SUMMARY 3

TOPIC: QUANTIFIERS
GENERAL EXPLANATION

Quantifiers indicate the amount of a name. They are answers to the question "How many?" Like
articles, quantifiers define a name and are always in front of the name. Some can be used only
with countable names, others only with uncountable names and others with both.

Quantifier Countable Uncountable

many ✔
much ✔
some ✔ ✔
any ✔ ✔
no, none ✔ ✔
a lot of / lots of ✔ ✔
little / a little ✔
few / a few ✔

Note: We use quantifiers to express the idea of quantity or number. In the following summary you
will be able to study how and when to use them.

MANY

Use: Expresses the idea of large quantity. It is used above all in negative and interrogative phrases
with the accounting name in the plural. You can use “many” in affirmative sentences, although it is
not very common. Normally, we use other quantifiers like "a lot."

Examples:

(Affirmative) We have many friends

(Negative) There are not many tourists.

(Interrogative) How many cats do you have?

It is also combined with "too" (too many) or "so" (so many) to express the idea of an excessive
amount.

Examples:

There are too many changes for me.

There are so many things I want to do!

MUCH

Use: Like “many”, it expresses the idea of a large quantity and is used above all in negative and
interrogative sentences. The difference with "many" is that we use "much" only with uncountable

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singular names. You can use “much” in affirmative sentences, although it would be more formal
and it is not so common.

Examples:

(Affirmative) We have much to do!

(Negative) There is not much time

(Interrogative) How much money does he have?

Like "many" it can also be combined with "too" or "so" to express the idea of excessive quantity.

Examples:

There is too much work 

We have so much work to do!

SOME

Use: It is used both for uncountable nouns or nouns and for countable nouns or nouns in the
plural. It is used in affirmative and interrogative sentences (to affirm something); "any" is replaced
in negative or interrogative sentences. It means an undefined, but limited amount.

Examples:

(Affirmative/countable) She has some apples.

(Affirmative/uncountable) There is some milk in the kitchen.

(Interrogative/countable) Can I have some cookies?

(Interrogative/uncountable) Would you like some coffee?

ANY

Use: It is used in the same contexts as “some,” but in negative or interrogative sentences.

Examples:

(Negative/countable) I do not have any cats.

(Negative/uncountable) He does not have any money

(Interrogative/countable) Are there any changes?

(Interrogative/uncountable) Is there any milk?

NO, NONE

Use: Unlike the particle "no," "none" can be used without being accompanied by a name,
accounting or uncountable. Therefore, it is customary to go to the end of the sentence and as the
only answer to a question that refers to quantities.

Examples:

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(Countable) How many pencils are there? None

(Countable) There are no pencils

(Uncountable) How much money do you have? None

(Uncountable) I have no money

A LOT OF/LOTS OF

Use: Express idea of large quantity. It can be used with countable and uncountable names or
nouns. Unlike "many" and "much", we do not use them in interrogative sentences. In general, "lots
of" is more informal.

Examples:

(Countable) He has a lot of books

(Countable) He does not have a lot of books

(Uncountable) I have lots of money

(Uncountable) I do not have a lot of money

LITTLE/A LITTLE

Use: They express a small amount and are used only with uncountable names. The choice to use
"little" or "a little" reflects an opinion on the quantity. If you use "a little", it means a positive
opinion about the quantity and if you use "little" it implies a negative opinion.

Examples:

(Affirmative) We have little time

(Interrogative) Do you have a little money?

FEW/A FEW

Use: Express a small number. They are used only with countable names. As we have seen above,
the option of using “few” or “a few” reflects the opinion on the expressed quantity. "Few"
describes quantity negatively and "a few" describes it positively.

Examples:

(Affirmative) There are few tourists here today

(Interrogative) Do you have a few dollars?

VOCABULARY TO CONSIDER:

VOCABULARY EXAMPLES
TO RAIN CATS AND DOGS IT'S RAINING CATS AND DOGS ALL DAY,
ACCENT HE HAD A SOUTHERN ACCENT.
FIELD THAT FIELD AT THE BACK.
AMUSEMENT WAR WAS THEN A MERE AMUSEMENT.
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NONSENSE NOW, THIS IS JUST NONSENSE.
SAMPLE THIS IS A SAMPLE ONLY.
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