24. The Use of Articles with Nouns Modified by Certain Adjectives, Pronouns and Numerals

1. Most.

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.

•

Most + of+ noun

• Most of the gentlemen looked both angry and uncomfortable.

2. Few, a few, the few; little, a little, the little

• Few means „мало”, it has a negative meaning. A few means „декілька”, it has a positive meaning. The few means „небагато з тих, хто”. It is used with countable nouns.

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

5. Last, the last; Next, the next.

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).

The last word remained with George.

Next means 'майбутній' when referring to time: next month, next week.

The next means 'наступний': the next room, at the next les¬son.

6. A number, the number

A number of means 'many'. A number of students are

The number means 'число, кількість'. IS

25. Comment on the degree of comparison of adjectives.

Most adjectives have degrees of comparison: the comparative degree and the superlative degree.

The comparative degree denotes a higher degree of quality. (small-smaller)

The superlative degree denotes the highest degree of quality. (smaller- the smallest)

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 adj. (analytical way)

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

Some qualitative adj. such as greenish, darkish, incurable, unsuitable, chief, principal have no degrees of comparison.