Quantifiers

Quantifiers are adjectives and adjectival phrases that give approximate or specific answers to the questions "How much?" and "How many?". To answer the questions How much? and How many? certain quantifiers can be used with [C] countable nouns (friends, cups, people), others with [U] uncountable nouns (sugar, tea, money) and still others with all types of nouns.

Examples

• Would you like some tea and a few cookies?
• I always put a little cheese and some carrots in my soup.
• He has several apples. I don't have any fruit at all.
• She has plenty of clothes for the winter.
• I received a large amount of feedback from my survey.

much or many

much and many are mainly used in interrogative and negative sentences. They are also used in affirmative and negative sentences in combination with too and so.

Note: the word many can be used alone in affirmative sentences while the word much cannot. much is replaced in affirmative sentences with a lot of or lots of (these expressions can also replace many).

Examples

• Uncountable Nouns

  • How much sugar do you have?
  • There's not much sugar in this tea.
  • I have too much sugar at home.
  • I don't know what to do with so much sugar.
  • I wish there was not so much sugar here.
  • There is a lot of sugar in candy.

• Countable Nouns

  • How many people came to the concert?
  • Not many people came to the concert.
  • There were too many people at the concert.
  • It's a problem when there are so many people.
  • There were not so many people last year.
  • There are many people who want to come.
    • = There are a lot of people who want to come.

Attitude about quantity

The quantifiers few and a few, and little and a little seem nearly identical but they are actually quite distinct. These expressions show the speaker's attitude towards the quantity he is referring to as either positive or negative.

Positive attitude

a few (for countable nouns) and a little (for uncountable nouns) describe the quantity in a positive way, implying that although the speaker may not have much, he has enough.

Examples

• I've got a few friends.
  • => I have enough friends.
• I have a few flowers in my garden.
  • => I have enough flowers.
• I've got a little money.
  • => I have enough money.
• I have a little free time on Thursdays.
  • => I have enough free time.

Negative attitude

few (for countable nouns) and little (for uncountable nouns) describe the quantity in a negative way. They may actually indicate a lack of what is represented by the noun, but it is more polite than saying so directly.

Examples

• Few people visited him in hospital.
  • => he had almost no visitors, or perhaps no visitors at all.
• I've seen few birds around here.
  • => there are almost no birds, or perhaps not a single bird
• He had little money for treats.
  • => almost no money, or perhaps no money at all
• I have little time for TV
  • => almost no time, or perhaps no time at all

some and any can be used with countable and uncountable nouns to describe an undefined or incomplete quantity.

Using "some"

some can be used in descriptive sentences.

Examples

• I had some rice for lunch.
• He got some books from the library.
• I will have some news next week.
• Philip wants some help with his exams.
• There is some butter in the fridge.

some is also used in interrogative sentences when you think you already know the answer.

Examples

• Did he give you some tea?
  • => I think he did.
• Is there some fruit juice in the fridge?
  • => I think there is.
• Would you like some help?
  • => Probably you do.
• Will you have some roast beef?
  • => Probably you will

some can also be used in interrogative sentences to ask for something or to offer something.

Examples

• Could I have some books, please?
• Why don't you take some apples home with you?
• Would you like some tea?
• Will you have some cake?

Using "any"

any is used in interrogative sentences when you do not know the answer.

Examples

• Do you have any friends in London?
• Do they have any children?
• Do you want any groceries from the shop?
• Are there any problems with your work?

any is also used with not to form negative sentences. In these sentences, the word any emphasizes the negativity to make it more absolute.

Examples

• She doesn't want any kitchen appliances for Christmas.
• They don't need any help moving to their new house.
• I don't want any cake.
• There isn't any reason to complain.