Quantifiers

There is/There are

Grammar Review

When to use these words?

Use there is when the noun is singular (“There is a cat”)

Singular Nouns

 The choice between is vs. are depends on a noun. 

Example: There is a cat on the porch.

In the sentence above, cat is singular, so it requires there is.

Now...

Some questions

Multiple Choice

There____ a rat behind the door!!

• is

• are

• ---

Multiple Choice

______ a cat on the tree?

• Is there

• Are there

Plural nouns

We use "ARE" before the noun when we talk about plural nouns.

Example: There ARE three bears eating

Multiple Choice

There __ many people watching the game

• There is

• There are

Multiple Choice

_____ candies left?

• There is

• There are

• Are there

Now...

More questions

Multiple Choice

_______ many problems here

• There is

• There are

Multiple Choice

_____ any questions?

• Is there

• Are there

• There is

• There are

Multiple Choice

There ____ more cake ...

• aren't

• isn't

Quantifiers

​

Quantifiers

Quantifiers are very important words because they let us express the quantity of something.

A quantifier is a word that usually goes before a noun to express the quantity of the object; for example, a little milk. Most quantifiers are followed by a noun, though it is also possible to use them without the noun when it is clear what we are referring to. 

There are quantifiers to describe large quantities (a lot, much, many), small quantities (a little, a bit, a few) and undefined quantities (some, any). There are also quantifiers that express the idea of a sufficient amount (enough, plenty).

There are some quantifiers that have a similar meaning but differ because one is used with countable nouns and the other is used with uncountable nouns.

Countable nouns are things that we can count; for example, a table, two chairs. Uncountable nouns are things that we cannot count and only have a singular form; for example, some furniture, some fruit.

Much, Many, A lot (of)

We use many, much, a lot (of) to refer to big quantities. We use ‘many’ with countable nouns and ‘much’ with uncountable nouns, and we can use ‘a lot (of)’ with both countable and uncountable nouns. In modern English it is very common to use ‘a lot (of)’ in affirmative sentences instead of ‘many’ and ‘much’.

Examples:

• There are many things to do today.

• We have a lot of time left, don’t worry.

• Many people take the train to work.

• She plays a lot of sport.

When we want to emphasize a really big quantity we can add ‘so’ in front of ‘many’ and ‘much’. For example:

• There were so many passengers on the train, it was difficult to get off.

• She had so much work to do, she stayed at the office until midnight.  

A Few, A Little, A Bit (of)

• We need a few coins for the car park.

• Would you like a little milk in your coffee?

• The engine needs a little oil.

Some, Any

When we want to refer to a plural noun or an uncountable noun, without giving a specific quantity, we use ‘some’ and ‘any’. We use ‘some’ in affirmatives and ‘any’ in questions and negatives.

Examples:

• We have some free time later this afternoon.

• She doesn’t want any coffee.

• Do they need any bread?

• I went to some meetings in Rome last week.

• Will there be any managers at the party?

The words ‘enough’ and ‘plenty’ express the idea of being a sufficient quantity. Both words can go with countable and uncountable nouns. We use ‘plenty (of)’ to mean there is more than a sufficient quantity of something.

Examples:

• I need more plates. – No, we don’t. There are plenty!

• Slow down. We’ve got plenty of time to get to the station.

We use ‘enough’ to express the idea of having, or not having, a sufficient quantity. For example:

• I think we have enough vegetables so I won’t buy any more.

• But we don’t have enough fruit. Let’s get some more.

When we want to ask the quantity of something, we use ‘how much’ or ‘how many:

• How many times have you visited Rome?

• How many people were at the meeting?

• How many chairs do we need?

• How much do these melons cost?

• How much bread does he eat?

With Uncountable Nouns

• much

• a little/little/very little 

• a bit (of)

• a great deal of

• a large amount of

• a large quantity of

With Countable Nouns

• many

• a few/few/very few

• a number (of)

• several

• a large number of

• a great number of

Now...

Some questions

Multiple Choice

I want to buy a new sports car, but I only have ______ money

• many

• much

• a little

• a few

Multiple Choice

How ______ times did the phone ring before you answered it?

• a lot

• many

• much

• old

Multiple Choice

I need _____ minute to finish my work, and then I can leave.

• some

• little

• a

• any

Multiple Choice

Do you have ______ pets at home?

• any

• a

• lot of

• some

More...

questions

Multiple Choice

I don’t have ______ tests on Monday, but I do have ______ test on Wednesday.

• any / a

• a / any

• some / a

• much / a

Multiple Choice

I had lots of free time, so I read ______ books.

• a few

• much

• a

• a little

Multiple Choice

Would you like ______ water?

• many

• a few

• a

• some

Multiple Choice

How ______ oil is there in this bottle?

• many

• some

• much

• any

Multiple Choice

There are a lot of rice on your plate.

• CORRECT

• INCORRECT

Multiple Choice

There are lots of things to do writen on the list.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

There isn't any water left in the glass.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

There is ______ cheese on the table.

• a

• any

• an

• some

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the Blanks

No more questions

See you next week