Much, many, little, few, some, any: Quantifiers

Much, many, little, few, some, any: Grammar chart

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Many/much

Many for countable, much for uncountable in (?) (-)

We use many before plural (countable) nouns and much before uncountable nouns. We use them in negative sentences and questions. We don’t normally use them in affirmative sentences.

• There isn’t much coffee in the jar.
• Were there many people in the party?

Too much/too many

🔍 Note that we don’t normally use much/many in affirmative sentences, but we can use too much and too many in affirmative sentences.

• There’s too much salt in the soup.
• You eat too many biscuits.

How much/how many

We use how many and how much to ask about quantity.

• How many concerts have you ever been to?
• How much coffee have you had today?

A lot of/lots of

Before both countable and uncountable

We use a lot of or lots of (more informal) before both plural (countable) and uncountable nouns. We normally use them in positive sentences.

• She spends a lot of time watching TV.
• We had lots of good moments together.

Of before noun but NOT at the end of sentence

We must always use a lot of or lots of including of before a noun. However, we can use the expressions a lot or lots (without of) at the end of a sentence.

• ‘How many beers did you have?’ ‘I don’t know; I had lots/a lot.’
• I like her a lot.

(A) few/(a) little/a bit of

Few for countable; little for uncountable

We use (a) few before plural (countable) nouns and (a) little or a bit of (more informal) before uncountable nouns.

• I have to do a few things this afternoon.
• He always gets good results with very little effort.
• Can you put a bit of sugar in the tea?

Few or a few? little or a little?

A few means ‘some but not many; enough’, and a little means ‘some but not much; enough’.

Few/little mean ‘almost none; not enough’.

Normally, the difference between a few/little (WITH a) and few/little (WITHOUT a) is that a few/little is positive in meaning, and few/little is negative. Compare:

• There’s little milk in the fridge; we have to buy more. (Not enough; we need more)
• ‘Shall I buy some beers?’ ‘No, it’s OK, there are a few in the fridge.’ (=Enough; we don’t need more)
• ‘Do you speak English?’ ‘No, I speak very little English.’ (=Negative)
• ‘Do you speak English?’ ‘Yes, I speak a little English.’ (=Positive)

Some/any

Some in (+); any in (?) (-)

We use some in affirmative sentences and any in negative sentences and questions.

• Is there any sugar in the cupboard?
• Have you got any new friends?
• I have some questions to ask you.

With both countable (plural) and uncountable

Both some and any can be used before countable and uncountable nouns. But if we use them before a countable noun, the noun must be in the plural form.

• Is there any student in the classroom?
• Are there any students in the classroom?

Some for offers and requests

We use some (NOT any) in interrogative sentences when we are offering or requesting (=asking for) something.

• Would you like some help?
• Can I have some tea, please?