Quantity Words

A, An, Some, Any, Many, Much, a lot of , a lot, little, a little, few, a few,

none

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

• Countable nouns are the nouns we can count, such as objects, people, ideas etc.

• A cat – three cats • A secretary – four secretaries• A plan – two plans • Uncountable nouns are the names of materials, liquids and other things

which we do not usually count. Ex: • wool but not a wool , two wools• Water but not a water, three waters • Weather but not a weather, four weathers• Energy but not an energy, several energies

1. a/ an with singular countable nouns:A secretaryAn office

2. a/an when used before a countable noun it only means “one” A person or a pencil There is a car in the street.Ayse lives in a village.Andy lives in an old houseAndrew is a manager .

3. Use a/an when we talk about any one member of a group of thingsl.A doctor must like people (any doctor)I would like to live in an old house (any old house)

4. a/an is used when classifying and defining things – people : when we say what they are, what job they do, or what they are used for. She’s a doctorA seagull is a kind of a bird.

a/an is used before nouns that are used in description:She’s a nice person.

a/an can not be left out in negative expressions:I haven’t got a pen.You mustn’t go out without a coat.

a/an is used when we say what jobs people have or how things are used.She’s is an engineer.I used my shoe as a hammer.

Before a word that begins with a vowel an is used not a Compare: A rabbit an elephant an orange an envelope an hour an MPWhen putting an before a vowel the pronunciation is important not the spelling. Use an before a vowel sound, even it is written as a consonant - an hour vs a university

Plural nouns (boys, cats, vegetables) and uncountable nouns (wool, furniture, petrol) can not be used with a/an. We use no article We need information and adviceShe wants new furniture for her room. We are having terrible weather She speaks excellent Arabic.

Instead of no article (a/an) we use “the” when we want to say about known - specific nouns or some - any How are the children? (the hearer’s children) We went to the Zoo

Instead of no article, we can sometimes use some and any We bought some nice furniture for our living room at the weekend.Have you got any papers.

Some Any Uncountables and plural nouns can also be used either with some and any or with no article. Some and any means a limited number of things or people as opposed to unlimited numbers or quantities. We use some – any when we don’t want to say how much and how many something is.

We need some cheese.I want some bread. I didn’t buy any eggs.Would you like some more rice? I like rosesThere were books on the table Some is used in positive sentences and in questions only if the answer is “Yes” Any is used in questions and negatives.

Some Any • Some is used to show an indefinite quantity (the

exact number is not important) and in affirmative statements.

• Example: I have some books.She wants some apples.

• Used in questions, but only when you think the answer will be 'Yes'. Example:Do you have some paper? (I hope the answer will be 'Yes')Would you like some french fries? ( I expect the answer will be 'Yes')

We usually use some in positive sentences for countable and uncountable nouns. I have some friends in London. I usually drink some wine with my meal.

Sometimes we use some in a question, when we expect a positive YES answer. Would you like some more tea? Could I have some more sugar please?Any

Do you have any ice cream left for me? We use any for both countable and uncountable nouns. Do you have any cheese? He doesn't have any friends in Paris.

Any Used in negative statements. Example:I don't have any money.There aren't any taxis near here. Used in questions, especially when we expect the answer will be 'No'. Example:Do you have any paper? (I expect the answer will probably be 'No')Is there any time to go to the doctor's? ( I think there probably isn't time).

Some and any are often used like articles for plural nouns. -A/an is used for singular countable nouns, and some/any can be used for plural noun, countable or uncountable. -Example: I have a newspaper, some newspapers, and some money.

Exercise "Some and any“1.Fred is very busy : he doesn't have _________________ time.2. Let's listen to _________________music and watch the stars in the sky!3. We need ________________ butter and bread for dinner.4. I have ________________ very old books! do you want to see them?5. Rachel meets __________________friends at the weekend.6. Do you have ______________orange juice ? I don't see it in the fridge.7. No, I don't ! But I have _______________grapefruit if you want !8. Do you want __________________? ...Oh yes please.9. Silly boys! They went to town without _________________money !

