Quantifiers
Revise the use of these quantifiers
Remember: quantifiers are words that precede and modify nouns. They tell us how many or how much.
ABOUT THE USE OF LITTLE, A LITTLE, FEW, A FEW
LITTLE: only used with UNCOUNTABLE nouns, synonym for hardly any, not much
A LITTLE: only used with UNCOUNTABLE nouns, synonym for a small amount, some
FEW: with COUNTABLE nouns, synonym for hardly any, not many
A FEW: with COUNTABLE nouns, synonym for a small number, some
little, a little, few, a few
1) My grandfather always drinks (some) wine for lunch.
2) I hope that (not many) students will fail this exam.
3) There is (not much) milk in the fridge.
4) Paco has (some) friends in London.
Much, many, a lot of
ABOUT THE USE OF MUCH, MANY, A LOT(OF)
MUCH: only used with UNCOUNTABLE nouns, usually in interrogative and negative sentences:
They didn't spend much money
MANY: only used with COUNTABLE nouns. It is used with negative and interrogative sentences:
I don't have many problems
A LOT OF: used with COUNTABLE and UNCOUNTABLE nouns, usually in affirmative sentences:
They spent a lot of money
If we use “a lot of” without the noun after “of”, we have to omit "of":
a: Do you have much money?
b:Yes, I have a lot (NOT I have a lot of)
Other determiners like (lots of, plenty of and loads of) can also be used instead of "a lot of", but they have the same meaning.
Read the sentences below and fill in the blanks with these quantifiers:
1. I'm having trouble passing my driving test.
2. the movies were rated PG.
3. information you gave me was wrong.
4. You still have time to finish your exam.
5. Although there are
brilliant students at university, only
will
choose to remain in it after graduation.
6. Cervantes wrote D. Quixote. Although
the book is about knight-errantry, there are
funny stories in it.
7. I think he drank
wine last night.