Видеоучебник / Английский язык / 8 класс / Английский язык 8 класс ФГОС / Quantifiers

Quantifiers

Урок 35. Английский язык 8 класс ФГОС

Этот урок Джон начинает с интервью с Миссис Сондерс, учителем физкультуры и диетологом. Речь идёт о простых правилах здорового образа жизни. На примере их беседы рассматриваются слова, которые помогают передавать количество: much, many, a lot, few, a few, little и a little. В практическом задании нужно выбрать правильное слово.

Конспект урока "Quantifiers"

“An apple a day …”

Can you finish the sentence?

If you can’t, then you have little knowledge of good eating habits.

Ms. Saunders, PE teacher and nutritionist will answer some questions for you.

- How can I make sure I get enough vitamins?

- Eat lots of fruit and vegetables. It’s better to eat them raw because many vitamins are destroyed by cooking.

- Why do I have to drink a lot of water? I don’t drink much water, but I drink three or four cans of fizzy drinks a day. Is that OK?

- Nobody can survive without water. You should drink at least two liters of water a day, to help your body to get rid of toxins. You may also drink some fresh juice or herbal tea, but don’t drink many fizzy drinks: you’ll put on weight and they are bad for your teeth, too.

- Is chocolate bad for you? I can’t live without it!

- Relax. There’s nothing wrong with chocolate. You may have a few pieces a day, but don’t eat too much. Eat a little of everything and you’ll be fine.

An apple a day keeps a doctor away!

Follow Ms Saunders’s simple advices and you’ll feel much better soon.

Look at the highlighted words. What are they used for?

All these words are used to show the quantity of nouns. These are quantifiers.

In most languages it is usually one word that indicates a big quantity, a certain amount or a small quantity. But in English we have several words for each idea. For example, for a large quantity sometimes you have to use a lot of (a lot of water), much (much water) or many (many fizzy drinks); for a small quantity it’s sometimes little (little knowledge), sometimes few. We also have a little and a few.

So sometimes it can get quite tricky and confusing which word to choose.

By the end of this lesson you’ll have a clear idea of when and how to use these quantifiers.

Much, many, a lot of / lots of, little / a little, few / a few are quantifiers. We use these words to talk about the quantity in general terms.

Much, many, a lot of / lots of are used to talk about a large quantity of something.

Much is used with singular uncountable nouns.

But what is an uncountable noun?

An uncountable noun is a noun you cannot count (add a number to).

For example, you can say: 1 finger, 2 fingers, 5 fingers, etc.

But you can’t say: 1 bread, 2 rains or 5 sugars, etc. So these nouns are uncountable.

Many is used with plural countable nouns (those that can be counted): 1 finger, 2 fingers, 5 fingers, etc.

But be careful that not all countable nouns take the plural ending –s. Irregular plurals are also countable nouns:

1 person – 2 people 1 child – 10 children

Therefore, we say many fingers, many people, many children.

Much and many are normally used in questions and negative sentences.

Examples:

Is there much water in the lake this year?

I haven’t got much time, so be quick.

Have you got many emails today?

There aren’t many shops in this area.

Many and much are often used in positive sentences after too, so, how or in formal English.

Examples:

You’ve put too much salt in the soup. I can’t eat it.

He’s got so many worries.

Much human labor was used in the building of the Pyramids. (formal)

How much and How many are often used in questions.

Examples:

How much milk have we got? - None at all.

How many tourists do visit this place every day? – Hundreds.

A lot of / lots of go with both countable and uncountable nouns and are normally used in positive sentences. There is no difference in meaning between these two expressions.

Examples:

There’s a lot of room for all of us here.

There are a lot of people here today.

We omit of - when a lot/lots is not followed by a noun.

Have you got a lot of lemons? – Yes, I’ve got a lot/lots.

A lot of can be used in questions or negative sentences in informal English.

Were there a lot of students in the class?

There isn’t a lot of cheese in the fridge.

We use little / a little, few / a few to describe a small quantity of something.

A few is used with plural countable nouns and a little with uncountable nouns.

They both have a positive meaning.

A few means “not many, but some” – несколько

We are going away for a few days.

A little means “not much, but enough” – немного

He knows a little Spanish.

Few / Little both have negative meaning and mean “hardly any/almost none” – мало.

Compare:

I’ve got a little money. (У меня есть немного денег.)

I’ve got little money. (У меня мало денег.)

I’ve got a few friends. (У меня есть несколько друзей.)

I’ve got few friends. (У меня мало друзей.)

Few / Little can go with very for emphasis. Very few / very little are more usual in everyday speech.

Examples:

Very little progress has been made.

I’m exhausted because I had very few days’ holiday.

So let’s summarize what we have so far:

The most important thing to remember is that much / little / a little are for uncountables. Many / few / a few are for countables. And a lot of / lots of can be used with both.

The second most important thing to remember is that much and many are normally used in questions and negative sentences. In the positive sentences they are for formal use only.

We use a lot of in positive sentences only. It can be used in questions or negative sentences in informal English.

The third most important thing to remember is that Few / Little both have negative meaning and mean “hardly any/almost none” – мало.

And the last thing to remember is that a few means “not many, but some” – несколько, a little means “not much, but enough” – немного

Now let’s practise using the rule. Choose the correct item.

1. How much time does it take you to get to school?

Well, it depends on the traffic.

2. Can you speak French?

Only a little.

3. Could I have a little butter for my toast?

Of course, help yourself.

4. Did you buy lots of souvenirs when you were in Paris?

Not really, only a few.