GRAMMAR IN USE 

: MASTER CRM M1- A1

REFRESHMENT / ( USE OF QUANTIFIERS )

Preliminary: One should know the correct use of “Quantifiers” in written English and
spoken English either. Generally speaking there are sources of many mistakes in English. So,
this course aims to give you general rules to use them correctly when writing or speaking
English.

Quantifiers like: MUCH, MANY, FEW, LITTLE, A LOT, PLENTY,

A- Much, Many, Few, Little.
(i) We use “much” and “little” with uncountable nouns (noms non dénombrables)
Examples:

Much time ; Much luck ; Little energy ; Little money

(ii) We use “many” and “ few” with plural nouns (noms au pluriel)
Examples:

Many friends ; Many people; Few cars ; Few countries ;

B- “a lot (of)” ; “ lots (of) ” ; plenty (of);

(i) We use ‘a lot of ’ , ‘ lots of ‘, ‘ plenty of ’ : With uncountable and plurals

nouns
Examples:

a lot of luck; lots of time, plenty of money; …

a lot of people ; lots of books ; plenty of ideas; ….

Plenty = more than enough

Examples:

“Have more to eat” ; “No thank you, I’ve had plenty”

“There is no need to hurry. We have plenty of time

C- Much and Many:

(i) We use “Much” and “Many” mainly in negative sentences and

interrogative sentences ( questions) :
Examples:
We didn’t spent much money.
 Do you have many friends ?
(ii) In positive sentences (affirmative sentences) it is usually better to use:”a lot
of”
(iii) Much is not normally used in positive sentences.

Examples:
- We spent a lot of money. (not-“ We spent much money ).
- There has been a lot of rain recently. ( not-“There has been much rain
recently).
(4i) But we use too much and so much in positive sentences :

- I can’t drink this tea. There is too much sugar in it.

D. Use of “little”, “a little”; “few” and “a few”

(i) Little and few (without a) are used when negative ideas are expressed :

Examples:

- Hurry up! There is little time (= not much time, not enough time)
- He’s not popular. He has few friends ( not many, not enough friends).

(ii) We often use “very” before (few and little)

Examples: (in extreme situations or cases)

- There is very little time.

- He has very few friends.
-
(iii) “ a little” and “a few” are more positive ideas (are more used to express positive
ideas).
(“ a little” or “ a few”)= (some, a small amount, or a small number).

Examples:

- Let’s go have a cup of coffee. We have a little time before the train leaves.
(=some time, enough time to take a coffee or to have a drink , before the
train leaves).
- “Do you have any money ? “”Yes, a little. Do you want to borrow some?”
Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks with many, much , little, where appropriate.

1. He isn’t very popular. He has_little few friends.

2. Did you take many photographs, when you were on holidays ?
3. I’m not very busy today. I haven’t got_much , to do.
4. The museum was very crowded. There were__many, people.
5. Most of the town is modern. There were_ little old buildings.
6. The weather has been very dry recently. We’ve had _little_, rain.
Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer to fill in the blank, with some, any or much.
1. I have (some/any)__some_ homework to do for tomorrow.
2. I don’t see (some/any) ___any____ducks here.
3. Can I have (some/any)_____some______ water please ?
4. There are (much/ many)____many___ people in the conference room.
5. Don’t eat (more/much)_____more ______, sugar!