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All - Whole
ALL? (ALL THE?)/ WHOLE?
"ALL/ WHOLE" are quantifiers (a form of determiners indicating a quantity). They express « totality », or completeness.
There are already several lessons et exercises tackling this problem on this site. test test test. Yet, today, I'll examine these quantifiers studying their constructions in expressions, considering the nature of the words which are with them.
I) ALL+ noun = a complete entity, used with uncountable nouns:
a) ALL isn't followed by 'of' when it is preceding a noun:
- « All work and all play, the here4u way ! »
- All alcohol is forbidden at this party where there'll be kids.
b) ALL + determiner + noun in the singular: « the determiner» may be a definite article, a demonstrative adjective, possessive adjectives/ possessive genitives:
- All my father's collection of stamps has been ruined by the flood.
If the « group in the singular » is the subject of the verb, this verb must be in the singular. Yet, if the noun is « collective », applying to several people, (team/ committee/ school/ family/), the verb will be in the plural.
- All my family are coming to my party next Saturday.
II) ALL + noun in the plurall (with or without a determiner).
- All the excuses you're giving are unbelievable... Stop lying now!
III) "ALL" may qualify pronouns and even be an indefinite pronoun.
- The kids? Yes, they all like chicken nuggets and chocolate cake, but they'll all need a nap before the party.
IV) WHOLE = a quantifier or an adjective or a noun. The meaning is quite close to that of « ALL ». Yet, « THE WHOLE » insists on the unity of an entity, but not on its multiple componants. Most of the time, the verb is in the singular.
Structure = determiner + WHOLE + noun or determiner + WHOLE + adjective + noun.
a) When it is a quantifier, WHOLE can only be used with NOUNS in the singular:
- either a countable singular:
- The whole exercise is terribly difficult. You'll need some help.
- « Swear to tell theTruth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth. »
b) They may be accompanied by an adjective.
- The whole complicated case couldn't be solved in so few weeks.
c) «WHOLE» may be a descriptive adjective, (meaning entirely= completely) qualifying plural nouns:
- The best marmelade is made with whole oranges.
d) «WHOLE» may also be used as a NOUN:
a/ the whole / the whole of (especially with place names = the whole of Great Britain)/ "on the whole" = generally speaking.
V) ALL/ WHOLE + the noun "DAY" and other expressions of TIME: all day/ all day long// all night/ all week/ all year/ all the time/ all my life/
- The whole day/ the whole night/ the whole time/ my whole life.
VI) FREQUENT MISTAKES:
a) DO NOT USE "all", but use WHOLE, after "a" and "an".
- She ate a whole pack of sweets by herself.
b) « The » cannot be omitted before « whole + noun in the singular ».
- The whole country was devastated by the hurricane.
There you are... Now, you're ready to face the test. Good luck and don't forget that ... THE FORCE IS WITH YOU...
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