Quantifiers

Quantifiers

Multi-level

We use quantifiers when we want to give someone information about the number of something: how much or how many.

Sometimes we use a quantifier in the place of a determiner:

​

Quantifiers

We have lots of time.
Joe has lots of friends.
I can't go out. I've got no money.
There was a lot of food but no drinks.

Quantifiers with Count and Uncount Nouns

Grammar reference: Quantifiers with count and uncount nouns 1

Choose the correct quantifier.

Multiple Choice

In my opinion, ___ meat, red and white, is bad for you

• enough

• all

Multiple Choice

I'm sorry, but there's ___ milk. Is black coffee OK?

• any

• no

Multiple Choice

I can eat ___ things, but cheese makes me sick.

• more

• most

Multiple Choice

If you want to lose weight, maybe you should eat ___ chocolate.

• less

• more

Multiple Choice

If you want to help me make dinner, you can peel ___ potatoes.

• any

• some

Multiple Choice

We don't have ___ potatoes. Can you do another five or six?

• all

• enough

Multiple Choice

Can we have two ___ coffees, please? And the bill? Thanks.

• more

• less

Multiple Choice

When we were children, we used to drink ___ milk.

• lots of

• most

These more colloquial forms are also used with both count and uncount nouns:

​We have loads of time.
Joe has plenty of friends.
There was heaps of food.

​More colloquial quantifiers

We do not normally use the quantifier some in negative and interrogative sentences. We normally use any:

• Do you have any children?

• Did you see any friends?

• We don't have any children.

• I didn't see any friends.

• We saw some lions at the zoo, but we didn't see any tigers.

​

Some & Any

Some quantifiers can be used only with count nouns:

​

				few
several	both	neither	fewer

​Count Nouns

Some quantifiers can be used only with uncount nouns:

​

​Quantifiers with uncount nouns

Match

Match the following

• It depends, how much do you need?

• Ok. But are you sure that's enough?

• Not many. Just two, in the morning.

• Yes, but he'll need to do a lot of work.

• No, thanks. I'm really full.

Could you lend me a bit of money?

Could you lend me a couple of pounds?

Do you have a lot of lessons tomorrow?

Do you think Khalid can pass his exams?

Here's your coffee. Would you like a few biscuits?

• Could you lend me a bit of money?

• Could you lend me a couple of pounds?

• Do you have a lot of lessons tomorrow?

• Do you think Khalid can pass his exams?

• Here's your coffee. Would you like a few biscuits?

We put a noun directly after a quantifier when we are talking about members of a group in general:

Few snakes are dangerous.
Most children like chocolate.
I never have enough money.

​

Members of groups

But if we are talking about members of a specific group, we use of the as well:

• Few of the snakes in this zoo are dangerous.

• Most of the boys at my school play football.

• He’s spent all (of) the money that we gave him.

• Both (of) the chairs in my office are broken.

​

​Members of Group

If we are talking about two people or things, we use the quantifiers both, either and neither:

​

​both, either and neither

Multiple Choice

A: What shall we have for dinner – pasta or just a salad?

B: Can we have ______? I'm really hungry.

• both

• either

• neither

Multiple Choice

A: Would you like tea or coffee?

B: . ......You choose.

• Both

• Neither

• Either

Multiple Choice

A: What's the quickest way to get to the town centre?

B: Bus or tram. .............way takes about twenty minutes.

• Both

• Either

• Neither

Multiple Choice

A: Did you manage to contact Ilham?

B: No. I've called her at home and on her mobile but .......... lines are busy.

• both

• either

• neither

Multiple Choice

A: Do you want Pepsi or Coke?

B: _________, thanks. Can I just have some water?

• Both

• Neither

• Either

Multiple Choice

A: Is anything wrong? You look a bit fed up.

B: There are two photocopiers in this office and of them is working. It's ridiculous!

• both

• either

• neither

Multiple Choice

A: Did you hear? Talal and Ahmed are leaving the company.

B: Well, that's sad but I'm not surprised. ............. of them seemed very happy.

• Both

• Either

• Neither

Multiple Choice

A: Do you teach at the university or are you a student?

B: ..............! I'm doing a doctorate but I teach English at weekends.

• Both

• Either

• Neither

Poll

Do you now know more about quantifiers and how to use them?

• Yes

• No

• I need more exercises