Everything you need to use quantifiers correctly: the formula, when to use it, signal words, common mistakes and exercises with answers.
Quantifiers state amount and go before the noun; which one you use depends on whether the noun is countable. Countable nouns: many / few / a few / several / a number of + plural countable noun; Uncountable nouns: much / little / a little / a great deal of + uncountable noun; Both countable and uncountable: some / any / a lot of / lots of / plenty of / no / all / enough. Signal words: many (countable), much (uncountable), few / a few (countable), little / a little (uncountable), some (in affirmative sentences), any (in negatives and questions).
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Countable nouns | many / few / a few / several / a number of + plural countable noun many books, few students, a few friends | I have a few friends in this city. few means hardly any (negative); a few means some (positive) |
| Uncountable nouns | much / little / a little / a great deal of + uncountable noun much water, little time, a little money | There is a little milk left in the fridge. little means hardly any (negative); a little means a small amount (positive) |
| Both countable and uncountable | some / any / a lot of / lots of / plenty of / no / all / enough some books/water | any questions/milk | a lot of friends/money | Do you have any questions? I have some ideas. some: positive sentences, offers and invitations | any: negatives and questions |
many/few → countable | much/little → uncountable | a lot of → either
some: in affirmatives and offers | any: in negatives and questions
Without 'a' the sense is negative (hardly any). With 'a' it is positive (a small amount)
'enough' goes before a noun but after an adjective
| Word | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| many | Many students passed the exam. | Used with plural countable nouns |
| much | I don't have much time. | Usually found in negatives and questions |
| few vs a few | Few people came. / A few people came. | few is negative in feeling, a few is positive |
| some | I bought some apples. | Positive sentences, offers and invitations: Would you like some coffee? |
| any | Do you have any money? | Questions and negatives. 'any' means any at all |
Fill in the blank, then open the answer to check it.
Options: a few · few · many · much
much. 'money' is uncountable and the sentence is negative, so 'much'.
Options: a little · little · many · much
many. 'students' is plural countable, so 'many'.
Options: a few · a little · few · little
a few. 'friends' is countable and the sense is positive, so 'a few'.
Options: a few · a little · few · little
a little. 'sugar' is uncountable and the sense is positive, so 'a little'.
Options: a few · any · much · some
any. It is a question, so 'any'.
Options: any · many · much · some
some. It is a question, but it is an OFFER, so 'some'.
Options: a few · a little · few · little
little. 'patience' is uncountable and the sense is negative, so 'little'.
Options: any · little · much · some
some. The sentence is positive, so 'some'.
Options: a few · any · many · some
any. The sentence is negative, so 'any'.
Options: a little · few · little · many
little. 'time' is uncountable and the sense is negative - you must hurry - so 'little'.
Options: few · many · much · some
much. 'water' is uncountable, so How much?
Options: any · little · many · much
many. 'apples' are countable, so How many?
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