quantifiers
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:
Most children start school at the age of five.
We ate some bread and butter.
We saw lots of birds.
We use these quantifiers with both count and uncount nouns:
all any enough less a lot of lots ofmore most no none of some
and some more colloquial forms:
plenty of heaps of a load of loads of tons of etc.Some quantifiers can be used only with count nouns:
both each either (a) few fewer neither severaland some more colloquial forms:
a couple of hundreds of thousands of etc.Some quantifiers can be used only with uncount nouns:
a little (not) much a bit ofAnd, particularly with abstract nouns such as time, money, trouble, etc:, we often use:
a great deal of a good deal ofMembers of groups
You can put a noun after a quantifier when you are talking about members of a group in general…
Few snakes are dangerous.
Both brothers work with their father.
I never have enough money.
…but if you are talking about a specific group of people or things, use of the … as well
Few of the snakes are dangerous.
All of the children live at home.
He has spent all of his money.
Note that, if we are talking about two people or things we use the quantifiers both, either and neither:
One supermarket Two supermarkets* More than two supermarketsThe supermarket was closed
The supermarket wasn't open
I don’t think the supermarket was open.
Both the supermarkets were closed.
Neither of the supermarkets was open.
I don’t think either of the supermarkets was open.
All the supermarkets were closed
None of the supermarkets were open
I don't think any of the supermarket were open
*Nouns with either and neither have a singular verb.
Singular quantifiers:
We use every or each with a singular noun to mean all:
There was a party in every street. = There were parties in all the streets.Every shop was decorated with flowers. = All the shops were decorated with flowers.
Each child was given a prize. = All the children were given a prize.
There was a prize in each competition. = There were prizes in all the competitions.
We often use every to talk about times like days, weeks and years:
When we were children we had holidays at our grandmother’s every year.
When we stayed at my grandmother’s house we went to the beach every day.
We visit our daughter every Christmas.
BUT: We do not use a determiner with every and each. We do not say:
The every shop was decorated with flowers.
The each child was given a prize.
Activities
Decide if sentences are correct or incorrect Choose the correct quantifier
Comments
I love this site
What are the differences between both, either, neither and both of, either of, neither of? how can we use them
And also I need to know the difference in meaning and usage between each and every
Thanks and appreciate your help
both and both of, most and most of . it depends on quantity is it more than 2 or not
am so happy with the exercises....
what's difference between no and none? how can we use?
thanks a lot
Hello Zahra,
I'm feeling lazy today, so I'm just going to link to a page on the BBC website which talks about this. I hope it's helpful.
Best wishes,
Adam
The LearnEnglish Team
Thank you for your help, it's very useful.
hi
what is the difference between a few and few
hello,hamadbaghdadi!
following is my explanation
the"a few" means there are some but not too much
the"few" means almost nothing just one or two for example
i think it can helps you
Can someone help me in this sentence?, please.
1. Both the supermarkets were closed.
2. Neither of the supermarkets was open. HERE SHOULD NOT BE OPENED AND NOT OPEN,as it was on the number 1 sentence.
Thanks marcia.