I use these adjectives to show the amount of any entity (Sorted from highest to lowest)
LIQUID/SOLID as applicable:
I need a lot of milk to drink now-a-days. (Highest in quantity)
I need a good amount of milk to drink now-a-days. (Higher than average in quantity)
Or
I need much amount of milk (oranges) to drink (eat) now-a-days. (Higher than average in quantity)
I need a fair amount of milk to drink now-a-days. (Medium quantity applicable for liquid)
Or
I need an average number of oranges to eat now-a-days. (Medium quantity applicable for solid)
I need less amount of milk to drink now-a-days. (Lesser than average in quantity)
I need a little amount of milk to drink now-a-days. (Least in quantity for liquid)
Or
I need a few oranges to eat now-a-days. (Least in quantity for solid)
These usages are entirely made up by none other than myself and I never verified these usages from somebody. I clearly mentioned on what conditions, I use what adjectives. Please suggest me if there are some mistakes in using them; the mistake can be in the very adjective used or the condition on which the adjective is used in different cases. Also if I am lacking some more frequently used adjectives, please mention them.
Answer
I will reiterate each of your examples in order. In most cases, I am going to give you only the corrected version, not the original:
I need a lot of milk to drink nowadays. (large, not necessarily the largest, quantity; also note the correct spelling of "nowadays")
I need a good (usually: goodly) amount…. (higher than average, acceptably yes)
WRONG: I need much amount (incorrect; do not use)
I need a fair amount of milk…. (medium quantity, acceptably yes)
I need an average number of oranges…. (this would not be a common usage, because it specifically refers to a known number, but it can be used casually to suggest I probably need just about as many as the average person)
I need less milk (not "less amount of milk;" note that this would NOT mean less than average, but less than I used to need)
"A little amount of milk" used in this way is awkward and really not what we say. Various versions of what you mean to say are possible. Here are some examples: "I don’t need very much milk." "I need very little milk." "I don’t need a lot of milk." These are three possible ways of COLLOQUIALLY saying what you were trying to say with "I need a little amount of milk…."
"I need a few oranges…." can be taken in at least two ways. It might mean "I have to have a few oranges, because I can’t live with NO oranges." Or maybe what you are trying to say is, "I really don’t need very many oranges." I think you mean the second one, which also could be said this way: "I need ONLY a few oranges…." (You have to have the "only" in there, or else you can’t tell which is the correct meaning.)
I hope this helps!
Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : Mistu4u , Answer Author : John M. Landsberg
