Quantifiers

QUANTIFIERS
Quantifiers are words that

are used to state quantity or
amount of something
without stating the exact
number.
Quantifiers answer the questions
"How many?" and "How
much?"
We use quantifiers with
plural countable nouns and
uncountable nouns.
Quantifiers must agree with the noun.
There are 3 main types of quantifiers.
Quantifiers that are used with countable
nouns, quantifiers that are used with
uncountable nouns. and the 3rd type are
quantifiers that are used with either
countable nouns or uncountable nouns.
Countable Nouns
many I don't have many
apples.
few* We know few
people in the area.
I would like to get to know
more.
a few** We know a few people in
the area. I know enough
people to keep me happy.
Uncountable Nouns
Much I don't have much
money.
little* I know little English.
I am going to have a
problem getting around
England.
a little** I know a little English, at
least enough to get to
England.
*few/little - means that is not
enough of something.
** a few /a little - means that

there are not a lot of something,
but there is enough.
Few and little describe the quantity
in a negative way:
Few people visited him in hospital
(= he had almost no visitors)
He had little money (= almost no
money)
A few (for countable nouns) and a little
(for uncountable nouns) describe the
quantity in a positive way:
"I've got a few friends" (= maybe not

many, but enough)
"I've got a little money" (= I've got enough

to live on)
With Countable and Uncountable
Nouns
Enough I have enough money.
We have enough cookies.
Plenty I have plenty of money.
We have plenty of cookies
A lot of I have a lot of money.
We have a lot of cookies.
Lots of I have lots of money.
We have lots of cookies.
Some I have some money.
We have some cookies.
Any I don’t have any money.
Enough is placed before the noun, to indicate
the quantity required or necessary:
“There is enough bread for lunch.”
“We didn't have enough time to visit London

Bridge.”
“Is there enough milk for breakfast?”
“She has enough talent to become an
international singing star.”
Some and any
When to use 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 can be used when:
The exact number is not known.

The exact number is not important or
relevant.
Some and any are used with countable
nouns and uncountable nouns
Any
Any is used with:
Negative sentences
When asking a question.
Any is used when a sentence is grammatically positive,
but the meaning of the sentence is negative.
Do you have any ice cream left?
I don't have any money today. I am getting paid on
Friday.
My brother never does any thing good.
Some
Some is used with:
Positive sentences. When asking a question, if
the answer is expected to be positive or not
relevant or you are offering something.
The children have some free time.
Please buy some bananas.
Can I have a glass of tea?
Would you like some cake?
Compound nouns with some- and
any- are used in the same way as
some and any.
Positive statements:
“Someone is sleeping in my bed.”
“He saw something in the garden.”
“I left my glasses somewhere in the house.”

Questions:
“Are you looking for someone?” (= I'm sure
you are)
“Have you lost something?” (= I'm sure you
have)
“Is there anything to eat?” (a real question)
“Did you go anywhere last night?”
Negative statements:
“She didn't go anywhere last night.”
“He doesn't know anybody here.”

There is a difference in emphasis
between nothing, nobody etc. and
not ... anything, not ... anybody:
“I don't know anything about it.” (=

neutral, no emphasis)
“I know nothing about it.” (= more

emphatic, maybe defensive)
“ Is there anybody who speaks English
here?”
“There is nobody in the house at the
moment.”
“Does anybody have the time?”
“When I arrived there was nobody to
meet me.”
ANY can also be used in positive
statements to mean 'no matter
which', 'no matter who', 'no matter
what':
“You can borrow any of my books.”

“They can choose anything from the menu.”
“You may invite anybody to dinner, I don't mind
who comes.”

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QUANTIFIERS

Quantifiers are words that

** a few /a little - means that

"I've got a few friends" (= maybe not

"I've got a little money" (= I've got enough

“We didn't have enough time to visit London

Some and any are used to state the

The exact number is not known.

“He saw something in the garden.”

“I left my glasses somewhere in the house.”

“She didn't go anywhere last night.”

“He doesn't know anybody here.”

“I don't know anything about it.” (=

“I know nothing about it.” (= more

“You can borrow any of my books.”

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