Uses of Distributive Phrases

Uses of Distributive Phrases :



Distributive Adjectives restrict the application of a noun by showing that the persons or things denoted by the noun are taken singly or in separate lots.

There are four Adjectives of this class : each, every, either, neither


EACH :

This means one of two things or one of any number exceeding two.

1. The twenty men had each a gun.
2. All the students brought each a water-bottle.


EVERY :

This is never used for one of two, but always for some number exceeding two.

1. Every man (out of the twenty present) had a gun. 2. Every student brought a water-bottle.

Every six hours….
Every human being….
Every tenth student…

This means every period or space of six hours.

1. He came every five hours (=at the close of every space of five hours).
2. They made a phone-call every three minutes.


EVERY OTHER :

This means every alternate…

1. The doctor called to see him every other day.


EITHER :

This has two meanings.

(1) one of two
(2) each of two…that is both.

(i) You can take either side…that is, one side or the other.
(ii) The river overflowed on either side….that is, on both sides.

But the use of EITHER is restricted to things that are complementary or where one implies the existence of the other.

1. either side
2. either end
3. either hand

We cannot say…

1. Either car was damaged in the collision. (WRONG)
2. Every car was damaged in the collision. (RIGHT)
3. Either driver was injured. (WRONG)
4. Every driver was injured. (RIGHT)

Here we must use both.


NEITHER :

This is the negative of EITHER and signifies NEITHER THE ONE NOR THE OTHER.

1. You should take neither side.

That is…neither this side nor that (or) neither the one side nor the other.


EACH OTHER & ONE ANOTHER :

In these phrases we have a Distributive Adjective (each = one) combined with an Indefinite Demonstrative Adjective (other or another).

EACH OTHER is used when two persons or things are concerned.

2. The two men struck each other (that is…each man struck the other man).
3. They killed each other.
4. The boys discussed with each other.
5. The teachers helped each other.

ONE ANOTHER is used when more than two persons or things are concerned.

1. They all loved one another (that is….each person loved every other person).

RELATED PAGES :

1. The Adjective
   
2. An Adjective
   
3. Attribute Position of Adjective
   
4. Predicative Position of Adjective
   
5. Kinds of Adjectives
   
6. Proper Adjectives
   
7. Descriptive Adjectives
   
8. Quantitative Adjectives ( Adjectives of Quantity )
   
9. Qualitative Adjectives ( Adjectives of Quality )
   
10. Numeral Adjectives ( Adjectives of Number )
    
11. Definite Numeral Adjectives
    
12. Indefinite Numeral Adjectives
    
13. Demonstrative Adjectives ( Demonstrative Adjective )
    
14. Definite Demonstrative Adjectives
    
15. Definite Demonstratives
    
16. Indefinite Demonstrative Adjectives
    
17. Indefinite Demonstratives
    
18. Distributive Adjectives
    
19. Interrogative Adjectives
    
20. Exclamatory Adjectives
    
21. Possessive Adjectives
    
22. Possessive Determiners
    
23. First Person Possessive Adjectives
    
24. Second Person Possessive Adjectives
    
25. Third Person Possessive Adjectives
    
26. Emphasizing Adjectives
    
27. Coordinate Adjectives
    
28. Paired Adjectives
    
29. Cumulative Adjectives
    
30. Non-Coordinate Adjectives
    
31. Two Uses of Adjectives
    
32. Attributive Use of Adjectives
    
33. Predicative Use of Adjectives
    
34. The Degrees of Comparison
    
35. Comparison of Adjectives
    
36. Latin Comparatives of Adjectives
    
37. Irregular Comparisons of Adjectives
    
38. Formation of Comparatives and Superlatives
    
39. Formation of Comparative and Superlative
    
40. Uses of Quantitative Adjectives
    
41. Uses of Numeral Adjectives
    
42. Definite Numeral Quantities
    
43. Uses of Demonstrative Adjectives
    
44. Uses of Distributive Phrases
    
45. Example Sentences with suitable Adjectives
    
46. Uses of Degrees of Comparison of Adjectives
    
47. Uses of Positive Degree of Comparison of Adjectives
    
48. Uses of Comparative Degree of Comparison of Adjectives
    
49. Uses of Superlative Degree of Comparison of Adjectives
    
50. Use of The Comparative Degree
    
51. OTHER after Positives and Comparatives
    
52. Preferables in English Grammar
    
53. Double Comparatives
    
54. Double Superlatives
    
55. Comparatives which have lost their force
    
56. Latin Comparatives
    
57. English Comparatives
    
58. Adjectives used as Nouns
    
59. Adjectives in Pairs
    
60. Adjectives preceded by THE
    
61. Position of Adjectives
    
62. Adjectives Used Attributively
    
63. Adjectives Used Predicatively
    
64. The Adjective Clause
    

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