half

Everyday

1. A half is one of two equal parts of something. tree →
2. Half as an adjective means one of two equal parts: «half an hour». tree →
3. Half can mean partly: «half asleep». tree →
4. Half past means 30 minutes after the hour. tree →

In the lessons

one of two equal parts of a count; half an hour is 30 minutes; «half past 3» is 3:30; phrases: «half of», «half as many as», «in half», «half past», «half an hour», «half-time»

Examples

• Max gives Sam half of his stickers. tree →
• Ben has half as many cookies as Lily. tree →
• Mia ate half of the 8 grapes. tree →
• Cut the apple in half. tree →
• Half an hour is 30 minutes. tree →
• School ends at half past three. tree →
• The score was 2–1 at half-time. tree →
• The glass is half full. tree →
• There was only half of him! tree →

Note

Plural: halves. «half of N» and «half as many as N» are N ÷ 2. Trap: «gives half» leaves the other half, also N ÷ 2, with the giver. Two halves make a whole. Halves must be equal, so a big piece and a small piece are not halves.

In Jewish tradition

Divided shares are often "half", as in the spoil of Midian divided between warriors and the congregation. It also names the half-tribe of Manasseh, who settled east of the Jordan, and a half share of a group, such as half the princes of Judah. In the primary lessons: one of two equal parts of a count; half an hour is 30 minutes; «half past 3» is 3:30; phrases: «half of», «half as many as», «in half», «half past», «half an hour», «half-time»

Examples

• And of the children of Israel's half, which Moses divided off from the men that warred — (Torah NUM.31.42, JPS 1917) tree →
• now the congregation's half was three hundred thousand and thirty thousand and seven thousand and five hundred sheep, (Torah NUM.31.43, JPS 1917) tree →
• Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each board. (Torah EXO.36.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• and after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah; (Writings NEH.12.32, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, (Prophets JOS.22.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim had sons: Haroeh, and half of the Menuhoth. (Writings 1CH.2.52, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural: halves. «half of N» and «half as many as N» are N ÷ 2. Trap: «gives half» leaves the other half, also N ÷ 2, with the giver. Two halves make a whole. Halves must be equal, so a big piece and a small piece are not halves.