Expressions of quantity

- Both words are used when the speaker can’t or doesn’t want (or need) to specify a number or an exact amount.- Some and Any are used with uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns. - Some is used in affirmative statements.- Any is used in negative or interrogative statements.

Eg: (+) She saw some deer last Summer. (-) My parents didn’t buy any new book so far. (?) Do you have any request?

- Some and Any also have exceptions to their own rules:- Some can be used in questions when we offer things or ask for things. Eg: Can I have some rice?

(You are asking for more rice)

Would you like some tea? (You are offering someone more tea)

- Any can be used in affirmative statements when it doesn’t matter when, how long, which, etc. Eg: Bring me any book you like! (I don’t care which one)

Many, Much, A few, A little, A lot of

or Lots of.

- We use Quantifiers like much, many, lots, a lot of, a little, a few, to talk about quantity in general terms.

- Some quantifiers refer to large quantities.

Eg. There are lots of cars in that store.

- Others refer to small quantities.

Eg. There have been a few price changes.

- Finally, others are used in questions.

Eg. How many people were at the wedding?

COUNTABLE UNCOUNTABLE BOTH

LARGE QUANTITY

MANYTOO MANY

MUCHTOO MUCH

LOTS OFA LOT OF

SMALL QUANTITY

A FEWFEW

NOT MANY

A LITTLELITTLE

NOT MUCH

QUESTIONS HOW MANY HOW MUCH

- TOO MANY and TOO MUCH have a negative meaning. Both mean that the quantity is bigger than you want or need.

- FEW and LITTLE also have a negative meaning = “Not enough”.

Eg. He has few friends. (He would like more friends)

- A FEW and A LITTLE have a more positive meaning. Eg. They have a few friends. ( A small number but enough)

- LOTS OF and A LOT OF can be used with countable and uncountable nouns.Eg. We’ll do a lot of / lots of homework next weekend.

Exercise 1: Choose the correct quantifier to fill in each sentence.

1. We have ___ cheese.

a) a little

b) a few

c) many

2. My sister is ___ good person.

a) be

b) few

c) a

Exercise 1: Choose the correct quantifier to fill in each sentence.

1. We have ___ cheese.

a) a little

b) a few

c) many

2. My sister is ___ good person.

a) be

b) few

c) a

3. She doesn’t have ___ oranges.

a) little

b) some

c) any

4. Would you like ___ honey with your tea?

a) some

b) a little

c) many

3. She doesn’t have ___ oranges.

a) little

b) some

c) any

4. Would you like ___ honey with your tea?

a) some

b) a little

c) many

5. What ___ amazing world!

a) an

b) a

c) any

6. We bought ___ of ties.

a) lots of

b) a little

c) much

5. What ___ amazing world!

a) an

b) a

c) any

6. We bought ___ of ties.

a) lots of

b) a little

c) much

Material created and selected by

Danitza Lazcano FloresTeacher of English

Master in Education and

Educational Counselor