Quantifiers are words that modify nouns. We use them to give more information about nouns; they tell us the amount or quantity of a noun.
To understand which quanifier to use, you need to know countable and uncountable nouns.
For example cars are countable so we can use many:
"How many cars are in that garage?"
Snow is uncountable so we can use much:
The use of some and any is easily confused.
Some means a certain (not large) number of something and is used in positive sentences, and questions when we expect the answer to be yes, such as in requests and offers.
Any is used instead of some in negative sentences, and most questions.
For example:
How much do you remember about countable and uncountable nouns? Can you remember when you use:
Here is a review quiz. In some cases, you may think that both answers are possible, but think about the meaning of the sentence very carefully and you will change your mind!
If you have any questions, post them at the bottom of this lesson. Good luck!
Lesson by Caroline Devane
Important tip: much is always used together with an uncountable noun (like 'oil' or 'water') while many is always used with nouns that are countable (like 'table' or 'computer')
It's also good to know that 'too' means that you don't like the situation, for example, "There is too much food on my plate" means that you're not happy about it.
Today's lesson comes from Danica at EC Cape Town English Language School
Some basic guidelines:
Name: Deborah Jane Cairns (EC Cape Town)
Level: Elementary
When to use a/an/some/any
Students struggle with this on a regular basis so it is necessary for them to have a lot of practice.
1. A is used with singular countable nouns that begin with a consonant.
'I bought some bread' or 'I bought any bread'?
Some is used with both countable and uncountable nouns:
'A pair of...?'
A pair of is used with two things that look the same, are the same size and are meant to be used together.
Example:
A pair of shoes
A pair of pajamas
A pair of gloves
We also use a pair of for something that is made of two items joined together
Let's take a look at some confusing words:
a lot of /lots of and a lot
Here you can find out the difference in meaning between them and how they should be used.
a lot of and lots of have the same meaning: they both mean a large amount or number of people or things.
They are both used before countable nouns and uncountable nouns:
less hair than I used to have.We use less of something with non-countable nouns: 'less sugar, less hair, less time'. You can only have fewer items of a plural/ countable nouns: 'fewer people, fewer cars, fewer shops'.
