half

half
half
1. Half functions as a noun or pronoun (the first half of the year / I've still got half), an adjective (a half share) or predeterminer (i.e. placed before another determiner such as the, half the audience), and an adverb (He'll come half way / I'm half inclined to agree).
2. When half is followed by a singular noun (with or without of between), the verb is also singular, and when the noun is plural the verb is plural: Half of the country is employed in agriculture / Half the people like the idea / Half that amount is enough. Occasionally, by the principle of ‘notional agreement’, the type half (of) + collective noun can correctly be used with a plural noun: Nearly half (of) the population lose at least half their teeth before they reach the age of 40.
3. In some phrases concerned with quantities, measures of time, etc., the position of half is variable in relation to the following a or an, e.g. I'll have half a pint (no hyphen) or I'll have a half-pint (with a hyphen). In most cases, however, the type half a year, half a million dollars, etc., is more usual. Repetition of the article, as in ☒ It took a half an hour, is non-standard.

Modern English usage. 2014.

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  • half — [ hæf ] (plural halves [ hævz ] ) function word, quantifier *** Half can be used in the following ways: as a predeterminer (followed by a word such as a, the, this, or his ): We live half a mile up the road. I have to spend half my time taking… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Half — (h[aum]f), a. [AS. healf, half, half; as a noun, half, side, part; akin to OS., OFries., & D. half, G. halb, Sw. half, Dan. halv, Icel. h[=a]lfr, Goth. halbs. Cf. {Halve}, {Behalf}.] 1. Consisting of a moiety, or half; as, a half bushel; a half… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • half — ► NOUN (pl. halves) 1) either of two equal or corresponding parts into which something is or can be divided. 2) either of two equal periods into which a match or performance is divided. 3) Brit. informal half a pint of beer. 4) informal a half… …   English terms dictionary

  • half — [haf, häf] n. pl. halves [ME < OE healf, part, half, akin to ON halfr, Ger halb < IE (s)kelep , lit., divided < base * (s)kel , to cut > SCALP, SKILL, HELM2] 1. a) either of the two equal parts of something [the top half of the sixth… …   English World dictionary

  • half — HALF, halfi, s.m. (Rar; la fotbal) Mijlocaş. – Din engl. half. Trimis de gall, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98  HALF s. v. mijlocaş. Trimis de siveco, 13.09.2007. Sursa: Sinonime  half s. m., pl. halfi …   Dicționar Român

  • half — O.E. half, halb (Mercian), healf (W. Saxon) side, part, not necessarily of equal division (original sense preserved in behalf), noun, adjective, and adverb all in O.E., from P.Gmc. *khalbas something divided (Cf. O.S. halba, O.N. halfr, O.Fris.,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Half — (h[aum]f), n.; pl. {Halves} (h[aum]vz). [AS. healf. See {Half}, a.] 1. Part; side; behalf. [Obs.] Wyclif. [1913 Webster] The four halves of the house. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. One of two equal parts into which anything may be divided, or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Half — Half, adv. In an equal part or degree; in some part approximating a half; partially; imperfectly; as, half colored, half done, half hearted, half persuaded, half conscious. Half loth and half consenting. Dryden. [1913 Webster] Their children… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • half — hȁlf m <N mn ovi, G ōvā> DEFINICIJA sport zast. pretežno obrambeni igrač u nekim momčadskim igrama loptom (nogomet, hokej i sl.) zadužen da sprečava protivničke napadače u izvođenju napada i da se uključuje u ofenzivne akcije vlastite… …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • half- — sharing one parent, from HALF (Cf. half). Half brother is attested from early 14c.; half sister from c.1200 …   Etymology dictionary

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