This document discusses using quantifiers like many, much, a lot, few and little to talk about quantities. It explains:
- Many is used with countable plural nouns, while much is used with uncountable nouns.
- A lot of can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns.
- Few and little are used to talk about small quantities, with few used for countable plural nouns and little used for uncountable nouns.
- It provides examples of filling in sentences with the correct quantifiers depending on whether the nouns are countable or uncountable.
2. Use many, and much to talk about large quantities and
amounts
Expression of
Quantity
Countable plural
nouns
Expression of
Quantity
Uncountabl
e nouns
many animals much food
* We use many countable plural nouns
* We use much uncountable nouns
Example:
Many animals are in danger because there isn’t much food for them.
3. * We use a lot of with both countable and uncountable nouns.
Example:
A lot of animals are in danger because there isn’t a lot of food left
for them.
Expression of
Quantity
Countable
plural nouns
Expression
of Quantity
Uncount
able
nouns
A lot animals A lot food
4. Expression of
Quantity
Countable
plural nouns
Expression
of Quantity
Uncounta
ble nouns
few tigers little hope
Use few and little in affirmative sentences to talk about small quantities
and amounts. They mean ‘not many/ not much’. Use few with countable
plural nouns and little with uncountable nouns.
•Few and little small quantities/amounts
•Use few with countable plural nouns
•Use little with uncountable nouns
Example:
There are few tigers in the world.
There’s little hope for some animals.
5. Complete the following sentences using many or much to express quantity. Read
the box below to help you recall what we have covered. First, decide whether the
nouns are countable or uncountable, then complete the sentences with one of the
expressions of quantity:
1. There is too ______________ water in the bath tub.
2. How ______________ brothers and sisters has Anne got?
3. I don’t receive ______________ letters nowadays.
4. How ______________ rice do you eat per week?
5. I put too ______________ salt in the soup.
6. How ______________ people were at the party?
7. It doesn’t make ______________ sense.
8. There wasn’t ______________ traffic on the motorway.
9. How ______________ plates do we need?
6. Little Expression of quantity Countable plural nouns
Much Few A lot
Fill in the sentences below with the words in the box below:
1. ____________________________ expresses the amount or quantity of
something. We use many with ___________________________.
Meanwhile, use ______________ with uncountable nouns and is only
used in negative sentences! Meanwhile, ______________ can be used
for countable and uncountable nouns. To express something as
small quantities, then you would use few and little, which mean
‘not many/ not much’. Remember that ____________ is used with
countable plural nouns and as for little, it is used with
uncountable nouns.
7. Decide whether you have to use a little or a few.
1. ____________ apples
2. ____________ rice
3. ____________ bicycles
4. ____________trees.
5. ____________boys
6. ____________ money
7. ____________ dogs
8. ____________ time
9. ____________ sugar
10. ____________ cups