Quantifiers
A complete A2 guide to common quantifiers including some, any, much, many, a few, a little, a lot of, all, most, no, and none.
What Are Quantifiers?
A quantifier is a word or phrase that comes before a noun and shows how much or how many.
some books
any money
many people
a little time
Quantifiers do not give exact numbers. They show a general amount.
| Amount Idea | Quantifiers |
|---|---|
| all | all, every |
| most | most, almost all |
| a large amount | many, much, a lot of, lots of |
| a middle amount | some |
| a small amount | a few, a little |
| zero | no, none |
Some and Any
Use some with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns in positive sentences.
We bought some apples.
She made some rice.
Use any in most questions and negative sentences.
Do you have any pets?
I don't have any money.
Use some in offers and requests.
Would you like some coffee?
Can I have some sugar, please?
Use any in positive sentences when it means “it does not matter which one.”
Any pen will do.
You can sit anywhere.
Much and Many
Use many with plural countable nouns.
many books
many children
How many chairs do we need?
Use much with uncountable nouns.
much time
much money
How much water do you drink?
In everyday spoken English, much is most common in negative sentences and questions. In positive sentences, a lot of often sounds more natural.
I don't have much time.
Do you drink much coffee?
I drink a lot of coffee.
A Few and A Little
Use a few with plural countable nouns. It means a small number, but enough.
I have a few friends in this city.
We need a few chairs.
Use a little with uncountable nouns. It means a small amount, but enough.
I have a little time before class.
Add a little salt.
Without a, few and little can sound more negative.
| More Positive | More Negative |
|---|---|
I have a few friends. | I have few friends. |
We have a little time. | We have little time. |
A Lot Of, Lots Of, and Plenty Of
Use a lot of, lots of, and plenty of with both plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns.
| Countable Plural | Uncountable |
|---|---|
a lot of people | a lot of traffic |
lots of ideas | lots of information |
plenty of chairs | plenty of time |
Plenty of means more than enough.
Don't hurry. We have plenty of time.
All, Most, Some, No, and None
Use these quantifiers directly before general nouns.
All cars have wheels.
Most students like games.
Some people learn quickly.
I have no energy today.
Use of before a specific group with words like the, my, these, those, or pronouns.
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
Most people are kind. | Most of the people here are kind. |
Some students are absent. | Some of my students are absent. |
No answers were correct. | None of the answers were correct. |
Use of before pronouns.
all of us
some of them
none of it
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Better | Why |
|---|---|---|
I have much friends. | I have many friends. | Friends is plural countable. |
How many money do you have? | How much money do you have? | Money is uncountable. |
I don't have some time. | I don't have any time. | Use any in most negatives. |
She bought any apples. | She bought some apples. | Use some in positive sentences. |
I need a few water. | I need a little water. | Water is uncountable. |
Most of people agree. | Most people agree. | No of with general plural nouns. |
None students came. | No students came. / None of the students came. | Use no + noun or none of + specific group. |
Practice: Exercises
We bought ___ apples.
Summary
Quantifiers show general amount. Use some in positive sentences, offers, and requests. Use any in most questions and negatives. Use many/a few/few with plural countable nouns and much/a little/little with uncountable nouns.
Use a lot of, lots of, and plenty of with both plural countable and uncountable nouns. Use of when the quantifier points to a specific group: some of my friends, most of the day, none of them.