1

Grammar Quantifiers

1. A Lot of - Many - Much: (a large amount, 'veel')

Affirmative(positive) Statements:
 Many / A lot of + count noun
Example: There are a lot of / many lakes in Scotland.
 A lot of + non-count noun
Example: There is a lot of traffic in Scotland.
Negative Sentences:
 Many + count noun
Example: There aren't many lakes in Belgium.
 Much + non-count noun
Example: There isn't much traffic on the roads.
Questions:
 Many + count noun
Example: How many lakes are there in Scotland?
 Much + non-count noun
Example: How much traffic is there in the city?
Online Exercise Solution
2. Some and Any: (a moderate amount, 'enkele')
Affirmative Statements:
 Some
Example: Some books are lying on the table.
Negative Sentences:
 Any
Example: He hasn’t got any children.
Questions:
 Any or Some
 When the speaker does not know the answer: Any
Example: Did you see any elephants?
 When the speaker expects a positive answer: Some
Example: Can I have some oranges? (in a shop)
 When you ask a polite question or make an offer: Some
Example: Would you like some milk?
If Clauses:
 Any
Example: If there is anything to do, just call me.
After 'never', 'without', 'hardly':
 Any
Examples:
 We never go anywhere.
 She did her homework without any help.
 There’s hardly anyone here.
Exercise One
Exercise Two
 2

3. (A) Few, (A) Little: (a small amount, 'enige')

Affirmative Statements:
 A few + count noun
Example: She’s got a few books.
 A little + non-count noun
Example: She’s got a little money.
Negative Sentences:
 A few - A little
 He hasn’t got a few books, he’s got many. (count noun)
 He hasn’t got a little money, he’s got a lot. (non-count noun)
Questions:
 A few - A little
 Have you read a few newspapers? (count noun)
 Have you got a little homework? (non-count noun)
Mind the following:
 When do you use few and little or a few and a little?
1. A few and a little mean some, a small amount. (positive)
 This house has a few bedrooms.
 He’s got a little money.
2. Few and little mean not many or not much. (negative)
 This house has few bedrooms.
 He’s got little money.
Exercise

Practice:

Exercise one

 We haven't got _____ petrol. We need to stop and get some.

a. much b. many c. little
 We had ________ rain last autumn.
a. a lot of b. much c. many
 There was ________ food in the fridge. It was nearly empty.
a. little b. a little c. few
 You travel a lot. Have you been to _____ countries?
a. much b. many c. few
 It costs _____ money to give your children a good education.
a. much b. many c. a lot of
 There was ________ space for all the people who came.
a. very little b. very few c. many
 "Have you got any coins for the vending machine?" "Yes, I have ________."
a. a little b. a few c. few
 There's _____ of sun cream in the bottle.
a. a bit b. a little c. a few
 We need to go to the greengrocer's. There are _____ potatoes left.
a. few b. a few c. a little
 There was _____ traffic so we arrived very early.
a. a little b. a few c. little
 3

Exercise two

Choose much, many, little, few, some, any to complete the sentences below.

1. We spent too ______ money on our last holiday.

2. Don't worry, we have ______ time.
3. Did ______ people come to your party?
4. I don't usually drink ______ beer.
5. It didn't take ______ effort to repaint the house.
6. I only speak ______ English.
7. There were only ______ people at the party.
8. I need ______ of sugar for the cake.
9. I hope it will rain. There isn't ______ water in the reservoir.
10. How ______ soap do you need?

Exercise three

Fill in the gaps with a lot of, much, many, how much, how many.

1. There were ______ people in the streets.

2. Are there ______ new students this year?
3. There isn't ______ cheese left in the fridge.
4. ______ backpackers travel to the east coast every summer.
5. We went to that hotel because we didn't have ______ options.
6. ______ milk do you want in your coffee?
7. Not ______ people know his secret.
8. Was there ______ turbulence during the flight?
9. There are ______ things that I haven't told you yet.
10. ______ visitors does this museum have every day?

Exercise four

Fill in the gaps with few, little, a few, a little.

1. 'Were there any people at the conference?' 'Yes, ______.'

2. There were ______ people on the beach because it was raining.
3. We have very ______ money, so we can't afford to buy a new car.
4. I've got ______ cranberries. Let's make a cake.
5. There is ______ coffee left. Would you like one?
6. We've bought ______ new cushions for the sofa.
7. I've got ______ money saved; I think I'll buy a new bike.
8. There are ______ things that I haven't told you. I always tell you
everything.
9. I speak ______ English, so when I'm in England I don't have problems.
10. There's very ______ snow in the street. We don't need the snow
boots.