How Much Do You Know about Quantifiers?

For VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar.

Today we are going to talk about different ways of expressing quantity in English.

A quantifier is a word or number that shows an amount or number. You probably already know how to use common quantifiers like much and many. For example:

How many apples would you like?

How much fruit would you like?

The quantifier many is used before apples, which is a count noun. Much is used before fruit, a noncount noun.

Make sure you understand the difference between count nouns and noncount nouns before you study quantifiers. You can learn about count and noncount nouns in last week's episode of Everyday Grammar.

Quantifiers are adjectives and adjective phrases that go before nouns. They give information about how much or how many of an item you are talking about. Some quantifiers, like many, go only before count nouns. Others, like much, go only before noncount nouns. And a few quantifiers can go before count or noncount nouns.

Quantifiers only used with count nouns

One, each and every are examples of count noun quantifiers.

Here are some examples:

One movie that I enjoy is “The Godfather.”

Each child is special.

Every member of the country club is rich.

With plural count nouns, just add of the between the quantifier and the noun it describes.

One of the boys is from China.

Each of the cars has air conditioning.

Every one of the students is smart.

Notice that boys, cars and students are plural nouns. But the verbs that follow them are singular. In most situations, one, each and every make the subject singular, even if the subject contains a plural noun.

This tricky rule confuses native speakers and English learners alike.

There are a few quantifiers related to the number two. You can say I have two shoes, I have a couple of shoes, I have both shoes, and I have a pair of shoes.

If you have more than two countable items, you can use several, a few, many and a number of.

I have several assignments due this week.

There are a few Thai restaurants in my town.

There are many ways to practice English.

A number of the cars are imported.

Quantifiers only used with noncount nouns

Now let's move on to quantifiers that only work with noncount nouns: a little, much and a great deal of. Here are some examples:

Could you loan me a little money?

The old woman has much wisdom to share.

There is a great deal of oil in Saudi Arabia.

Little can go before a count noun if it is used as an adjective. For example, “The little boy is playing.” In this example, little does not refer to a number or quantity; it refers to the size of the boy.

Quantifiers used with both count and noncount nouns

There are several “safe” quantifiers that can go with both count and noncount nouns. Some is the most popular. Most, plenty of, all and any are other options. Listen for the quantifiers in these examples:

He cut some wood. (noncount noun)

Most Americans speak English. (count noun)

I have plenty of money. (noncount noun)

All children are special. (count noun)

Do you have any coffee? (noncount noun)

To refer to the absence or lack of something, simply use no before a count or noncount noun.

There was no rice left. (noncount noun)

There were no books in the library. (count noun)

She had no love for her ex-husband. (noncount noun)

No, when used as a quantifier, has the same meaning as zero.

Lots and a lot of are very popular quantifiers — maybe too popular. Some English teachers do not like them. They think that lots and a lot of are overused and unsophisticated. You should avoid lots and a lot of in formal writing. Native speakers usually shorten a lot of to “a lotta” in casual speech.

Few/a few vs. little/a little

Listen carefully to these two sentences:

I have a few friends.

I have few friends.

What is the difference? The first sentence contains the article a. This little word makes a big difference in meaning.

I have a few friends focuses on a positive idea. The speaker is satisfied with the number of friends he has. The second sentence, I have few friends, focuses on a negative idea, his lack of friends. The speaker wishes he had more friends.

It might help to think of few as a half-empty glass of water. A few is like a half-filled glass of water. The amount of water is the same. But the speaker's attitude about the amount of water is different. Few and a few are only used before count nouns.

The same positive-negative distinction applies to a little and little. Use little and a little before noncount nouns.

I have a little money means the speaker has some money.

I have little money means the speaker does not have enough money.

Speaking of little, we have little time left for today's program. We hope you learned a few tips about how to use quantifiers.

I'm Jill Robbins.

And I'm John Russell.

Adam Brock wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English.

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quantifier – grammatical term. a determiner or pronoun indicative of quantity (e.g., all, both )

count noun - grammatical term. a noun that can form a plural and, in the singular, can be used with the indefinite article

noncount noun - grammatical term. a noun (such as “sand” or “butter”) that refers to something that cannot be counted

options – n. choices

assignment - n. a job or duty that is given to someone : a task someone is required to do

absence – n. a state or condition in which something expected, wanted, or looked for is not present or does not exist : a state or condition in which something is absent

unsophisticated - adj. not complicated or highly developed; basic

focus – v. to direct your attention or effort at something specific

negative - adj. harmful or bad : not wanted

positive – adj. good or useful

distinction – n. the quality that makes a person or thing special or different