6-1 Quantifiers

1 Quantifiers are used to describe the number or amount of something. Certain quantifiers are used with certain kinds of nouns.

　　a couple of　　　   a little　　　　　　any

　　a few 　　　　　　little　　　　　　　enough

　　few 　　　　　　   much　　　　  　　some

　　many　　　　　　a great deal of 　　  a lot of

　　2 Countable Nouns and Uncontable

The nouns on the left side are examples of countable nouns. They can follow "a" or "an" in the singular. Adding "s" or "es" makes them plural. The nouns on the right side are examples of uncountable nouns. They cannot follow "a" or "an" and cannot be made plural.

Countable 　　　　　　　　　　　　　   Uncountable

idea　　　　message　　　　　　　　　inforamtion　　news

project　　    coumputer　　   　　　　　 advice　　　　support

report　　　　car　　　　　　　　　　　money　　　　love

3 Quantifiers with Countable Nouns

a couple of 　　　　usually means two

a few　　　　　　   is approximately 2 - 4, it implies a small number

few　　　　　　　   without "a" is almost none, it implies a smaller number than expected

several　　　　　　is more than a few

many　　　　　　　is a large number

These quantifiers describe the number of a countable noun. "A couple of" usually means two. "A few" is approximately 2 - 4. It implies a small number. "Few" without "a" is almost none. It implies a smaller number than expected. "Several" is more than a few. "Few" and "several" are usually not used in questions. "Many" is a large number.

4 Quantifiers with Uncountable Nouns

a little 　　　　is a small amount

little　　　　　 without "a" is almost none, it implies less than expected

much　　　　   is a large amount, and is usually used in questions ("how much") and negative statements ("not much")

a great deal of     is a large amount

These quantifiers describe the amount of an uncountable noun. "A little" is a small amount. "Little" without "a" is almost none. It implies less than expected. "Little" isn't used in questions. "Much" is a large amount, and is usually used in questions ("how much") and negative statements ("not much"). "A great deal of" is a large amount.

5 Quantifiers with countable or uncountable Nouns

① any

Do you have any computers(furniture) in the conference room?

② enough

Do we have enough chairs(money) for lunch?

③ some

He has some ideas(information) about the new product.

④  a lot of

We've received a lot of messages(support) from the CEO.

These quantifiers can be used with either countable or uncountable nouns. "Any" is usually used only in questions or in negative statements. It means even the smallest number or amount. "Enough" is as many or as much as necessary. "Some" is an indefinite number or amount. "A lot of" is a large number or amount.

6 The quantifiers for question and neagtive statements.

I don't have any(some used here is wrong) money.

I won't make make a lot of or many(if several used here is wrong) changes.

7 Quantifiers that can't be used in Negative statement

a couple of　　　　several　　　　a little

a few　　　　　　  some　　　　　little

few

8 All of the expressions of quantity can be used without a noun if the meaning is clear. Note that in this case, "of" is not used after "a lot."

Do you have enough?

I have a lot.

Do you want some?

I don't want any.