QUANTIFIERS

Quantifiers are words that are used to state quantity or amount of

something without stating the exact

number.

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.

*few – Has a negative meaning, means there is not enough of something.

Eg.: Few people are able to talk about this subject.

** a few - more positive meaning, means that there is not a lot of something, but there is enough.

Eg.: His ideas were a bit complex but a few people were able to understand them.

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 toEngland.

•a little - more positive meaning, means that there is not a lot of something, but there is enough

• Eg.: I usually have coffee with a little milk.

• Little has a negative meaning, suggesting not as much/ not enough

• Eg.: Little information was given on the case.

With Countable andUncountable Nouns

Plenty of - It’s rather informal . It’s similar in meaning to enough or more.

Eg.: I have plenty of money./ We have plenty of

cookiesA lot of / Lots of - They are quite informal and

more used in affirmative sentences. Eg.: I have a lot of money./ We have a lot of

cookies. I have lots of money. / We have lots of cookies.

• A large amount of, a great deal of, a large number of

• They are used in the same way as a lot of and lots of but they are more formal.

• Eg.: All I know is that a lot of time is going to be needed.

• All I know is that a great deal of time is going to be needed.

With Countable andUncountable Nouns

Graded Quantifiers

They are like comparatives and hold a relative position on a scale of increase or decrease.INCREASE (0% to 100%)INCREASE (0% to 100%)With plural countable nouns many more most With uncountable nouns

much more most

·         There are manymany people in Uruguay, moremore in Brazil, but the the mostmost people live in China.

      MuchMuch time and money is spent on education, moremore on health services but the mostthe most is spent on national defense.

DECREASE (100% to 0%)DECREASE (100% to 0%)

With plural countable nouns

few few fewer fewer fewestfewest

With uncountable nouns

little less leastlittle less least

·   Few rivers in the world aren’t polluted.

Fewer people die young now than in the nineteenth century.

The country with the fewest people per square kilometer must be Australia. Scientists have littlelittle hope of finding a complete cure for cancer before 2020. She had less time to study than I did but had better results. Give that dog the least opportunity and it will bite you.

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

AnyAny 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.

SomeSomeSome 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.”

fill in the gaps with one of the following determiners: Some,

Any 1) Ann has _________candies.2) Bill doesn't have _________money.3) Sue will give us _________information.4) There is _____________ milk in the fridge.5) There isn't ________________beer.

 much, many, lots of, a lot of, little, most, a little,

little, a few, few1. It seems to me that we've had

__________assignments in English this term.2. How _____________material can we be expected to read in one week?3. ______________books are not in the library.4. I've had ____________headaches already because of stress.5. _______________depression can be attributed to being overworked.