Quantifiers - Easy Learning Grammar

all, some, any, much, enough, no

• You can use all, some, any, or enough, before a plural countable noun or an uncountable noun.
  • Can I have some chips, please?
  • Anna gave me all her money.
  • Peter never has any time to visit us.
  You can use no before a singular or a plural countable noun or an uncountable noun.
  • There were no pictures of the party.
  • There is no hospital in this town.
  • No information has been released yet.

• Some, any, much, and enough are used to refer to a part of the item.
  • Would you like some ice cream?
  • We didn’t have much success.
  • I haven’t seen enough evidence to convince me.
  • I couldn’t find any fresh milk at the shop.
  All and no refer to the whole of the item.
  • All the milk has been used.
  • There is no milk in the fridge.

• Some is used in positive sentences.

• I’ve bought some chocolate.
• I saw some lovely shoes in town this morning.

• Any is used in negative sentences.

• I didn’t buy any chocolate this week.
• I haven’t seen any birds in the garden today.

• In questions, any is used when there is no particular expectation about the answer; some is used when the answer is expected to be positive.

• Have you got any fresh bread?
• Has Paul heard any news about the accident?
• Would you like some cake, Aisha?

• The use of no with there is/are is very common.

• There was no post today.
• There are no jobs available for electricians at the moment.

half, double, both

• Half can be used with countable nouns and with uncountable nouns.

• Half the time I didn’t understand what was going on.
• Half the students came from overseas.

• Double is used with uncountable nouns.

• We’re going to need double the present supply of water.
• They want double the money they originally asked for.

• Both is used to define two things represented by a plural countable noun.

• Both men were given another chance.
• Both dogs had to be put down.

• Have you seen many tourists in town?
• Yes, I’ve seen more tourists than usual.
• I think most tourists just stay for a couple of days.

• I didn’t put much petrol in the car.
• I think we need more petrol.
• The news caused much excitement.
• Most information about our services is available on the Internet.

• Many, more, most are used with graded quantities of plural countable nouns.

• Have you seen many tourists in town?
• Yes, I’ve seen more tourists than usual.
• I think most tourists just stay for a couple of days.

• Much, more, most are used with graded quantities of uncountable nouns.

• I didn’t put much petrol in the car.
• I think we need more petrol.
• The news caused much excitement.
• Most information about our services is available on the Internet.

• Few, fewer, fewest are used with graded quantities of plural countable nouns.

• Few people know the answer to this problem.
• Fewer loans are being granted than usual.
• Japanese workers take the fewest holidays.

• Little, less, least are used with graded quantities of uncountable nouns.

• There is little chance of rain today.
• This technique causes less harm to the environment.
• I need to get from one place to another with the least inconvenience.

• A few, and a little are different from few and little on their own because they have a positive sense. Few means ‘not many’,
  • Few buildings survived the earthquake.
  but a few means ‘several’.
  • A few kind people helped the injured man.
  • A few delays are inevitable.
  Little means ‘not much’,
  • The students were given very little help with their projects.
  • Edward got little encouragement from his parents.
  but a little means ‘some’.

• I need a little help from my friends.
• Everyone needs a little encouragement now and then.
• Do you take sugar? – Just a little, please.