Quantifiers

• English
• Vocational Education

Elementary 3

Quantifiers

Unit 12, p 100-101

We use quantifiers when we want to give someone information about the quantity of something.

She has a lot of books.

There's not much milk left in the fridge. 

There aren't any biscuits. Who ate them all?

There are a few people outside the cinema. 

1. a lot of

We use a lot of to talk about a large quantity or number of things. 

We can use a lot of with:

Countable nouns ✅

Uncountable nouns ✅

There are a lot of cakes on the table.

You've got a lot of time, so don't rush. 

There was a lot of traffic on the road.

There are a lot of waterfalls in South Africa. 

2. not any

We use not any to talk about a zero quantity. 

We can use not any with:

Countable nouns ✅

Uncountable nouns ✅

There aren't any oranges left.

We haven't got any space for another table in here. 

There aren't any students in the classroom.

She hasn't got any rice on her plate.

3. a few / not many

We use a few / not many to talk about a small number of things. 

We can use them with:

Countable nouns ✅

We use a few in ➕ sentences and not many in ➖ sentences.

(➕)I've got a few biscuits in my bag.

(➕) There are only a few chairs in the room. 

(➖) I haven't got many potatoes on my plate. 

(➖) He didn't ask many questions. 

4. a little / not much

We use a little / not much to talk about a small quantity. 

We can use them with:

Uncountable nouns ✅

We use a little in ➕ sentences and not much in ➖ sentences.

(➕) There is a little water left in the bottle. 

(➕) We've got a little sugar in the bowl. 

(➖) There is not much money in my wallet. 

(➖) There isn't much time left. 

5. how much? / how many?

We use how much/ how many in questions. 

how many with:

Countable nouns ✅

how much with

Uncountable nouns ✅

How many minutes have we got?

How many volcanoes are in Bali?

How much rice would you like?

How much space is there in the room?

Let's practise!

1. Countable or Uncountable noun? 

2. Choose the correct quantifier.

1.

Countable nouns

Uncountable nouns

people

space

friends

money

food

cheese

biscuits

cakes

music

minutes

bread

A: How many people did you invite to the party? B: Well, I asked ... people.

2.

1. a few
2. any

A: How many? 10? 15? B: Twenty-five! A: That's a ... people!

1. a little
2. a lot of

A: Your flat is very small - you haven't got ... space for 25 people.

1. much
2. many

B: There weren't 25 people. A: Oh, so ... people didn't come. Is that right?

1. not many
2. a few

B: No, everyone came. But some people brought ... friends, too.

1. a little
2. a few

A: Oh no, that's terrible! Did the party cost ... money?

1. not much
2. a lot of

B: No, it didn't cost me ... money!

1. a few
2. any

A: What? But 40 people eat ... food!

1. a lot of
2. not many

B: No, they ate ... bread and cheese, but that's all.

1. a few
2. a little

A: But weren't they hungry? B: I don't know. I didn't have ... food at home.

1. a little
2. much

A: So, what did you all do? B: We listened to ... really good music and we danced!

1. a lot of
2. many

Well done!