handful
/ˈhændfʊl/noun
उच्चारण हैन्ड्फ़ुल
मुट्ठी भर, थोड़े-से
Core wordPYP · asked 1 time
Asked in previous papers
as antonym
- 1
[C] ~ (of sth)
the amount of something that can be held in one hand; a small number of people or things
मुट्ठी भर, थोड़े-से
- a handful of rice
- Only a handful of students came.
- She took a handful of peanuts from the bag.
+ 2 more examples
- A handful of villagers still remember the old festival.
- Throw a handful of salt into the boiling water.
Synonyms few small number sprinkling scattering fistful
- 2
[sing.] informal
a person or an animal that is difficult to control
संभालने में कठिन (व्यक्ति)
- The puppy is a real handful.
- The toddler is a real handful at weddings.
- Their twins are a handful, especially in a shop.
+ 2 more examples
- My little brother can be quite a handful on long journeys.
- That horse is a handful for any rider.
Synonyms nuisance troublemaker pest
§Structures (grammar patterns) 5
a handful of + plural noun
Use it for a small number of people or things; the noun after of must be plural.
थोड़े-से लोगों या वस्तुओं के लिए इसका प्रयोग होता है, और of के बाद का noun बहुवचन होना चाहिए।
- Only a handful of students came to the library on Sunday.
- A handful of villages were cut off by the flood.
a handful of + uncountable noun
It also measures an amount that fits in one hand, such as rice or dust.
यह उस मात्रा को भी मापता है जो एक हाथ में समा जाए, जैसे चावल या मिट्टी।
- She threw a handful of rice into the pot.
- He picked up a handful of sand.
be a handful (informal)
When a person or animal is a handful, they are hard to control. It takes the singular a and no of.
जब कोई व्यक्ति या पशु 'a handful' हो, तो उसे संभालना कठिन होता है। इसमें singular 'a' आता है और 'of' नहीं आता।
- Their two-year-old is a real handful.
handfuls / by the handful
The plural is handfuls. By the handful means in large quantities taken in the hand.
इसका बहुवचन 'handfuls' है। 'By the handful' का अर्थ मुट्ठी भर-भरकर बड़ी मात्रा में है।
- Children were picking mulberries by the handful.
a handful + singular verb
When a handful of people is the subject, the verb is usually plural because the people are many, though a singular verb is used for a measure of an amount.
जब 'a handful of people' कर्ता हो, तो verb प्रायः बहुवचन में आती है क्योंकि लोग अनेक हैं, पर मात्रा के माप के लिए एकवचन verb भी चलती है।
- A handful of rice is enough for the birds.
- A handful of men were waiting outside.
+Collocations 5
verb + a handful
takegrabscatterpick upthrow
- She scattered a handful of seeds across the field.
only / just + handful
only ajust aa merea tinya small
- Only a handful of candidates cleared the cut-off.
handful of + noun
peoplestudentscoinsnutscountries
- A handful of coins rolled out of the torn pocket.
adjective + handful
realbit of aproperright
- Their puppy is a proper handful.
handful + of + noun (food and small items)
ricepeanutsflourpetalsmarbles
- The priest threw a handful of petals at the idol's feet.
“More examples 6
- Radhika gave the pigeons a handful of grain every morning.
राधिका हर सुबह कबूतरों को मुट्ठी भर अनाज देती थी।
- Just a handful of trains run on this branch line.
इस शाखा लाइन पर केवल मुट्ठी भर गाड़ियाँ चलती हैं।
- His naughty nephew is a handful at weddings.
उसका शरारती भतीजा शादियों में संभालने के लिए कठिन होता है।
- A handful of players scored most of the team's runs.
मुट्ठी भर खिलाड़ियों ने टीम के अधिकांश रन बनाए।
- He filled a handful of dry leaves into the sack.
उसने मुट्ठी भर सूखे पत्ते बोरे में भर दिए।
- The teacher gave the notes to a handful of serious students.
शिक्षक ने नोट्स मुट्ठी भर गंभीर विद्यार्थियों को दिए।
!Common mistakes 1
✗ A handful of student were present in the class.
✓ A handful of students were present in the class.
After a handful of, a countable noun must be plural.
'A handful of' के बाद गणनीय noun बहुवचन में आना चाहिए।
≈Synonyms and antonyms
AaSpelling
hand·ful
?Which word?
Keep the small-number words together: a handful, a few, a sprinkling, a smattering (a small amount of knowledge: 'a smattering of French').
थोड़ी संख्या के शब्द साथ याद रखिए: a handful, a few, a sprinkling, a smattering (थोड़ा ज्ञान: 'a smattering of French')।
§Grammar and usage
The plural of handful is handfuls (not 'handsful'), like spoonfuls, cupfuls and mouthfuls.
अक्सर पूछा जाता है: handful का plural handfuls है ('handsful' नहीं), spoonfuls, cupfuls और mouthfuls की तरह।
'a handful of students were present' (plural verb with a plural noun).
'a handful of students were present' (plural noun के साथ plural verb)।