Quantifiers

Quantifiers
1. Large numbers or quantities

a lot of = lots of
Use these with:
plural countable nouns:
- There were a lot of people at the stadium
- There are lots of cars in front of us
uncountable nouns
- I need a lot of money to live in London
- They have lots of information at the tourist office
We can replace many and much with a lot of in affirmative sentences, negative sentences
and questions:
- We have many/a lot of things to do this weekend
- I don’t have much/ a lot of time these days
- Have you got many/a lot of DVDs?
Use a lot when there is no noun:

- I like Italy a lot
- She plays tennis a lot
Use plenty of + plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns in affirmative sentences
when there is more than enough:
- Why don’t you stay for dinner? There’s plenty of food
- There are plenty of reasons why I’d like to live in California
2. Small numbers or quantities

Use few/a few/very few with plural countable nouns:
Note: few has a more negative meaning than a few
very few is even more negative
with just, we always use a few
- Billy is lonely because he has few friends (not many friends at all)
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- Nick has a few friends so he has someone to go out with at the weekend (some friends,
but not many)
- There are very few reasons why I would choose to go to the dentist
- I have some books but just a few
Use little/a little/very little with countable nouns:

Note: little has a more negative meaning than a little
very little is even more negative
with just, we always use a little
- I have little imagination so I could never become an artist (not much imagination at all)
- Brenda had a little money left so she cold afford a taxi home (some money but not much)
- We have very little time to go out because we are so busy these days
- Just a little cake for me, please
3. More or less than you need or want

Use too + adjective or adverb:
- I can’t lift this suitcase. It’s too heavy
- You speak too quickly. I can’t understand anything
Use too many + plural countable nouns:

- You can’t get into the club. There are too many people in there
- I have too many things to do just at the moment
Use too much + uncountable nouns”

- I hate the city. There’s too much pollution
- Our teacher always gives us too much homework
Use enough before a plural countable or an uncountable noun:

- We don’t have enough eggs to make an omelette
- There isn’t enough money to go on holiday this year
Use enough after an adjective or adverb:

- My new car isn’t big enough for 5 people
2
- I don’t play football well enough to get into the team
4. Zero quantity
Use any with a negative verb and no with a positive verb
- I don’t have any money – I have no money
- There isn’t any room for a piano – There is no room for a piano
Use none alone (no noun) in short answers:

- How many extra chairs are there?
None. We need a few more.
- Were there a lot of girls at the party?
None, so we left really early
Exercises
1. Underline the correct answer. Tick √ if both are possible.
1. We have some wine but not a lot / a lot of.
2. Jim doesn’t have a lot of/much time to go out with his friends
3. Have you got much / many work these days?
4. ‘How many of the students did their homework?’
‘None / No students.’
5. There aren’t any / There are no tomatoes in the fridge.
6. This new sofa is too / too much big. It won’t fit in our lounge.
7. Few / A few people like going to the dentist.
8. Jill has so many / much homework that she has a little / very little time to see her
friends.
9. Don’t hurry. We have plenty of / too much time to get to the cinema before the film
starts.
10. We don’t have enough / too many chairs for all the guests who are coming to dinner.
11. I have a little / little time so let’s go for a quick coffee.
12. There are few / very few jobs available these days.
13. Have you got a lot of / many things to do this weekend?
14. Harry doesn’t speak French well enough / enough well to go and live in Paris.
15. I haven’t lived in this are for very long but I’ve already made few / a few friends.
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16. This room isn’t large enough / enough large for a piano.
17. I don’t have many / a lot of books in my house.
18. Mike drives too fast / fast enough. He’s going to have an accident one day.
19. Can you put just a little / little milk in my coffee?
20. A lot / lot of accidents happen because people drive drunk.

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Quantifiers

1. Large numbers or quantities

Use a lot when there is no noun:

2. Small numbers or quantities

Use little/a little/very little with countable nouns:

3. More or less than you need or want

Use too many + plural countable nouns:

Use too much + uncountable nouns”

Use enough before a plural countable or an uncountable noun:

Use enough after an adjective or adverb:

Use none alone (no noun) in short answers:

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