Uses of Half as various parts of speech
In this article, we will see:
- the various ways ‘half’ can function in a sentence.
- the various sentence structures/patterns involving ‘half’
- various use cases of ‘half’, including some dos and don’ts.
Half as various parts of speech
‘Half’ can function as:
- a pronoun
- an (distributive) adjective
- pre-determiner
- an adverb
- a number/fraction
We use ‘half’ to talk about a whole group/thing/concept divided into two parts.
Half of us are going to play for the national team. (half – pronoun)
Half bottle of the finest French wine will be served to each guest. (half – adjective; bottle - noun)
Half your time gets wasted in watching television. (half – pre-determiner; your – determiner; time - noun)
She was only half awake in the class. (half – adverb)
When he was one and a half years of age, he started walking. (half – denoting a fraction)
Half as a Pronoun
As a pronoun, ‘half’ can work as a subject or as an object.
Half of the group is still sleeping. (half – pronoun, working as a subject)
What about the cake? You guys can have half. (half – pronoun, working as an object)
You should cut this log in half. (half – pronoun, working as an object of the preposition ‘in’)
Half as an Adjective
When working as an adjective, ‘half’ is followed by a noun.
Half bottle of the finest French wine will be served to each guest. (half – adjective; bottle - noun)
‘Half’ can also work as a predeterminer (i.e. it may come before another determiner such as ‘a’, ‘the’, ‘this’, ‘his’ etc)
You need to hike half a mile before reaching the next check point. (half used before the determiner ‘a’)
Half my time was wasted in finding this silly software bug. (half used before the determiner ‘my’)
Half as an Adverb
As an adverb, ‘half’ can be followed by adjective, adverb, or preposition.
He is half awake. (half – adverb; awake - adjective)
This manuscript is written half in Latin and half in Greek. (half – adverb; in - preposition)
As an adverb, ‘half’ can be followed by a verb or participle.
I only half understood this code. (half – adverb; understood - verb)
Why are you living in a half finished house? (half – adverb; finished - participle)
As an adverb, ‘half’ can also be followed by ‘as’.
A teacher can only earn half as much as a software engineer. (half – adverb)
Uses of Half
We often use ‘half’ in following patterns:
Use 1
Pattern 1: Half + indefinite article (a/an) + measurements
You need to buy at least half a kilo of oranges. (kilo – measurement)
Use 2
Pattern 2: Half + of + plural pronouns
Half of them are going to leave.
He punished half of you but awarded the rest.
Use 3
Pattern 3: Half + (the, my, your, etc.) + uncountable noun or countable noun
Thieves stole half (of) the bread. (bread – uncountable noun)
Half (of) the door is rotten. (door - singular countable noun)
Half (of) the bottles were destroyed. (bottles - plural countable noun)
I lost half (of) my money in the divorce. (money – uncountable noun)
Half (of) your door is rotten. (door - singular countable noun)
Half (of) your students are bunking the class. (students - plural countable noun)
Multipliers
The following types of words are called as Multipliers:
- double, triple, quadruple, …
- once, twice, thrice, …
- two times, three times, …
Concept 1
We can use them with both singular and plural countable nouns, and uncountable nouns.
In the next shop you will get the same chair for twice the price. (price – countable noun)
Expectations put on her were 10 times her ability. (ability – uncountable noun)
Multipliers are always used before the noun/pronoun, not after them.
This LG mobile will cost you the amount two times you need for Nokia mobile. (incorrect)
This LG mobile will cost you two times the amount you need for Nokia mobile. (correct; amount - noun)
Concept 2
Unlike ‘half’, we do not use ‘of’ with multipliers.
I will provide you double of the salary you get right now. (incorrect)
I will provide you double the salary you get right now. (correct; double – multiplier)
Fractions
Words like one-sixth, two-fifths, three-quarters etc. are called Fractions.
Unlike multipliers, which are never used with ‘of’, we can use ‘of’ with fractions. In fact, fractions are almost always used with ‘of’.
Your share will be one-third the profit we make. (less preferred)
Your share will be one-third of the profit we make. (more preferred)
However, fractions are always used with ‘of’ before demonstrative and possessive determiners.
Incorrect Pattern: Fraction + demonstrative and possessive determiners (this, that, these, those, my, his etc.)
Correct Pattern: Fraction + of + demonstrative and possessive determiners (this, that, these, those, my, his etc.)
One fourth these fruits are rotten. (incorrect)
One fourth of these fruits are rotten. (correct)
We can only use ‘half’ without ‘of’ before demonstrative and possessive determiners. That is, we can use ‘half’ with or without ‘of’ in such cases.
Half of these fruits are rotten. (correct)
Half these fruits are rotten. (correct)
Extra Books and Tools
Though the matter on our website is in-depth and comprehensive enough for the needs of most of the aptitude exams, but it may also feel daunting for the same reasons. Moreover, some learners prefer books over websites. So, if you are a beginner level English learner, and prefer books, you may explore the following English Grammar books too.
1. Wren & Martin - This book has been around for long and is still considered one of the best. Though many concepts have not been dealt with in much depth here, but beginners may find it a breeze to read. Once you are done with it, the content on our website will work as a rich add-on. If you are getting this book, make sure you get the key to its exercises too.
Link for Indian readers: Wren and Martin
2. More advanced learners may refer to the following books. However, buy them only if you must. Most of your English Grammar learning needs will easily be met by our website.
Essential English Grammar by Raymond Murphy
Link for Indian readers: Essential English Grammar
Intermediate English Grammar by Raymond Murphy
Link for Indian readers: Intermediate English Grammar
Advanced English Grammar by Martin Hewings
Link for Indian readers: Advanced English Grammar
So much so for Englsh Grammar. But what about Comprehension skills and Vocabulary?
We strongly believe that Comprehension skills and Vocabulary are more a matter of practice. The more you read, the better you will become in them. In fact, this will help you in Grammar too. Afterall Grammar rules are just in the nature of temporary scaffholding - the goal is to read, write and speak a language without consciously remembering even a single Grammar rule.
So, we suggest you to read vividly. Ideally, carry some tool with you that you may refer to learn the meaning of any word that is new to you. There are many ways you may go about it.
* The old method: Carry a good dictionary with you. But who does?
* Download a Thesauraus app on your mobile or just google it. Better, but we still need to stop reading, open app, type and then search. Boring!
The methods mentioned above kill the joy of reading. Who wants to stop reading in the midst of an interesting plot and look for the meaning of a word? And if you are a lazy soul like me, oh man! No chance!
That's why I prefer to read on gadgets like Kindle. We may just tap on any word and see its meaning there and then. It's also not taxing on the eyes.
If you guys know about any more such books, gadgets and technologies that are awesome and may help English learners, do share 😇