Commonly Confused Adjectives
many
Use many with plural nouns!
You may eat as many apples as
you want.
There are too many cars in the
streets.
She doesnt have many friends.
few
Use few with negative
quantities! The word few
represents negative quantity
or shortage.
Judy has few friends.
Few papers brought this news.
Only few of them will need the
information.
little
Use little with negative
quantities! The word little
expresses a diminutive size or
a negative quantity.
The cat is little.
I take a coffee with very little milk.
A little boy brought back the book.
each
Use each with individual or
separate items.
The pineapples cost 2 Dollars each.
Each gave according to his ability.
Each person may buy only one.
much
Use much with singular and collective
nouns!
How much does it cost?
How much money do you need?
How much time will the work take?
He spends too much effort on this.
a few
Use a few with positive quantities! A
few represents positive quantities, but
it can only be used with countable
nouns.
Peter has a few good friends.
A few weeks ago John visited us.
A few of them know the secret.
a little
Use a little with positive quantities!
Always use it with non-countable
nouns!
Please, give me a little bit more!
Come a little closer, please!
The story made him laugh a little.
every
Use every when referring to things in
a group or describing the frequency of
actions.
Lucy goes to the beach every weekend.
He wakes up every day at half past seven,
Every child knows it.
 farther
Use farther always to indicate
distance in space or time!
How much farther is the
amusement park?
less
Less is compatible with non-
countable nouns, collective
nouns and bulk amounts.
Less pollution is better for the
environment.
She has less than she needs.
She eats less than she should.
high
High is used to define an
objects position from the
ground.
The Golden Gate Bridge is
exceptionally high.
sick
Sick is related to sickness or a
physical condition affecting an
individual or a group.
After the roller coaster ride Jane
felt sick.
last
Last is the opposite of first.
Read the first and last paragraphs
today.
further
Further implies a metaphorical
advancement!
Further topics will be covered next week.
There no further issues on the list.
fewer
Fewer is used with countable nouns
and individual items.
If people threw out fewer plastic bags, the
world would be cleaner.
With fewer words, he could have said more.
tall
Tall is an adjective that measures the
seize or height of vertical items,
The Statue of Liberty is very tall.
ill
Ill can mean bad, poor, unwell or sick.
The expedition was ill advised.
latest
The latest means the most recent.
The latest innovations were outstanding.