |
Not one. |
|
Common Mistakes:
-
The phrase a little is used with singular uncountable nouns and not
with countable nouns.
Examples:
She had
coffee
with a little milk.
She had little
books in the bag.
-
The phrase ‘a few’ is used with plural countable nouns and not with
uncountable nouns. ‘A few’ denotes a positive quantity.
Examples:
We stayed
a few days in Chennai and visited the
temples.
We stayed
a
little days in Chennai and visited the
temples.
-
The word ‘Little’ is used with adjectives, adverbs, and uncountable nouns.
It is used for a negative quantity.
Examples:
- He apparently is getting a little better. (with adjective)
- There is a little shop not far from here. (used as an adjective)
- I had little choice since the circumstances were not that favourable.
-
The word ‘few’ is used with countable plural nouns and in a negative
quantity.
Examples:
Few people think that I am an arrogant girl.
Exceptions:
1. The phrases ‘a little’ and ‘a few’ can be used as pronouns. It can be used to substitute for a noun.
Examples:
- She narrated a little about her life in Kolkata.
- Don’t take all the cookies. Just take a few.
2. Without a noun, ‘little’ and ‘few’ are not very common. They are used in formal situations.
Examples:
- Little is known about her background.
- Few would be in favour of taking him along.
