EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITY

* Countable & Uncountable Nouns

* How to Use Some & Any

* How to Use Much & Many

* How to use A Little & A Few

* How to use A Lot of / Lots of

CONTENTS

COUNTABLE NOUNS UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

COUNTABLE & UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

Refer to things that can be counted. They

have singular and plural forms.

Examples:

A cup – two cups

An apple – three apples

A child - children

Refer to things that can’t be counted. They

only singular form.

Examples:

Money

Music

Air

THEY USUALLY DETERMINE BOTH PLURAL

COUNTABLE NOUNS AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS.

HOW TO USE SOME & ANY

IN POSITIVE SENTENCES

I’M GOING TO BUY SOME CLOTHES.

THERE’S SOME ICE IN THE FRIDGE.

WE DID SOME EXERCISES.

WITH PLURAL COUNTABLE NOUNS

I NEED TO BUY SOME NEW SHOES.

WITH UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

I NEED SOME MONEY.

HOW TO USE SOME

IN NEGATIVE SENTENCES AND QUESTIONS WITH

PLURAL COUNTABLE NOUNS AND UNCOUNTABLE

NOUNS

SHE DOESN'T NEED ANY STAMPS.

WE DIDN’T DO ANY EXERCISES.

HAVE YOU GOT ANY FRIENDS?

DO YOU NEED ANY HELP?

HOW TO USE ANY

WE USE SOMETHING/ANYTHING

SOMEBODY/ANYBODY

SOMEWHERE/ANYWHERE

IN THE SAME WAY AS (SOME/ANY)

I CAN’T SEE ANYBODY COMING.

HE LIVES SOMEWHERE NEAR HERE.

IN GENERAL

USE “ SOME” IN QUESTIONS WHEN OFFERING OR REQUESTING

WOULD YOU LIKE SOME TEA? (OFFER)

CAN I HAVE SOME CAKE? (REQUEST)

USE “ ANY” IN POSITIVE SENTENCES WHEN THE REAL SENSE IS NEGATIVE

I REFUSED TO GIVE HIM ANY MONEY.

MEANS (I DIDN’T GIVE HIM ANY MONEY)

EXCEPTIONS!

COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES WITH SOME OR ANY:

I HAVE SOME PROBLEMS TO SOLVE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ME?

I DON’T HAVE ANY HOMEWORK TO DO.

I WANT SOMETHING TO DRINK.

SHE FINISHED THE TEST WITHOUT

ANY DIFFICULTY.

MUCH MANY

HOW TO USE MUCH & MANY

It is used with uncountable nouns in

questions and in negative sentences .

Examples:

There isn’t much milk left.

How much money have you got ?

It is used with countable nouns in questions

and in negative sentences .

Examples:

I didn’t take many photos on holiday.

How many people were at the meeting ?

A LITTLE A FEW

HOW TO USE A LITTLE & A FEW

It is used to express positive idea with

uncountable nouns. It means “a small amount”.

Examples:

Do you take sugar in coffee? Just a little. Half a

spoonful.

There is still a little work to do.

It is used to express positive idea with

countable nouns. It means “a small number”.

Examples:

I have a few close friends. Two or three.

I’ll be ready in a few minutes.

HOW TO USE A LOT OF / LOTS OF

It is used with both countable and

uncountable nouns in all types of sentences .

Examples:

I have got lots of friends.

We have got a lot of milk.

There isn’t a lot of butter, but there is enough.

Are there lots of tourists in your country.

A LOT OF / LOTS OF

There are a lot of people in the room .

A) much B) a little C) a lot of

Can I have a little sugar, please?

A) a few B) a little C) many

How many oranges are on the table?

A) many B) a few C) much

How much money has Fred got?

A) many B) little C) much

There are a few monkeys at the zoo .

A) much B) a few C) a little .

Exercise: Choose the correct item .