Quantifiers
1
Expressions of quantity (Quantifiers) We use words like some, few, little , much, many, a lot of, plenty of (called quantifiers) to indicate the amount or quantity of something. Look at the examples: a few tomatoes ... some pizzas resembled We choose a quantifier according to amount or quantity and the noun that follows. The following chart shows how we can use quantifiers. plural count nouns many a lot (of) / lots (of) plenty (of) a few (+) few (-) several some enough She has a few good friends. (positive) He reads few books. (negative) There are several children outside Non-count nouns much a lot (of) / lots (of) plenty (of) a little (+) little (-) some enough There’s a little milk left. (positive meaning: we don’t need more) We had little money to spend. (negative meaning: not enough) Note: We use any instead of some in negative sentences and in questions where we are not sure of the answer. Do you have any science fiction books at home? No, I don’t have any. Would you like some coffee? (an offer - expecting a positive answer) Is there some post for me? (expecting a positive answer, looking forward to getting some post) Exercise: Fill in the blanks with a suitable quantifier from the list above. There may be more than one possible answer. 1. This restaurant serves _____different kinds of pizza. This makes it really hard to choose. 2. There are _____restaurants in this part of town; only two or three. 3. Add _____ginger to the melon. It really improves the flavour. 4. There are _____excellent dishes in this restaurant, for instance, the lasagne and the cannelloni. 5. You look hungry. Do you want _____more meat? 6. I don’t have _____ice-cream. We finished it last night. 7. Just buy _____apples and bananas ... enough for a small fruit salad. 8. We have very _____time. The bus leaves in ten minutes. 9. _____people visit this part of Spain because it’s so isolated. 10. I’m not planning to take _____money on this trip. 11. Shelly didn’t like the curry so she ate very _____. 12. There is _____bread in the cupboard in the kitchen.
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Short explanation of expressions of quantity (Quantifiers), i.e., words like some, few, little, much, many, a lot of, plenty of, which we use to indicate the amount or quantity of something. With examples and an easy exercise.
Transcript of Quantifiers
Expressions of quantity (Quantifiers) We use words like some, few, little, much, many, a lot of, plenty of (called quantifiers) to indicate the amount or quantity of something. Look at the examples:
a few tomatoes ... some pizzas resembled
We choose a quantifier according to amount or quantity and the noun that follows. The following chart shows how we can use quantifiers.
plural count nouns
many a lot (of) / lots (of) plenty (of)
a few (+) few (-) several some enough
She has a few good friends. (positive) He reads few books. (negative) There are several children outside
Non-count nouns
much a lot (of) / lots (of) plenty (of)
a little (+) little (-) some enough
There’s a little milk left. (positive meaning: we don’t need more) We had little money to spend. (negative meaning: not enough)
Note: We use any instead of some in negative sentences and in questions where we are not sure of the answer.
Do you have any science fiction books at home? No, I don’t have any. Would you like some coffee? (an offer - expecting a positive answer) Is there some post for me? (expecting a positive answer, looking forward to getting some post)
Exercise: Fill in the blanks with a suitable quantifier from the list above. There may be more than one possible answer. 1. This restaurant serves _____different kinds of pizza. This makes it really hard to choose. 2. There are _____restaurants in this part of town; only two or three. 3. Add _____ginger to the melon. It really improves the flavour. 4. There are _____excellent dishes in this restaurant, for instance, the lasagne and the cannelloni. 5. You look hungry. Do you want _____more meat? 6. I don’t have _____ice-cream. We finished it last night. 7. Just buy _____apples and bananas ... enough for a small fruit salad. 8. We have very _____time. The bus leaves in ten minutes. 9. _____people visit this part of Spain because it’s so isolated. 10. I’m not planning to take _____money on this trip. 11. Shelly didn’t like the curry so she ate very _____. 12. There is _____bread in the cupboard in the kitchen.
