Quantifiers

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The uses of quantifiers change according to the type of noun and form of the sentence. Here are their different uses with example sentences.

SOME OR ANY?

‘Some‘ goes with both countable and uncountable nouns in positive sentences.

For example…

There are some grapes in my bag.(‘grapes’ is a countable noun.)

Some people don’t like football. (‘People’ is a countable noun.)

There is some oxygen in the tube.(‘oxygen’ is an uncountable noun.)

I can see some water on the floor. (‘water’ is an uncountable noun.)

‘Any‘ goes with both countable and uncountable nouns in questions and negative sentences.

For example…

I haven’t got any pencil sharpeners in my bag. (‘Pencil sharpener’ is a countable noun.)

Is there any butter in the fridge? (‘Butter’ is an uncountable noun.)

Are there any kiwis in the fridge? (‘Kiwi’ is a countable noun.)

We use “some” in positive sentences and “any” in questions and negative sentences. However, we use “some” also in questions which are offers and requests.

For example…

Would you like some potatoes?

Do you want some tea?

Can I have some water, please?

MANY, MUCH, A LITTLE, A FEW AND A LOT OF?

In questions:

Are there a lot of mandarins in the fridge? (‘Mandarin’ is a countable noun.’A lot of’ can be used with plural countable nouns.)

Is there a lot of traffic now? (‘Traffic’ is an uncountable noun. ‘A lot of’ is used with uncountable nouns.)

How many oranges are there in the fridge? (‘orange’ is a countable noun.’many’ are used with countable nouns.)

How much money have you got? (Money’ is an uncountable noun. ‘Much’ are used with uncountable nouns.)

In positive sentences:

There are a lot of apples in my bag. (‘Apple’ is countable noun. ‘A lot of’ is used with countable nouns.)

There is a lot of milk in the bottle. (‘milk’ is an uncountable noun. ‘A lot of’ is used with uncountable nouns.)

There are a few candies in my bag. (‘candy’ is a countable noun. ‘ A few ‘ is used with countable nouns.)

There is a little vinegar in the bottle. (‘vinegar’ is an uncountable noun.’A little’ is used with uncountable nouns.)

In negative sentences:

There aren’t a lot of newspapers on the desk.(‘Newspaper’ is a countable noun. ‘A lot of’ is used with countable nouns.)

There aren’t many magazines in the library. (‘Magazines’ is a countable noun. ‘many’ is used with countable nouns.)

There isn’t much water left. (‘Water’ is an uncountable noun. ‘Much’ is used with uncountable nouns.)

There isn’t a lot of energy here. (‘Energy’ is an uncountable noun. ‘A lot of’ is used with uncountable nouns.)

‘A lot of’ is used with uncountable and countable nouns in every form (negatives, positives and questions).

Some nouns can be both countable and uncountable with a different meaning.

I want some ice-cream. I’d like to have two ice-creams please. (The listener knows the speaker is talking about two cups of ice-cream. “Cups” is omitted.)

I’m going to the wood. Tom is carrying some woods on his back. (In the first sentence ‘wood’ means a small forest. However, in the second it means trees which are cut.)

He has some chicken on his plate. My grandfather has got a lot of chickens on his farm. (In the first sentence, ‘chicken’ means food which we ate. However, in the second it means animals.