as the four are taken as a section, and spoken of accordingly. But if this is possible in the one case it is so also in the other; the four men (a section) who marched last, are the four last men (a section), last relatively to the main body, who marched.

The Arabic numerals and system of notation are those commonly used in English. That of the Romans is used for names of kings, headings of chapters, paging of prefaces, occasionally for the date of the year, &c.

1868

{

MDCCCLXVIII.

CCCCLXVIII.

George III.

The following adjectives are conveniently classed by some grammarians as Indefinite Numerals:

Each, every, *both; ought, nought; a few, several;

any, many, *much;

*either,

neither;

*all, *no;

*

more,

*most, *some, *enough; one, *only, alone.

[* Are also adverbs. Examples of their adverbial use will be found further on.]

As adjectives

'Each' denotes two or more persons or things taken separately; as, 'The stars sat, each on his throne.'

'Every' denotes more than two persons or things taken separately; as, 'The sun rises every morning.' 'Every' cannot stand without its noun.

'Each' is in common usage equivalent to 'every one ’—

The two remaining angles are equal to those of the other triangle, each to each.

'Both' denotes two persons or things taken together; asYou are both right. He broke both his arms.

'Ought' means anything, and 'nought' nothing

Have you ought to say to me?

ought. I have nought to do.

He asked him if he saw

'Ought' is sometimes spelt 'aught.'

'Either' has two meanings

1. Equivalent to 'both,' except that it is joined with a singular noun; as, 'The people assembled on either side of the river.'

2. One of the two; as, 'Either example may be followed, but not both.'

"Neither' means 'none of the two;' as-

Neither army beat the other.

'Any' means one taken at random, 'Many' a number.

Will any man deny this? Any fool can do that. Many people think so.

'Many' is sometimes prefixed to a singular noun, with the indefinite article; as

Many a time.

Full many a flower is born to blush unseen. We say also a great many,' ‘a good many,' with a plural noun; as

A great many men were wounded, a good many killed. 'Much' denotes quantity, and is used with a singular noun; as, ' much money;' in old English, 'much people.'

('Many,' 'a few,' 'several,' denote number, and are joined with plural nouns; as, 'many shillings.')

'Much' may be used without a noun; as, 'Much might be said.'

'A few,' though singular in form, is always joined with a plural noun; as, 'Can you lend me a few shillings?'

'Few' is also a noun; as, 'The faithful few.'

'Several' in old English means separate or distinct; asEach fettered ghost slips to his several grave.

But in modern English it becomes an indefinite numeral, is joined with a plural noun, and denotes more than a few' and less than 'many;' as

I have several things to say. I mentioned it several times. 'Several' cannot correctly stand without its noun.

'More' and 'most' denote both quantity and number. They are the comparative and superlative both of 'much and 'many;' thus

He asked for more men and more money.

Most children

occasionally cry. Live where there is most to do.

On all sides.

It is all my fault.

For all that. By all means. They were five in all. Beyond

(or without) all doubt.

all wrong.

horse and all.

For all the world like, &c.

In all haste. It is
He was drowned,

'No' and 'none' are adjective and noun; none is 'no one I have no father. Father? I have none.

In old English'none' is used for 'no' before a vowel, as in the expression 'none other;' that is, 'none' is used adjectivally, whereas usage confines the adjectival sense to 'no' generally.

Notice the phrases

No

No two agree together. Nobody would hurt him. No doubt. No fear. No matter. No wonder. Nowhere. whither. In no wise. There is no enduring it.

no worse.

To say

'Some' is used with either a singular or plural noun, and denotes either number or quantity; as—

Some readers. Some shillings. Some money.

" Some' may be used with a noun understood; asSome wake to joy, and some to sorrow.

is still owing.

Some heroism.

Some of the money

'Enough' (like 'some') denotes either number or quantity, and is joined with either a singular or plural noun. It may be placed either before or after its noun

I have enough money.

I have money enough.

There are not inhabitants enough to till the ground.
He has not courage enough to defend his life.

It is also used as a noun; as, 'I have done enough.'

'One' is used indefinitely for any person; as, 'One would imagine.' This is the Latin 'homo,' 'a man,' and the French 'on,' and is an entirely different word from the adjective numeral 'one,' which is the Latin word 'unus;' 'No one went is 'nemo,' 'ne homo;' 'Not one man went' is 'ne unus,' and a

different word.

'One' is also used in place of a noun already named; and in these senses it has a plural; as, ‘Great ones ’—

A stern rebuke, or a mild one.

The tall trees bent, the smaller ones were not moved.
Every one. Any one. No one.

In old English 'man,' 'men,' is put for 'one' or 'ones.' But the word loses its specific meaning as human and masculine, and becomes a mere pronoun; as—

No man gave unto him.

Full measure shall men give into your bosom.

'Only' is the adjectival (or adverbial) form of 'one.' stand either before or after its noun; as

It affects me only. An only son.

'Alone' stands after its noun; as

God alone is great.

It can

'Many,' 'a few,' 'several,' denote number, and take plural

nouns.

'Much' denotes quantity, and takes a singular noun.

'All,' 'no,' 'some,' 'any,' 'enough,' 'more,' 'most,' denote either number or quantity, and take plural or singular nouns accordingly.

Examples of the adverbial use of these indefinite numerals are as follows:—

'Both'

It is both right and expedient.

Both by day and night.

'Either' precedes 'or,' and 'neither' precedes 'nor;' asHe will either die or recover. Neither too loud nor too soft. 'Neither' is sometimes put for 'nor;' as

It cannot be false, neither is there any possibility of deception. 'Much'

He is much better. I do not like him much.

'All' is used to strengthen 'the same,' and 'much' to qualify it; as

All the same. Much the same. All on a sudden. All There lay the steed with his nostril all wide.

the worse.

'At all' strengthens a negative; as, 'I will not go at all.' 'No'

Grieve no more. He is no more. No more than reason. He is no worse.

'No' by itself answers a question in the negative—' Will you go with me? No;' but, 'Will you go with me, or no?'

'More' and 'the most' form the comparative and superlative of adjectives of two or more syllables; as—

This is more intelligible.

He is the most fortunate of men.

'He is most fortunate' is equivalent to 'He is very fortunate.' 'Some' is used as an adverb to qualify a numeral: as—

Some twenty years since. There were some fifty in all. 'Enough' as an adverb stands after its adjective; asIt is not yet high enough.

'Only '

There are only two left.

I am only waiting for the train.

Only do not laugh at me.

SUCH.

'Such' is an adjective indefinitely denoting quality; and is always followed by a clause expressed or implied, introduced by 'as.'

'As' is either a relative pronoun; as—

Such fine weather as may restore our hopes;

or a relative adverb; as

Such terms were made as to give hopes of peace. 'As' is very frequently understood; as—

He received such hurt that he could not live long.
Such is life. He promised to pay me on such a day.