Quantifiers

I’m going to dictate you some words into two columns. Think of the headings for each column.

1. tablets, grapes, sausages, shirts, spoons, sofas, walls.

2. beef, coffee, chocolate, power, music, money, rise.

Any ideas? I’ll give you the clue.

The first heading starts with C and another one with U.

Right you are, they are countable and uncountable nouns.

… Oh, here is an email from Bella. Let’s see what she’s writing about …

Hi Max,

Do you want to come and celebrate Diwali with me and my family next week? My mum says I can invite a few friends and, of course, all my cousins will be there – there are lots of them, so it should be fun! There’s a really big celebration here in our place.

You can wear what you want. You don’t have to wear any special clothes. Not very many of my friends wear traditional clothes, which I think is a pity.

Bring some warm clothes, though, because we always go out into the streets to celebrate and set off fireworks. You should probably bring a little money too because there are a lot of lovely traditional foods you can buy in the streets.

I hope you can come! I always get really excited about Diwali, and there isn’t much time to wait now – just a few more days!

See you soon, I hope!

Bella

Diwali, or “the festival of light”, is a Hindu festival which takes place in October or November each year. People dress up in their best outfits and light lamps and candles inside and outside their homes. There are fireworks, people eat a big meal and give one another presents. Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil and hope over despair.

Now look through Bella’s email again. What are the highlighted words 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 / lots of, much or many; for a small quantity it’s sometimes little / a little, sometimes few / a few. We also have some, any and no.

Much, many, a lot of / lots of, some any no little / a little, few / a few are quantifiers.

We use these words to talk about the quantity of nouns.

Some / Any / No

We use some, any and no with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns.

·                   We use some in positive sentences.

E.g.

Bring some warm clothes with you.

There is some juice in the fridge.

·                   We also use some in questions, when we offer something to someone, or when we ask something from someone.

E.g.

Would you like some cake?

Can I have some water, please?

·                   We use any in negative sentences and questions.

E.g.

You don’t have to wear any special clothes.

Did you have any money to buy him a present?

·                   We use no in positive sentences. Because no is negative, the sentence becomes negative too.

E.g.

There are no animals in the picture. (or There aren’t any animals in the picture.)

I’ve got no money with me. (or I haven’t got any money with me.)

Much, Many, A Lot of / Lots of

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

We use much with uncountable nouns and many with countable nouns.

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

E.g.

There isn’t much time to wait now.

Is there much water in the lake this year?

Not very many of my friends wear traditional clothes.

Have you got many emails today?

How much and How many are often used in questions to ask about quantity.

How much + uncountable noun asks about the amount of something (количество).

How many + countable noun asks about the number of something.

E.g.

How many presents are there?

How much money do I owe you?

How much time have we got?

How many letters are there in this word?

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.

E.g.

There are a lot of lovely traditional foods you can buy in the streets.

There are a lot of vitamins in vegetables.

She spends a lot of money on clothes.

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

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

E.g.

My mum says I can invite a few friends.

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

E.g.

You should probably bring a little money too.

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

Compare:

There is a little flour in the bag. It will be enough to make a cake.

There is little flour in the bag. We need to buy some more.

There are a few hotels in this town. You will find the room to spend the night.

There are few hotels in this town. We can’t find the room. We’ll have to spend the night in the car.

Max: Hi, Mum. Would you like to see some photos of the Diwali Festival?

Mum Oh, yes, please. Is it a big festival? How many people take part in it?

Max Lots of people! Look, that’s me, wearing their traditional costume.

Mum Wow! It’s colourful. Are you dancing here?!!

Max Yes, I’ve got a few really nice photos of my “dancing” with Bella.

Mum It must be a great fun to dance in front of all those people.

Max Bella did her best to teach me. But we had little time to practice, so I was a bit nervous.

Mum Did you make any mistakes?

Max Actually, we made very few mistakes – I was really pleased.

Mum Well done!