Much, many, a lot, little, few, some, any, no: Quantifiers

Exercises: 1 2 3

Exercise 2

Choose the correct quantifiers to complete the sentences below.

Exercises: 1 2 3

Much, many, little, few, some, any, no: Grammar chart

Visual grammar chart for B1 level English categorizing quantifiers for countable and uncountable nouns, distinguishing between large and small quantities, and specifying usage in sentences

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Many/much

Many for countable, much for uncountable in (?) and (-)

We use many before plural (countable) nouns and much before uncountable nouns. We use them in negative sentences and questions. We don’t often use them in affirmative sentences.

There isn’t much coffee in the jar.
Were there many people in the party?

Too much/too many, so much/so many

🔍 Note that much/many are more common in negatives and questions than in affirmative sentences. However, we use too much and too many or so much and so many in affirmative sentences.

There’s too much salt in the soup.
You eat too many biscuits.
There were so many people that we had to leave.
He ate so much cake that it made him sick.

How much/how many

We use how many and how much to ask about quantity.

How many concerts have you ever been to?
How much coffee have you had today?

A lot of/lots of/plenty of

Before both countable and uncountable

We use a lot of, lots of (more informal), or plenty of before both plural (countable) and uncountable nouns. We normally use them in positive sentences.

She spends a lot of time watching TV.
We had lots of good moments together.
We’ve got plenty of time.

Of before noun; no of at the end of a sentence

We must always use a lot of or lots of including of at the end. However, we can use the expressions a lot or lots (without of) at the end of a sentence.

‘How many beers did you have?’ ‘I don’t know; I had lots/a lot.’
I like her a lot.
I don’t want any more cake, thanks. I’ve had plenty.

(A) few/(a) little/a bit of

Few for countable; little for uncountable

We use (a) few before plural (countable) nouns and (a) little or a bit of (more informal) before uncountable nouns in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences.

I have to do a few things this afternoon.
He always gets good results with very little effort.
Can you put a bit of sugar in the tea?

Few or a few? Little or a little?

A few means ‘some but not many; enough’, and a little means ‘some but not much; enough’ .

Few means ‘almost none; not enough’.

Normally, the difference between a few/little (WITH a) and few/little (WITHOUT a) is that a few/little is positive in meaning, and few/little is negative. Compare:

There’s little milk in the fridge; we have to buy more. (=Not enough; we need more)
‘Shall I buy some beers?’ ‘No, it’s OK, there are a few in the fridge.’ (=Enough; we don’t need more)
‘Do you speak English?’ ‘No, I speak very little English.’ (=Negative)
‘Do you speak English?’ ‘Yes, I speak a little English.’ (=Positive)

Some/any/no

Some in (+) and any in (?) and (-)

We use some in affirmative sentences and any in negative sentences and questions.

There isn’t any sugar in the cupboard.
Have you got any new friends?
I have some questions to ask you.

No in (+)

We use no in affirmative sentences.

There are no biscuits left.
I have no questions to ask.

With both countable (plural) and uncountable

Some, any and no can be used before countable and uncountable nouns. But if we use them before a countable noun, the noun must be plural.

Is there any student in the classroom?
Are there any students in the classroom?
There are no students in the classroom.

Some for offers and requests

We use some (NOT any) in interrogative sentences when we are offering or requesting (=asking for) something.

Would you like some help?
Can I have some tea, please?

None

None is a pronoun. It means ‘zero’. We use it in affirmative sentences as a pronoun to replace countable and uncountable nouns. This means that it’s not followed by a noun.

There were three bottles before we left, and now there are none.
‘How much cake did you have?’ ‘None.’

None of

We can also use none of + noun (countable or uncountable).

None of the questions were answered.