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[Essay/영작] (CM-095) "Little and A little", "Each and Every", "Older(oldest) and Elder(eldest)"
최고관리자  |  19-07-09 10:36
407. Little and A little

(a) Little
(X) He took a little exercise and wasn't very fit.
(O) He took little exercise and wasn't very fit.

(b) A little
(X) She took little exercise and felt much better.
(O) She took a little exercise and felt much better.

"Little" means "not much" and emphasises the smallness of the amount. 
It's distinguished from "a little" which means "at least some".

408. Each and Every

(a) Each
(X) She gave an apple to every of the children.
(O) She gave an apple to each of the children.

(b) Every
(X) Each child had an apple.
(O) Every child had an apple.

Use "each" for one of two or more things, taken "one by one". 
Never use "every" for two, but always for more than two things, taken "as a group". 
"Each" is more individual and specific, but "every" is the more emphatic word.

Note: Each and every are always singular: Each (or every) one of the twenty boys has a book.

409. Older (oldest) and Elder (eldest)

(a) Older, Oldest
(X) This girl is elder than that one. / This girl is the eldest of all.
(O) This girl is older than that one. / This girl is the oldest of all.

(b) Elder, Eldest
(X) My older brother is called John. / My oldest brother is not here.
(O) My elder brother is called John. / My eldest brother is not here.

"Older and oldest" are applied to both people and things, while 
"elder and eldest" are applied to people only, and most frequently to related people.

Note: "Elder" can't be followed by "than": Jane is older (not elder) than her sister.