QuantifiersIn English grammar, a quantifier is a word (or phrase) which indicates the number or amount being referred to. It generally comes before the noun (or noun phrase). The chart below shows which type of noun goes with which quantifier. However, note that some of the eamples in the chart can ta!e on several different roles within a sentence. "or eample, 'any' can be used as a quantifier, a pronoun or an adverb: any as a quantifier# Have you got any tomatoes$ any as a pronoun# I don%t want any of you ma!ing a noise. any as an adverb# &an%t this car go any faster$In these notes, we are only considering these words'phrases as quantifiers.QuantifierSingularnouns (C)Pluralnouns (C)ncountablenouns ()all( )es )esany*o, but see note. )es )esboth+ )es +each)es ( (enough( )es )esevery)es ( (few/a few/fewer ( )es (little/a little/less( ( )eslots of / a lot of( )es )esmany( )es (more( )es )esno)es )es )esseveral( )es (some( )es )esQuantifiers are used at the beginning of noun phrases: before a noun on its own# fewer answers before an ad,ective and noun# some useful phrases before an adverb, ad,ective and noun# every really pleasant experience*ormally two quantifiers cannot be used together before the same noun. However, the quantifiers all and both are found immediately before the or a possessive pronoun# all my relatives, both the ministers. )ou will also see the following combinations of quantifiers# a little less noise a few more questions every few minutes!any, much, a lot ofThese are all used to tal! about a large quantity of something- many is used only with & nouns, much with . nouns and a lot of can be used with both. /nly many and much can be preceded by the words how, to form questions (how many / how much ...?). The word too can be used to epress a negative idea (too hot, too cold) and so, to show the spea!er%s attitude to the quantity (so many that ... /so much he couldn't ...). Many andmuch tend to be rather formal in use and are therefore often found in legal documents, academic papers and so on- in speech we often use phrases li!e a lot of, loads of, tons of, hundreds of."e#, little0gain, the meaning of these two words is similar since they both refer to small quantities, ecept that few is found with & nouns and little with . nouns. If they are used without the indefinite article, a, they have the sense of not enough and are negative in feeling (few events, little interest) but these are quite formal and we would normally prefer not many events and not much interest. 1hen few and little are used witha they simply mean a small quantity with no etra negative overtones# a few events (i.e. three or four) and a little interest (i.e. some interest, but not a lot).$nyAny can be used before countable and uncountable nouns usually in questions and negative sentences# Are you bringing any friends with you? o you have any coffee? ! can't remember any songs. "e isn't ta#ing any chances.If we stress the word any heavily when spea!ing, we are suggesting an unlimited choice from a range of things or an unrestricted quantity- in this case its use is not confined to ,ust questions and negatives# "elp yourself to any sandwiches. (the choice is yours) on't you li#e any $eatles song? (I can%t believe you disli!e them all) ! can't see any difference. (nothing at all)Some%ome is usually thought of as the positive counterpart to any in many circumstances. !'m bringing some friends with me. ! have some coffee. 2i!e any it is used before both & and . nouns, and means an indefinite quantity but not a large amount. The general rule given above for the use of any in negative sentences and questions does not always hold in requests and offers where we often use some to mean a small amount of a !nown quantity# &ould you li#e some ca#e? (here is the ca!e, do you want a piece of it$) 'ould ! have some biscuits instead? (any would not be possible in this case) If we stress the word some in positive and negative sentences and in questions, we are suggesting a limited quantity or number of something# I li!e some 3eatles songs. (3ut certainly not all4) I can see some difference. (3ut not a lot4)