Answers

1. Fred is very busy : he doesn't have any time.2. Let's listen to some music and watch the stars in the sky!3. We need some butter and bread for dinner.4. I have some very old books! do you want to see them?5. Rachel meets some friends at the weekend.6. Do you have any orange juice ? I don't see it in the fridge.7. No, I don't ! But I have some grapefruit if you want !8. Do you want some ? ...Oh yes please.9. Silly boys! They went to town without any money !

Many Much

• Much It is used with singular uncountable nouns.• They don't have much money to buy a present.• You haven’t eaten much. • There wasn’t much food left on the table.• How much money have you got?

• Many It is used with plural countable nouns.• I don't have many English stamps in my collection.• Many people think it is time for a change • We can drop noun after much and many, if the meaning is

clear.

Exercise : Many Much Any some 1. Did the teacher give us any homework? - Yes, but not _____________.2. Nick never does __________ work. He is a very lazy boy.3. Could you lend me fifty dollars? - No, I haven't got __________money.4. She has had as _______________ success as her brother.5. I bought ________________bread, but I didn't buy any butter. I forgot!6. She is a warm and friendly girl. She has so ____________friends.7. I've got _______________interesting things to tell you. Let's meet at seven o'clock and I'll tell you everything.8. How _______________lessons do you have on Mondays? - Only three, mum.9. Kate was very ________________afraid of ghosts when she was little girl.10. I didn't see __________________ white cats in the garden, only the black one.11. ________________dogs can be dangerous. Watch out!

Many Much Any Some (key )

1. Did the teacher give us any homework? - Yes, but not much .2. Nick never does any work. He is a very lazy boy.3. Could you lend me fifty dollars? - No, I haven't got any money.4. She has had as much success as her brother.5. I bought some bread, but I didn't buy any butter. I forgot!6. She is a warm and friendly girl. She has so many friends.7. I've got some interesting things to tell you. Let's meet at seven o'clock and I'll tell you everything.8. How many lessons do you have on Mondays? - Only three, mum.9. Kate was very much afraid of ghosts when she was little girl.10. I didn't see any white cats in the garden, only the black one. 11. Some dogs can be dangerous. Watch out!

A lot of lots of A lot of and lots of are informal quantity words and they mean much or many. In formal language instead a great number of or a large number of , much or many should be used. A lot of and lots of mean the same and they are used before singular uncountable nouns and plural nouns. When a lot of is used before a plural subject, the verb is plural; when lots of is used before a singular subject, the verb is singular. A lot of time is needed to learn a language.Lots of patience is needed A lot of people want to buy an apartment There is a lot of meat left.Lots of students want a new school.

NO - None

None means “not a single one of”We can use none of + count noun (pl) Not any of …..None one of …….

None of my friends are happy about the results of the testI haven’t read any of his books.Not one of my shirts is clean Have you found any four leaf clover

Exercise on No / None •1. She wanted some sugar but there was________ in the house.2. Is there any tea left? No, ____________ at all.3. There was _________________ end to our troubles.4. They had_______________ food.5. ____________ of them has come back yet.6. How many tickets have you got? ________________.7.___________________words can describe the scene.8. We have no___________________kids.

•1 . She wanted some sugar but there was none in the house.2. Is there any tea left? No, none at all.3. There was no end to our troubles.4. They had no food.5. none of them has come back yet.6. How many tickets have you got? none ......7. no words can describe the scene.8. We have no kids.

Few a Few Little a little • Few is used with countables • Few means 'not many', 'almost none'(

few people, few books, few flowers ).• It emphasizes how small the

number is.• We use 'few' before plural

countable nouns.• 'Few' has a negative meaning.

• We can also use 'very few' .

• She has very few good friends.

