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A
guide to using quantifiers in English .
Definition
Quantifiers are a type of
determiner which denote imprecise quantity. They differ from numbers or
numerals which indicate precise quantity.
The most common examples:
the most
common quantifiers used in English are:
some
/ any , much, many, a lot, a few, several, enough.
There
are three types of quantifier;
1.
neutral quantifiers,
2.
quantifiers of large quantity, and
3.
quantifiers of small quantity
1.
Neutral quantifiers:
Some and any: several, a number
of, etc.
Some and any
are both
quantifiers and articles. In many contexts, some is the plural
indefinite article, the plural of "a" or "an"; but more often, some
implies a limited quantity, and for this reason has the value of a
quantifier.
Some
is used in
affirmative statements; it is replaced with any
in negative and
interrogative contexts.
Examples:
I've got some apples in
my
basket and some water in my bottle.
I haven't got any apples in my basket, nor any water in my
bottle.
Have you got any apples in your basket? Have you got any
water in your bottle?
We had some visitors last weekend, but we didn't have any
this weekend
Have you got any rooms free for the night of September 30th ?
Several and a number of
imply "more than one,
but less than a lot". They are not usually
used in negative or interrogative structures, only in affirmative
statements. For example
There are several books / a
number of books by J.Z.Plummerman in our library.
Several people / A number of people said that they'd seen the
missing child.
Enough
Enough implies a sufficient
quantity; it is used in affirmations, negations and
questions.
We can get tickets for the
concert, I've got enough money now.
Have
you got enough money for the tickets?
NOTE: do
not confuse enough
as a quantifier preceeding
a noun, with enough
as an intensifier following
an adjective, as in:
That's good
enough for me.
2.
Large quantity quantifiers:
much,
many, lots of, plenty of, numerous, a large number of, etc.
► Much and many: much is used with non
count nouns (always in the singular); many
is used with count
nouns in the plural. (Click here for the
difference between count nouns and non-count nouns).
IMPORTANT
NOTE: Much and many
are not often used, in modern
spoken English, in affirmative
statements; but they are very commonly used in interrogative and
negative contexts.
Examples:
I have
many reasons for thinking
that this man is innocent is acceptable, but rather
formal; most English speakers would more naturally say:
I
have plenty of / a lot of / a large number of reasons for thinking .....
Much
whisky is of very good quality. This
sentence is technically acceptable, but not probable in modern English.
Most people would say (and write):
A lot of whisky / A good
proportion of whisky / Plenty of whisky ......
Remember this principle: don't use much or
many
in affirmative statements.
► Lots of, a lot of, plenty of, a large number of, numerous .
These expressions all mean more or less exactly the same. In
the list above, they are arranged in order of formality, going from the
most informal (lots of)
to the most formal (numerous). Informal language
is more appropriate in dialogue, formal language in written documents.
3.
Small quantity quantifiers:
►
few, a
few, little, a little, not many, not much, a small number of, etc.
These
quantifiers are normally only used in affirmative statements, to
which they give a negative colouring.
► Little, a little, not much
are used with non count nouns
(always in the singular)
Few, a
few, not many
are used with count nouns in the
plural.
Examples:
Few people can speak
more than three languages
A
few (of the) paintings in this gallery are really good.
There's
little point in trying to mend it. You'll never succeed!
I've got a little money left; let's go and have a drink.
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Recapitulation: table of usage for common English
quantifiers
|
Affirmative |
Negative |
Interrogative |
| Neutral |
some, several,
a number of, enough |
any, enough |
any, enough |
| Large
quantity |
numerous,
plenty of, a lot of, lots of,
too many |
much, many,
too many |
much, many,
too many |
| Small
quantity |
few / a few,
Little / a little |
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5.
Few or a few, little or a little ?
The
difference between the two expressions in each phrase is purely one of meaning, not of usage.
Without the article, few
and little
(used respectively with count nouns and non-count nouns) have the
meaning of "not much/
not many, and possibly less than one might hope for or expect".
These expressions have a negative value to them.
With the article, a few and a little have the
meaning of "at
least some, perhaps more than one might expect" . These
expressions have a positive value.
Examples:
Few
of my friends were there, so I was disappointed.
A
few of my friends were there, so I was quite happy.
Hurry
up; there's little time left !
We
have a little time to spare, so let's stop and have a cup of coffee.
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