Quantifiers

Educall Language Academy

1. Some/any 

We use some and any when we express an indefinite quantity or number.

       some           

with countable and uncountable nouns,

in affirmative sentences

 

There is some fruit in the basket.

There are some students in the class.

There is some dust on the floor.

There are some mistakes in the list.
any

with countable and uncountable nouns 

in negative senteces and questions

There aren’t any skyscrapers in our town.

Are there any doctors in your family?

There isn’t any cold water here.

Is there any bread on the table?

                          

There is some orange juice in the glass                  There are some flowers in the garden.

                                              

There isn’t any milk in the bottle.                              There aren’t any apples in the garden. 

 

2. Much/many

We use much and many when we express a large quantity.

    much                      

with uncountable nouns,in all forms

She has much influence on you. 

He doesn't have much time. 

Is there much rain in Istanbul?
      many with countable  nouns, in all forms

I have many postcards.

There aren’t many cars on the road today.

Do you have many books in you bag?

*'much' is generally not preferred in affirmative senteces. Instead of much, a lot of and lots of are used.

                                  

He has many books in his library.                                                There aren’t many pandas in the world.

                                              

There isn’t much olive oil in the bottle.                                        Is there much sugar in the bowl?

 

3. A lot of/lots of

We use a lot of and lots of when we express a large quantity. 

         a lot of/lots of                

with uncountable and countable nouns,

 in all forms             

There are a lot of/lots of bus stops in this town.

I have got a lot of/lots of story books.

Are there a lot of/lots of people in the queue?

There is a lot of/lots of milk in the jug.

There isn’t a lot of/lots of honey in the hive.

Do you know a lot of/lots of people there?

She has a lot of/lots of oxen on the farm.

                                         

Her dog gave birth to a lot of/lots of puppies.                                      We have eaten a lot of/lots of fruit this week.

 

4. A Few/A Little/Few/Little

A few and a little express a small quantity. Few and little implies that something is not many, not enough or almost none. It expresses a negative idea.

                                         A Few/Few                                                                                 with countable nouns      

I have a few close friends in town, and we have a very good time together. (I have enough close friends)

 

I have few friends in town, so I feel lonely from time to time. (I don’t have enough close friends)
      A Little/Little            with uncountable nouns

We have a little milk. Let’s make a cake. (We have enough milk to make a cake)

 

We have little milk. We can’t make a cake. (We don’t have enough milk to make a cake)