Quantifiers

all, both, each, every

All refers to everything, of course. Both always refers to two out of a group of only two, again everything. Therefore, all is used with plural nouns or uncountable nouns, and both, as a quantifier, is only used with countable nouns.

Each and every are very similar. They both refer to everything and they both go with singular countable nouns. How they differ is that each applies to everything within the group and every applies to everything as a group.

CarefulDon’t use every if there are only two in the group. Use each instead.

many, much, lots, a lot

The large amount quantifier many goes with plural countable nouns and much goes with uncountable nouns.

SuggestionTo make many and much even larger, it is commmon to add the adverbs very, so, and too, especially when they are acting as pronouns.

Many and much are often used in negative meanings, particularly questions and answers, as in the above examples. For positive meanings instead, replace both not many and not much with lots of or a lot of as determiners and lots or a lot as pronouns.

some, several, a bit, few, a few, little, a little

The small amount quantifier some goes with countable and uncountable nouns.

The other quantifiers are split for countable or uncountable nouns. A small quantity of countable nouns needs several, whereas a small quantity of uncountable nouns needs a bit of as a determiner but just a bit as a pronoun.

For even smaller quantities, use a few for countable nouns and a little for uncountable nouns.

Using few and little without a gives more emphasis to the very small quantity.

SuggestionTo make smaller amount quantifiers larger, use the adverb quite. However, this only works with a bit, a bit of, and a few.

no, none, any, neither, either

To refer to a quantity of nought, or nothing, there are the quantifiers no and none. No and none are the opposite of all the quantifiers above. No goes with countable and uncountable nouns and is only a quantifying determiner, whereas none is a quantifying pronoun.

For a random amount, but not nothing, use any. Although, any often refers to meaning just one out of a group. Any goes with both countable and uncountable nouns.

CarefulAs any is in this lowest amount category, it can also mean nothing when used in negative meanings, especially with questions.

Lastly, the opposite of both is neither, meaning nought out of a group of only two. For any one out of two, use either. Neither and either are always used with singular countable nouns.

more, most, fewer, fewest, less, least

Some quantifiers, those in the middle two categories of larger or smaller amounts, can be graded. For example, many can be made larger by using more or largest by using most.

CarefulMost is still less than all, each, and every. Likewise, fewest and least are still greater than none.

• For countable nouns
  • many is less than more which is less than most
  • few is greater than fewer which is greater than fewest
• For uncountable nouns
  • much is less than more which is less than most
  • little is greater than less which is greater than least

plenty, loads, tons, heaps, a bunch

These five example quantifiers are common in colloquial English and they all mean very large amounts. They can be used as quantifying determiners by adding of to the end of each, or they can be used as pronouns as they are.

Tip! Use this table for quick reference to help with the below exercises. It can also be printed out by clicking the grey button in the exercises section next.