QUANTIFIERS

In the table below the quantifiers that can only go with

uncountable nouns are listed in the right column, the quantifiers
that can go with both countable and uncountable nouns are listed
in the middle column while the quantifiers that can only go with
countable nouns are listed in the left column.

a little no/none a few

a bit (of) not any a number (of)

some (any) several

a great deal of a lot of a large number of

a great amount of plenty of a great number of

lots of
much many

Examples:
 How much money do you earn per month? (uncountable noun)
 How many invoices have you checked so far? (countable noun)
 There aren’t many savings in her bank account.
 They invested much capital in this company.
 There's not so much work to do this week.
 He has got a lot of tips since he is a waiter.
 She had a lot of nerve to answer back to her supervisor.

A FEW AND FEW, A LITTLE AND LITTLE

These expressions show the speaker's attitude towards the quantity he/she is
referring to.
A few (for countable nouns) and a little (for uncountable nouns) describe the
quantity in a positive way:
 ‘I’ve got a few bucks. I could pay the fine on the spot.’
 ‘I've got a little money. I could buy that suit.’
Few and little describe the quantity in a negative way:
  He had few bucks on him. He couldn’t pay the fine on the spot.
 He had little money. He couldn’t afford buying that computer.

SOME & ANY

Some is used in positive statements:

 He has some properties in France and Spain. He is a well-off
person.
It is also used in questions where we are sure about the answer:
 Did he lend you some bucks/money? (= I'm sure he did.)
Some is used in situations where the question is not a request for
information, but a method of making a request, encouraging or giving an
invitation:
 Could I have some more soda, please?
 Why don't you take some forms home with you?
 Would you like some white wine to match with the fish?
 Would you like some help?

Any is used in questions and with not in negative statements:

 Have you got any information about the company’s shares?
 He didn't give me any reason to complain about him.
 She doesn’t want any help. She is as stubborn as a mule.

Compound nouns with some- and any- are used in the same way as
some and any.
Positive statements:
 Something smells fishy with this contract.
 Someone came in the office and asked for some files.
 She lives somewhere in Scotland but I don’t know for sure
where.
Questions:
 Are you looking for someone? (= I'm sure you are)
 Have you lost something? (= I'm sure you have)
 Do you have anything to add? (real question)
 Did you go anywhere last night?
 Is there anybody who speaks English French here?
Negative statements:
 When I first entered this company I didn’t know anybody
round here.
 I couldn’t find our new manager assistant anywhere.
NOTHING, NOBODY, NOWHERE
 She has learnt nothing since she began the course.
 Nobody wanted to help me when I was in trouble.
 They eloped but they soon realized they had nowhere to go.

 Note: Any and its compounds can also be used in positives

statements to mean ‘what’ no matter which’, ‘no matter who’,
‘no matter what’:
 You can buy any of the jewels you like.
 You can invite anybody at the party.
 You can choose anything that appeals to you from this store.