• I am very sad. I have few friends.

• Little is used before uncountable nouns with the singular forms.

• 'Little' means 'not much'.• It emphasizes how small

the amount is.• 'Little' has a negative

meaning.• We can use also 'very

little'.• I can't help you. I speak

very little French.

• There is little milk in the bottle.

Few a few fewer 1.There are _____________ people on the beach than we expected.2. He knows _______________about Chinese culture.3. There is very __________________orange juice left in the fridge.4. Fred felt very alone. __________________ people visited him in hospital.5. The recipe from my grandmother requires __________eggs than your recipe.6. I have got _____________time.My train is due to arrive at 7 o'clock.7. I have got______________money left. I won't buy this book.8. He is uncommunicative. That's why he has got _________________ friends than his brother.9. Your dog is 6 kilograms overweight. It needs to consume _________________________ calories.10. I would like to make new friends. I've got _________________friends here.11. There is ______________________hope of finding them alive.

Few a few fewer 1. There are fewer people on the beach than we expected.2. He knows little about Chinese culture.3. There is very little orange juice left in the fridge.4. Fred felt very alone. Few people visited him in hospital.5. The recipe from my grandmother requires fewer eggs than your recipe.6. I have got time.My train is due to arrive at 7 o'clock.7. I have got little money left. I won't buy this book.8. He is uncommunicative. That's why he has got fewer friends than his brother.9. Your dog is 6 kilograms overweight. It needs to consume fewer calories.10. I would like to make new friends. I've got few friends here.11. There is little hope of finding them alive.

1. They live in a very small flat because they have ___________money.2. I really need to see him. I've got ______________questions to ask him.3. Could we have __________________ champagne, please ?4. 'Were you surprised ?' '___________________.'5. They've already been to Spain ___________________times.6. These plants require _________________water and it's very handy.7. At home, the kitchen was a pleasant place. There were always ____________________ flowers in a vase.8. 'How's your father ?' ' ______________________ better, thanks.'9. 'Sandra is fluent in Italian, French and Spanish.' 'It's quite rare, __________________ people can speak several foreign languages.'10. This boy isn't very popular at school. He's got very _____________friends.

Key

1. They live in a very small flat because they have little money.2. I really need to see him. I've got a few questions to ask him.3. Could we have a little champagne, please ?4. 'Were you surprised ?' 'a little.'5. They've already been to Spain a few times.6. These plants require little water and it's very handy.7. At home, the kitchen was a pleasant place. There were always a few flowers in a vase.8. 'How's your father ?' ' a little better, thanks.'9. 'Sandra is fluent in Italian, French and Spanish.' 'It's quite rare, few people can speak several foreign languages.'10. This boy isn't very popular at school. He's got very few friends.

•1.There was _______________food in the fridge. It was nearly empty.2. 'When did Sarah go out? ' ' _____________minutes ago'.3. I can't decide now. I need ___________time to think about it.4. There was ________________ traffic, so we arrived earlier than we expected.5. The bus service isn't very good at night - there are________________ buses after 6 o'clock.6. 'Would you like some soup?' 'Yes, ________________, please7. I'd like to practise my English more but I have ___________________ opportunities.8. Last night I wrote ___________________ letters to my family friends.9. I'm going out for a walk. I need ________________fresh air.10. I drink very __________________ coffee. I don't like it.

key

1. There was little food in the fridge. It was nearly empty.2. 'When did Sarah go out? ' ' a few minutes ago'.3. I can't decide now. I need time to think about it.4. There was little traffic, so we arrived earlier than we expected.5. The bus service isn't very good at night - there are few buses after 6 o'clock.6. 'Would you like some soup?' 'Yes, a little , please7. I'd like to practise my English more but I have few opportunities.8. Last night I wrote a few letters to my family friends.9. I'm going out for a walk. I need a little fresh air.10. I drink very little coffee. I don't like it.