Learning activity 4 : Quantifiers

What are quantifiers?

A quantifier is a word or phrase which is used before a noun to indicate the amount or
quantity:
'Some', 'many', 'a lot of' and 'a few' are examples of quantifiers.

Quantifiers can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns.

Examples:

There are some books on the desk

He's got only a few dollars.
How much money have you got?
There is a large quantity of fish in this river.
He's got more friends than his sister.

Examples of quantifiers

With Uncountable Nouns

much
a little/little/very little *
a bit (of)
a great deal of
a large amount of
a large quantity of

With Both

all
enough
more/most
less/least
no/none
not any
some
any
a lot of
lots of
plenty of

With Countable Nouns

many
a few/few/very few **
 a number (of)
several
a large number of
a great number of
a majority of

* NOTE

few, very few mean that there is not enough of something.

a few means that there is not a lot of something, but there is enough.

** NOTE

little, very little mean that there is not enough of something.

a little means that there is not a lot of something, but there is enough.

Exercise on quantifiers.

1. Some and Any

Use of some and any

Some and any are used to state the quantity, amount of something. When using some or any,
the exact number is not stated. Some and any are quantifiers.

Some and any can be used when:

1. The exact number is not known.

2. The exact number is not important or relevant.
3. Some and any are used with countable and uncountable nouns.

Study the following tables:

Interrogative Affirmative Negative

Are there any tomatoes in the fridge? Yes, there are some. No, there aren't any.
Is there any orange juice? Yes, there is some. No, there isn't any.

Offering Responding
Would you like some coffee? Yes please I'd like some.
 Making a request Responding
Would you mind lending me some money? Of course here you are.

The rules of some and many:

SOME:

Use some in positive (affirmative) sentences. Some is used for both countable and
uncountable nouns.

Examples:

I have some friends.( friends is countable)

I'd like some water. (water is uncountable)

ANY:

Use any for countable and countable nouns in:

1. interrogative sentences.
Examples:
Have you got any cheese?
Have you got any friends?
2. negative sentences.
Example:
He hasn't got any cheese
He hasn't got any friends in Chicago.

EXCEPTION:

Use some in questions when offering or requesting something.

Example:

Would you like some bread? (offer)

Can I have some water, please? (request)

Something, anything, somewhere, anywhere, someone ,anyone:

The same rules are true for something and anything, someone and anyone, and somewhere
and anywhere.

Policeman: Is there anyone at home?

Criminal: Yes there is someone there! My friend.

Policeman: Is there anything in your pocket?

Criminal: Yes there is something. A gun!

Policeman: Did you go anywhere recently?

Criminal: Yes I went somewhere. I went to the old man's house to steal his money.

Exercise on some and any.

2. Much, many and a lot.

Much, many, a lot:

"Much", "many", and "a lot of" indicate a large quantity of something, for example "I have a
lot of friends " means I have a large quantity of friends.

Much, many, and a lot are quantifiers.

Study the examples below:

I haven't got much money.

How much money have you got? I have got a lot.
I have got a lot of money.
There aren't many.
How many students are in the classroom? There are a lot.
There are a lot of/lots of students.

In the interrogative forms we use:

much with uncountable nouns. (money, bread, water...)

Example:
How much money/bread/water...is there?
many with countable nouns. (students, desks, windows...)
Example:
How many students/teachers/desks... are there?

(See the lesson on countable and countable nouns )

In the negative forms we use:

much with uncountable nouns. (money, bread, water...)

Example:
I haven't got much money/bread/water...
 many with countable nouns. (students, desks, windows...)
Example:
There aren't many students/teachers/desks...

In the affirmative forms:

In spoken English and informal writing we tend to use:

a lot, a lot of, lots of with countable and uncountable nouns.

Example:
"How many students are there in the classroom?"
"There are a lot."
"How many students are there in the classroom?"
"There are a lot of / lots of students"..

In formal written English:

It is also possible (and preferable) to use many and much rather than a
lot of, lots of and a lot in formal written English.
Example:
There are many students.
Much time was spent on studying.

So if you're speaking or writing to friends (informal), use a lot, a lot of, lots of. But if you
want to be more formal, perhaps it is preferable to use much and many.

Remember:

In affirmative sentences with so, as or too, we also use much / many.

Examples:
"Carla has so many friends."
"She has as many friends as Sue."
"Kevin has too much money."

Summary:

Interrogative Negative Affirmative

There are a lot.
There are a lot of books.
How many books are there? There aren't many.
There are lots of books.
There are many books (formal)
I've got a lot.
How much money have you got? I haven't got much. I've got a lot of money.
I've got lots of money.
 I have got much money (formal)
Exercise on much, many or a lot
See also "countable and uncountable nouns"
See also " a little and a few"

3. A little or a few, little or few

A little, a few, very little, very few

The expressions a little and a few mean some or enough.

The expressions (very) little and (very) few mean hardly any or not enough.

A little, a few, (very) little and (very) few are quantifiers

Study the following examples:

Examples Meaning
I've got a little money. I'm going to the cinema.
some/enough
I've got a few friends. We meet everyday.
I've got (very) little money. I need to borrow some.
hardly any / not enough
I've got (very) few friends. I need to make new friends.

The rules:

Affirmative sentences:

A little, a few, (very) little and (very) few are generally used in affirmative statements, not
negatives or questions.

Countable and uncountable nouns:

1. A little and (very) little are used with uncountable nouns (money, bread,
water...)
2. A few and (very) few are used with countable nouns (friends, tables,
teachers..)

(See more about countable and uncountable nouns here.)

Meaning:
 1. A little and a few mean: some or enough.

Example:

"I have got a little money" = I have got some money. It's enough for me to do
what I want.
"I have got a few friends" = I have got some or enough friends. We meet
every day.

2. (Very) little and (very) few mean; hardly any or not enough.

Examples:

I have got (very) little money = I have got hardly any. I haven't got enough.
I'll borrow some from my friend.
I have got (very) few friends = I have got hardly any. I haven't got enough. I
need to make new friends.

3. Fewer vs. Less

Fewer or less?

Fewer and less can be confusing. Although both words are used as comparatives, they are
used differently. Here are the rules.

Fewer

Fewer is used with countable nouns, things that can be counted or that normally have a
plural such as friends, books, students..

Examples:

There are fewer customers these days than last summer.

I should eat fewer candies.
There are fewer cookies in the box

Less

Less is used with uncountable nouns, things that can't be counted or that don't normally have
a plural such as money, bread, water...

Examples:
 He has less money
There is less drinking water in the village because of the drought.
You should spend less time playing video games.

Less with numbers

As discussed above less is normally used with uncountable nouns and fewer with countable
nouns. There are, however, some exceptions; less can also be used with counting nouns that
denote distance, amount, or time.

Examples:

Less than two weeks

Less than two miles.
Less than three kilos.