Quantifiers

It might be better to begin this section on quantifiers by looking

at a few of them and to see how they operate with nouns. In the list
that follows a Yes indicates the type of noun(s) that the quantifier
generally can be used with (there are, as so often with English,
obscure exceptions). As before, U refers to uncountable nouns and C
refers to countable nouns.

Singular
nouns (C)

Quantifier

Plural
nouns (C)

Uncountable
nouns (U)

all

Yes

Yes

any

Yes

Yes

both

Yes

each

Yes

enough

Yes

Yes

every

Yes

few/a few/fewer

Yes

little/a little/less

Yes

many

Yes

more

Yes

Yes

some

Yes

Yes

a lot of

Yes

Yes

Quantifiers are used at the beginning of noun phrases:

before a noun on its own: fewer answers

before an adjective and noun: some useful phrases
before an adverb, adjective and noun: every really pleasant
experience

Normally two quantifiers cannot be used together before the same

noun. However, the quantifiers all and both are found immediately
before the or a possessive pronoun: all my relatives, both the
ministers. You will also see the following combinations of quantifiers:

a little less noise

a few more questions
every few minutes
Many, much, a lot of

These are all used to talk about a large quantity of

something; many is used only with C nouns,much with U nouns and a
lot of can be used with both.
Only many and much can be preceded by the words how, to form
questions (how many / how much ...?). The word too can be used to
express a negative idea (too hot, too cold) and so, to show the
speaker's attitude to the quantity (so many that ... /so much he
couldn't ...). Manyand much tend to be rather formal in use and are
therefore often found in legal documents, academic papers and so on;
in speech we often use phrases like a lot of, loads of, tons of,
hundreds of.

Few, little

Again, the meaning of these two words is similar since they both
refer to small quantities, except that few is found with C nouns
and little with U nouns.
If they are used without the indefinite article, a, they have the sense
of not enough and are negative in feeling (few events, little interest)
but these are quite formal and we would normally prefer not many
events and not much interest.
When few and little are used with a they simply mean a small
quantity with no extra negative overtones: a few events (i.e. three or
four) and a little interest (i.e. some interest, but not a lot).

Any

Any can be used before countable and uncountable nouns usually

in questions and negativesentences:

Are you bringing any friends with you?

Do you have any coffee?
I can't remember any songs.
He isn't taking any chances.

If we stress the word any heavily when speaking, we are suggesting

an unlimited choice from a range of things or an unrestricted
quantity; in this case its use is not confined to just questions and
negatives:

Help yourself to any sandwiches. (the choice is yours)

Don't you like any Beatles song? (I can't believe you dislike
them all)
I can't see any difference. (nothing at all)

Some

Some is usually thought of as the positive counterpart to any in

many circumstances.

I'm bringing some friends with me.

I have some coffee.
Like any it is used before both C and U nouns, and means an
indefinite quantity but not a large amount. The general rule given
above for the use of any in negative sentences and questions does
not always hold in requests and offers where we often use some to
mean a small amount of a known quantity:

Would you like some cake? (here is the cake, do you want a
piece of it?)
Could I have some biscuits instead? (any would not be
possible in this case)

If we stress the word some in positive and negative sentences and in

questions, we are suggesting a limited quantity or number of
something:

I like some Beatles songs. (but certainly not all)

I can see some difference. (but not a lot)

EXERCISES
In the following sentences, fill in the gaps with one of the
following quantifiers:
A FEW | A GREAT DEAL | A LITTLE | A LOT | A LOT OF | A MAJORITY OF |

ENOUGH | MANY | MUCH OF | PLENTY | SEVERAL OF | SOME

When you've gotten all the answers right, see if you can
substitute other quantifiers from the list.
1. I'm having
2.
3.

of trouble passing my driving exam.

the movies were rated PG.

information proved to be outdated.

4. We're close to the project deadline, but there is still

left.
5. Although there are

brilliant students in this state --

thousands, even, only

will choose to remain in the state after

graduation.
6. We were able to destroy
but
7.

time

the parasites with our antigen,

of them survived to cause trouble.

a student has passed through these doors.

8. Although

of the lawn is open to the sun, there are

of shade trees to make it comfortable.

9. I think he drank
wine last night.
10.

the evidence was taken from the police safe last night.