<p>"多" here functions just like "more" in English. It can be an adjective or adverb</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In "多吃点",  '多' (more) is an adverb for the verb '吃'(verb). In English, "多吃点水果"  means "<strong>eat</strong> fruit <strong>more</strong>"</p>
</blockquote>

<p>~</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In "吃多点" , '多点' is an adjective for an omitted object. In English, "吃多点水果" means "eat <strong>more fruit</strong>"</p>
</blockquote>

<p>~</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In "多给他点时间吧", '多' (more) is an adverb for the verb '给' (give). In English, "多给他点时间吧" means "<strong>give</strong> him time <strong>more</strong>"</p>
</blockquote>

<p>~</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In "给他多点时间吧", '多点' (more) is an adjective for the noun '时间' (time). In English, "给他多点时间吧" means "give him <strong>more time</strong>"</p>
</blockquote>

<ul>
<li><p>多; 很多/ 多点; 多些 preceding a noun is an adjective. e.g. 多糖 (a lot of sugar), 很多糖 (a lot of sugar), 多点糖 (more sugar), 多些糖 (more sugar)</p></li>
<li><p>多 preceding a verb is an adverb. e.g. 多加糖 (add sugar more)</p></li>
<li><p>[verb + 多了] = [verb + often enough/ too much] ; '多了' is an adverb for the verb.  e.g. "看<strong>多了</strong>書" (read books <strong>often enough</strong>) ; "加<strong>多了</strong>糖" (added <strong>too much</strong> sugar)</p></li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>how about 少，for example in “少吃点” is 少 an adverb here? My dictionary says 少 is only a verb and an adjective.</em> </p>
</blockquote>

<p>少吃 = [少(adv) + 吃(v)]</p>

<p>少点吃 / 少吃点 = [少点(adv) + 吃 (v)]</p>

<p><em>Actually people say 多点吃 and 少点吃 more often than 多吃点 and 少吃点</em></p>

<p>Example:</p>

<p><strong>少</strong>吃水果 = <strong>not often</strong> eat fruit (<em>少 is adverb for 吃</em>)</p>

<p>少点吃水果 = <strong>eat</strong> fruit <strong>less</strong>; 少吃点水果 = <strong>eat</strong> fruit <strong>less</strong> (<em>少点 is adverb for 吃</em>)</p>

<p>吃<strong>少点</strong>水果 = eat <strong>less</strong> fruit (<em>少点 is adjective for 水果</em>)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-15T13:25:10.647Z
thank you, how about 少，for example in “少吃点” is 少 an adverb here? My dictionary says 少 is only a verb and an adjective.
nino nino
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-15T13:43:52.050Z
@nino nino  See my edition. Basically, both 多 and 少  can be adjective or adverb, and they follow the same rule
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-14T20:49:32.213Z
2019-02-15T13:42:18.540Z
2019-02-15T13:42:18.540Z
Tang Ho
<p>多 can be explained as "more" here.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你多吃点 -> 你吃多点 </p>
  
  <p>多给他点时间吧 -> 给他多点时间吧</p>
</blockquote>

<p>That might be easier to understand.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-14T08:28:14.517Z
2019-02-14T08:28:14.517Z
Zhang
<p>Usage of 多 is a little bit confusing. As I understand it's an adjective in the following example 两百多个学生, but in the below-mentioned examples is “多” an adjective or an adverb?</p>

<p>1）你多吃点</p>

<p>2）多给他点时间吧</p>

<adverbs><adjectives>
In 你多吃点 and 多给他点时间吧, is 多 an adjective or an adverb?
# In 你多吃点 and 多给他点时间吧, is 多 an adjective or an adverb?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-02-14)

Usage of 多 is a little bit confusing. As I understand it's an adjective in the following example 两百多个学生, but in the below-mentioned examples is “多” an adjective or an adverb?

1）你多吃点

2）多给他点时间吧

**Tags:** adverbs, adjectives


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-02-14. Score: 3

"多" here functions just like "more" in English. It can be an adjective or adverb

> In "多吃点", '多' (more) is an adverb for the verb '吃'(verb). In English, "多吃点水果" means "**eat** fruit **more**"

~

> In "吃多点" , '多点' is an adjective for an omitted object. In English, "吃多点水果" means "eat **more fruit**"

~

> In "多给他点时间吧", '多' (more) is an adverb for the verb '给' (give). In English, "多给他点时间吧" means "**give** him time **more**"

~

> In "给他多点时间吧", '多点' (more) is an adjective for the noun '时间' (time). In English, "给他多点时间吧" means "give him **more time**"

* 多; 很多/ 多点; 多些 preceding a noun is an adjective. e.g. 多糖 (a lot of sugar), 很多糖 (a lot of sugar), 多点糖 (more sugar), 多些糖 (more sugar)
* 多 preceding a verb is an adverb. e.g. 多加糖 (add sugar more)
* [verb + 多了] = [verb + often enough/ too much] ; '多了' is an adverb for the verb. e.g. "看**多了**書" (read books **often enough**) ; "加**多了**糖" (added **too much** sugar)

> *how about 少，for example in “少吃点” is 少 an adverb here? My dictionary says 少 is only a verb and an adjective.*

少吃 = [少(adv) + 吃(v)]

少点吃 / 少吃点 = [少点(adv) + 吃 (v)]

*Actually people say 多点吃 and 少点吃 more often than 多吃点 and 少吃点*

Example:

**少**吃水果 = **not often** eat fruit (*少 is adverb for 吃*)

少点吃水果 = **eat** fruit **less**; 少吃点水果 = **eat** fruit **less** (*少点 is adverb for 吃*)

吃**少点**水果 = eat **less** fruit (*少点 is adjective for 水果*)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: thank you, how about 少，for example in “少吃点” is 少 an adverb here? My dictionary says 少 is only a verb and an adjective.  
> **username_1**: @username_0  See my edition. Basically, both 多 and 少  can be adjective or adverb, and they follow the same rule  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-02-14. Score: 1

多 can be explained as "more" here.

> 你多吃点 -> 你吃多点
>
> 多给他点时间吧 -> 给他多点时间吧

That might be easier to understand.


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