In this unit, you will learn how to use quantifiers to talk about quantities in English. Quantifiers help us express how much or how many of something we are referring to. Let’s dive in!
What Are Quantifiers?
Quantifiers are words or phrases that indicate the amount or quantity of a noun. They answer questions like “How much?” or “How many?”
Examples:
- A lot of
- Some
- Many
- Few
Types of Quantifiers
Quantifiers can be divided into two main categories: Countable Nouns and Uncountable Nouns.
Countable Nouns
These are nouns that can be counted (e.g., books, apples, cars). Use these quantifiers with countable nouns:
| Quantifier | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Many | A large number of | I have many books. |
| Few | A small number of | She has few friends. |
| Several | More than two but not many | There are several students in the class. |
Uncountable Nouns
These are nouns that cannot be counted (e.g., water, sugar, advice). Use these quantifiers with uncountable nouns:
| Quantifier | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Much | A large amount of | I don’t have much time. |
| Little | A small amount of | There is little water left. |
| A lot of | A large amount of | She drinks a lot of coffee. |
Common Quantifiers for Both Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Some quantifiers can be used with both types of nouns. Here are a few examples:
| Quantifier | Example with Countable Noun | Example with Uncountable Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Some | I bought some apples. | Can I have some water? |
| Any | Do you have any questions? | Is there any milk in the fridge? |
| No | There are no pencils here. | I have no money. |
Special Cases: Expressions of Quantity
Some expressions are used to describe specific amounts. These are very common in English:
| Expression | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| A piece of | One part of | Can I have a piece of cake? |
| A bottle of | A container for liquids | I bought a bottle of juice. |
| A cup of | A small container for liquids | I need a cup of tea. |
| A bag of | A container for solids | She carried a bag of rice. |
Practice Games
Key Takeaways
- Use many and few with countable nouns.
- Use much and little with uncountable nouns.
- Some quantifiers, like some and any, work with both types of nouns.
- Expressions like a piece of or a bottle of are used for specific amounts.