You have to bear in mind that quantifiers cannot be used indistinctly. Their use differs with regard to countable/uncountable, singular/plural or affirmative/negative/interrogative.
You can find below some of the more common quantifiers in English and their use:
- Many: negative and interrogative sentences with plural and countable nouns
- There aren't (so) many kids in the park
- How many books have you read?
- Much: negative and interrogative sentences with singular uncountable nouns. Both many and much can combine with so/too to emphasize their meaning.
- Do you like coffee with (too) much sugar?
- I didn't have much money when I was your age.
- Some: plural and singular countable and uncountable nouns in affirmative and interrogative sentences
- She got some presents for her birthday
- I like some bacon in my hamburger
- Are there some oranges in the fridge?
- Would you like some tea?
- Any: it replaces some in negative and interrogative sentences (mainly with uncountable nouns when it is not an offer)
- She didn't got any presents for her birthday
- I don't like any bacon in my hamburger
- Are there any fruits in the fridge?
- A lot/lots of: countable and uncountable nouns except in the interrogative where we use many/much
- He bought a lot of/lots of cupcakes
- He won a lot of money in the lottery
- Little/a little: use it only with uncountable nouns. Note the difference between using a little and little
- We have little water. We won't survive the drought (negative implications)
- We have a little water. We will survive the drought until it rains again (positive implication)
- Few/a few: use it only with countable nouns. As with little/a little, there is a difference in meaning
- There were few survivors of the drought. (negative meaning)
- There were a few survivors from the drought. (positive meaning)
Finally, here you have a table that sumarizes all that has been stated above:
To check that you have understood this correctly, go to the following pages and do the exercises:
- Grammar exercise - Quantifiers
- Quantifiers gap fill exercise
- Some or any
- Countable and Non-countable nouns
Fuentes:
- http://a4esl.org/
- http://4.bp.blogspot.com/vhSnwVVLj6g/T2S8XbpSrFI/AAAAAAAAADc/xXiZQmMJO9Y/s400/5.jpg
- http://www.myenglishpages.com/
- http://www.esl-lounge.com/
- http://www.curso-ingles.com/gramatica-inglesa/few.php
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