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B1Articles, pronouns and quantifiers

Quantifiers: much, many, a lot, little, few, some, any, no

Choose quantity expressions according to noun type, sentence polarity and whether the amount feels sufficient or insufficient.

Overview

What this grammar does

Choose quantity expressions according to noun type, sentence polarity and whether the amount feels sufficient or insufficient.

Form and rules

How it works

1

Use many/few/a few with plural countable nouns; much/little/a little with uncountable nouns.

2

A lot of/lots of works with both countable and uncountable nouns and is common in positive informal sentences.

3

Few/little means almost none and often sounds negative; a few/a little means some and often sounds more positive.

4

Use some mainly in positives and offers/requests; any mainly in negatives/questions and for unrestricted meaning.

5

No + noun gives a negative meaning without not: There is no time.

A closer look

Meaning and use

Use some mainly in positives and offers/requests; any mainly in negatives/questions and for unrestricted meaning.

No + noun gives a negative meaning without not: There is no time.

Examples

See the pattern in complete sentences

We have a lot of work today.

There are few buses after midnight.

I have a few ideas.

There's little chance of rain.

Would you like some help?

Common mistakes

What to avoid

There aren't much seats left.
There aren't many seats left.

Seats is plural countable, so use many.

We have few time, so we need to hurry.
We have little time, so we need to hurry.

Time is uncountable; little means almost none.

Ready to practise?

The test combines multiple choice, gap completion, error correction, and sentence building so students have to recognise and produce the grammar, not simply reread the rule.

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