Adjectives, pronouns and numerals

§ 32. Most.

(a) Most + adjective.

The definite article is used when most serves to form the superlative degree of an adjective.

This is the most interesting chapter in the book.

The use of the indefinite article shows that a high degree of a quality is meant. Most has the same meaning as very, exceedingly.

Caroline found that the old maid had been a most devoted daughter and sister.

(Ch. Bronte)

N o t e. — Occasionally the form of the superlative degree does not express

comparison, but a high degree of a quality.

He listened with themost profound attention.

He listened with thedeepest attention.

The same phenomenon is found in Russian:

Он слушал с глубочайшим вниманием.

(в) Most + of + noun.

When definite people or things are meant the noun is used with the definite article and most is followed by the preposition of.

Most of the flowers in the garden were planted by the schoolchildren.

Most of the gentlemen looked both angry and uncomfortable. (Voynich)

We say most, not most of the, when we do not mean definite people or things. The noun is used in a general sense.

Most flowers smell sweet.

§ 33. Few, a few, the few; little, a little, the little.

Few means ‘мало’, it has a negative meaning.

A few means ‘несколько’, it has a positive meaning.

The few means ‘те немногие (которые)’.

He was a very good man. There are few like him in the world

today. (Abrahams)

He left after a few moments. (Dreiser)

You need not fear to hear the few remaining words we have to say. (Dickens)

Little means ‘мало’, it has a negative meaning.

A little means ‘некоторое количество’, it has a positive meaning.

The little means ‘то небольшое количество (которое)’.

We can’t go skiing today. There is too little snow.

We have a little time. Let us take a walk in the garden.

Don’t waste the little time you have.

§ 34. Two, the two; three, the three, etc.

Two means ‘два’.

The two means ‘оба, те два’.

Two students entered the room.

The two friends travelled together.

The two books you lent me proved very interesting.

§ 35. The second, a second.

The second is an ordinal numeral meaning ‘второй’.

Thesecond attempt proved more successful than the first.

A second means ‘another, one more’.

Having eaten the gruel, Oliver asked for a second portion.

In the third, a third, the fourth, a fourth etc. we see thesame difference in meaning.

He made an experiment which proved his theory. He made a second, a third, a fourth experiment with the same results.

A second time means ‘once more’.

I rang the bell, but nobody answered it, so I had to ring a second time.

§ 36. Another, the other.

The pronoun another has two meanings:

(а) ‘какой-либо другой’.

Give me another pen, I don’t like this one.

(в) ‘еще один’.

I am thirsty; I should like another cup of tea.

The other means ‘определенный другой’.

There are two books here, take one and I’ll take the other.

§ 37. Last, the last.

Nouns modified by the adjective last are always used with the definite article except in the expressions last month, last year, last week, last summer (winter, autumn, spring).

Thelast word remained with George.

Last summer, in Switzerland, he was quite well. (Voynich)

§ 38. Next, the next.

Next means ‘будущий’ when referring to time: next month, next week.

The next means ‘следующий’: the next room, at the next lesson.

Next time means ‘в следующий раз’.

We shall discuss this matter nexttime.

In reference to time viewed from the past both next and the next mean ‘следующий’.

We spent a fortnight in Kiev. The next week was spent in Odessa (or: Next

week was spent in Odessa).

§ 39. A number, the number.

A number of means’ ‘many’. It is rendered in Russian by много, ряд.

The number means ‘число, количество’.

His father and anumber of his cronies were in the dining-room. (Dreiser)

Thenumber of mistakes he makes is startling.

OMISSION OF THE ARTICLE

Sometimes the article is not used where we naturally expect to find it in accordance with the rules. No change of meaning is observed in these cases.

The article is often omitted in newspaper headings, telegrams, in stage directions.

Gas Blast Kills Woman. (Daily Worker)

Girl Gymnast Keeps Title. (Moscow News)

The article is often omitted with homogeneous members closely connected with each other and joined by the conjunction and. In most cases they go in pairs.

The breakfast was taken away, and that meal over, it was the general custom

of uncle and niece to separate. (Ch. Bronte)

Chapter III

THE ADJECTIVE

§ 1.The adjective is a word expressing aquality of asubstance.

§ 2. The adjective has the following morphological characteristics:

Most adjectives have degrees of comparison:the comparativedegree and the superlativedegree.¹

¹ Some adjectives have no degrees of comparison (see § 7).

The comparative degreedenotes a higher degree of a quality.

She is tallerthan her sister.

My box is smallerthan hers.

The superlative degreedenotes the highest degree of a quality.

She is the tallestof the three sisters.

Her box is the smallestof all our boxes.

(The noun modified by an adjective in the superlative degree has the definite article because the superlative degree of the adjective always implies limitation.)

Adjectives form their degrees of comparison in the following way:

(a) by the inflexion ‑er, ‑est (synthetical way);

(b) by placing more and most before the adjective (analytical way).

Monosyllabic adjectives usually form their comparatives and superlatives in the first way, and polysyllabic adjectives in the second way.

The following polysyllabic adjectives, however, generally form their comparative and superlative degrees inflexionally:

1. Adjectives of two syllables which end in ‑y, ‑ow, -er, ‑le.

happy	happier	(the) happiest
narrow	narrower	(the) narrowest
clever	cleverer	(the) cleverest
simple	simpler	(the) simplest

2. Adjectives of two syllables which have the stress on the last syllable:

complete	completer	(the) completest
concise	conciser	(the) concisest

Some adjectives have irregular forms of degrees of comparison, e. g.:

good	better	(the) best
bad	worse	(the) worst
many, much	more	(the) most
little	less	(the) least
far	{farther further	(the ){farthest furthest
old	{older elder	(the){oldest eldest

Spelling rules.

1. If the adjective ends in a consonant preceded by a stressed short vowel the consonant is doubled before ‑er, ‑est.

sad	sadder	(the) saddest
big	bigger	(the) biggest

2. If the adjective ends in ‑y preceded by a consonant, у is changed into i before ‑er and ‑est.

busy	busier	(the) busiest
happy	happier	(the) happiest

3. If the adjective ends in ‑e the e is dropped before ‑er and ‑est.

brave	braver	(the) bravest
tine	finer	(the) finest

§ 4. The adjective has the following syntactical characteristics: In a sentence the adjective may be used as an attribute or as a predicative.

A little fat chap thrust out his underlip and the tall fellow frowned.

(Mansfield) (ATTRIBUTES)

Laura was terribly nervous. (Mansfield) (PREDICATIVE)

The air was motionless... (Mansfield) (PREDICATIVE)