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'All' has many functions in the English language. In this lesson, we will take a look at its uses and learn more about it.
All is used widely in English language, if you have ever wondered how to distinguish its uses, take a look at this lesson:
Functions of 'All'
1. 'All' as a Determiner
Use
All as a determiner or pre-determiner is used to modify nouns or noun phrases. It is used in different cases, take a look:
- All is used to show the whole/entire amount, quantity, or extent of something. Like:
He was drinking
the whole night
He'll give you
'All' is a pre-determiner.
That was the best thing of
- All is used to indicate the whole number or sum of something. In this case, it is used with a plural noun or pronoun. For example:
It was nice to see her again after
I have 30 books,
- All as a determiner or pre-determiner is used to indicate every member or part of something. In this case, it is used with a plural noun or pronoun. For example:
'All' is a pre-determiner.
She has to think about
every kind of people
- All is used to indicate the manner or method in which something is done. It has a similar meaning to 'as much... as possible.' Like:
She spoke in
She spoke as much seriously as possible.
They looked at me in
- All is used to show something or someone has only some quality, feature, etc. Like:
I can't drink that, it's
It only has alcohol.
She is
She might have long, ugly legs.
for all
For all can be used before nouns and means in spite of. Take a look:
She loves him,
Position in a Sentence
If all is a determiner, it comes before nouns or noun phrases, if it is a pre-determiner, it is placed before determiners. Look:
She loves him,
'All' is a pre-determiner because 'his' is a determiner.
I can't drink that, it's
'All' is a determiner.
2. 'All' as a Pronoun
Use
All as a pronoun is used to refer to a noun it replaces. It shows the entire number, quantity, or amount. Look:
all = everything
She told us
It was
Position in a Sentence
Tip!
When 'all' is a pronoun, it can come with both singular and plural nouns. When 'all' refers to a group of people/things as a unified whole, it comes with a singular verb, but when 'all' refers to multiple groups of items, objects, people, etc. it must be accompanied by a plural verb. Look below:
All
Here, the speaker has considered everything as a unified whole.
All
Here, we can infer that the speaker was referring to different people, objects, animals, plants, etc. in a particular area.
3. 'All' as an Adverb
Use
All as an adverb is used to add information to the verb, adjective, or another adverb. All can be used in these cases:
- All as an adverb means 'entirely or completely.' For example:
She sat
She has traveled
'Around' is an adjective.
- All is often used to make a sentence more forceful, look:
I'm
His word was
- All is used to indicate a tie score. Like:
The score is 7
The game ended in a 5
- All comes before adjectives to mean 'very, extremely.' Take a look:
The kids got
Very happy
Position in a Sentence
All as an adverb is used before adjectives or other adverbs or after verbs to modify them. Look:
The game ended in a 5
Here, 'all' modifies the verb.
The kids got
Here, 'all' modifies the adjective.
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