Quantitative Adjectives: Parts of Speech

Welcome to our lesson on Quantitative Adjectives! In this section, we’ll explore a fundamental aspect of English grammar that helps us describe the quantity or number of things. Let’s delve into it step by step.

What are Quantitative Adjectives ?

Quantitative adjectives are words used to describe the quantity or amount of a noun. They answer questions like “how much?” or “how many?” For instance, in the sentence “She has three apples,” the word “three” is a quantitative adjective because it tells us the number of apples she has.

Types of Quantitative Adjectives:

1. Cardinal Numbers: These are the basic numbers used for counting, such as one, two, three, etc. For example, “There are five pens on the table.”
2.  Ordinal Numbers: These indicate the order of things, like first, second, third, etc. For instance, “He finished in third place.”
3.  Fractional Numbers: These represent a part of a whole, such as half, quarter, third, etc. For example, “She ate half of the cake.”
4.  Multiplicative Numbers: These show how many times something occurs, like single, double, triple, etc. For instance, “He scored a double century.”

Examples in Context:

1.  Cardinal Numbers:
   • “There are four chairs in the room.”
   • “I have two cats and three dogs.”
2.  Ordinal Numbers:
   • “This is the first time I’ve been here.”
   • “She won the second prize in the competition.”
3.  Fractional Numbers:
   • “He drank a quarter of the milkshake.”
   • “She solved half of the math problems.”
4.  Multiplicative Numbers:
   • “He ordered a single scoop of ice cream.”
   • “They won the match by a double-digit margin.”

Practice Exercise:

Now, let’s try a quick exercise to reinforce what we’ve learned.

1.  Complete the sentences with the appropriate quantitative adjective:
   • She bought ________ new books.
   • We reached the beach ________.
   • He scored ________ goals in the match.
   • I have ________ siblings.
2.  Identify the type of quantitative adjective used in each of the following sentences:
   • “She ate a third of the pizza.”
   • “They celebrated their fiftieth anniversary.”
   • “I’ll take a double espresso, please.”

Exercises : 

• Exercise 1: Quantitative Adjectives | Practice Test Online
• Exercise 2: Quantitative Adjectives | Practice Test Online
• Exercise 3: Quantitative Adjectives | Practice Test Online

Conclusion:

Quantitative adjectives play a crucial role in English grammar by helping us specify the quantity or number of nouns. By understanding and using them correctly, you can express yourself more clearly and effectively in both spoken and written English.