Most Confusing English Adjectives: Part 1

Many/Much:

Many: It is always used for countable noun or number i.e. many candidates/students/farmers/artists etc.
Much: It is always used for uncountable noun or quantity i.e. much pollution/importance etc.
Many a/an: we use this word before the singular countable noun and we will always use a singular verb with it but the most confusing thing is it has plural meaning in it.

Examples

I. He has much ideas in his mind. (×)
He has many ideas in his mind. (√)

II. In this election, much new candidates are standing in the election. (×)
In this election, many new candidates are standing in the election. (√) 

III. Everybody wants many money in his life. (×) 

Everybody wants much money in his life. (√) 

IV. All the soldiers have tried many to win the war. (×)
All the soldiers have tried much to win the war. (√) 

V. Many soldiers were killed in the 1st world war. (√)
Many a soldier was killed in the 1st world war. (√) 

(The meaning of these sentences is same and these are here only for explain how we use many a in a sentence.)

VI. Many laptops have been sold. (√)
Many a laptop has been sold. (√)

A lot of, a large number of

"A lot of, a large no. of, plenty of, lots of, a great deal of, a no. of" When we see these words in our sentence we must know that the verb of these sentences depends on noun.

Examples

I. A number of cartoonists has paid a homage to R.K. laxman. (×)
A number of cartoonists have paid a homage to R.K. laxman. (√)

II. A lot of Gold are imported in India from South Africa. (×)
A lot of Gold is imported in India from South Africa. (√)

III. A plenty of news channels is on our T.V. (×)
A plenty of news channels are on our T.V. (√)

Note:
The no. of/ more than one/ the attitude of/ the stamina of these type of words will be always singular.

Ex:
I. The no. of employees in our office is not high.
II. The no. of my car is UP 14 AF 4589.
III. More than one question in the examination paper was wrong yesterday.

Few/Little:

Few: It is always used for a plural countable noun. It is used in the sense of hardly any (नहीं के बराबर).It has negativity in it so we can’t use this word to express our positive idea. 2-3%
A few: when we want to express a positive idea, we can use this word. It is used in the sense of (कुछ या थोडा). 30-40%
The few: we can use this word in both manners positive and negative because this word has both meanings positive or negative. 70-90% (it can never be 100%)

Examples

I. Few persons like movies and songs in India. (×)
The Few persons like movies and songs in India. (√)

II. Few candidates appear in the IAS exam every year but a few candidates are selected. (×)
A Few candidates appear in the IAS exam every year but few candidates are selected. (√)

Little: It is always used for singular uncountable noun. It is used in the sense of hardly any (नहीं के बराबर).It has negativity in it so we can’t use this word to express our positive idea. 2-3%

A Little: It is always used for singular uncountable noun. We use this word in the meaning of (थोडा या कुछ) only for quantity. It also has positive meaning in it. 30-40%

The Little: This word also has positive and negative meaning in it. 70-80-90% (it can never be 100%)

Examples

I. Little attention could have averted the accident. (×)
A Little attention could have averted the accident. (√)

II. A Little salt is produced in India. (×)
The Little salt is produced in India. (√)

III. There is the little corruption in the world. (×)
There is a little corruption in the world. (√)

Hundred, thousand, lakh,

Hundred, thousand, lakh, million, billion, dozen, baker dozen, line dozen, score:  We can’t use s/es after these words and if we want to add s/es in these words, we have to add (of) with these words.

DOZEN-12
BAKER’s DOZEN-13
SCORE-20

Examples

I. He found a one hundreds rupee note. (×)
He found a one hundred rupee note. (√)

II. She gave the shopkeeper 5 thousands rupees. (×)
She gave the shopkeeper 5 thousand rupees. (√)

III. Hundred of students are in the school. (×)
Hundreds of students are in the school. (√)

IV. He bought 3 dozens toffees. (×)
He bought 3 dozen toffees. (√) 

Each/Every:

Each: It is singular definitely. So if we see each in a sentence, we will use a singular noun with it but if we see (each of) instead of each it means we need to use plural countable noun in that sentence.

Examples

I. Each student have a pen. (×)
Each students has a pen. (×)
Each student has a pen. (√)

II. Each of the students have a book. (×)
Each of the student has a book. (×)
Each of the students has a book. (√)

III. He met each of the team member personally. (×)
He met each of the team members personally. (√)

IV. There are two girls. Each are smiling. (×)
There are two girls. Each is smiling. (√)

V. In a cricket match every team has 11 players. (×)
In a cricket match each team has 11 players. (√)

Every:

I. We use plural noun after this word and we can’t use each/every before singular uncountable noun. we also can’t use these words before plural countable noun.

Examples

Every ten girl. (×)
Every ten girls. (√)

Each rice, every gold, each water. (×)
Every mobiles, each books, every pens. (×)

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