Quantifiers

A quantifier is a word that usually goes before a noun to

express the quantity of the object;
 Some&Any
01 The general rule is that any is used for questions and
negatives while some is used for positive. Both may
be used with countable and uncountable nouns.
Examples:
• There are some birds in our garden.
• We don’t have any time to get popcorn before the
film starts.(Time is uncountable)
• Have you got any idea how long the film lasts?
 Much & Many
01 Many is used with plural, countable nouns (e.g. dogs, dollars,
tables, children). Much is used with singular, uncountable
nouns (e.g. happiness, music, water, time)
Examples:
• There aren’t many doctors in the hospital today. (doctors
are countable)
• Too much money was spent on the Royal Wedding. (money
is uncountable)
 Few & Little
Little is used with singular, uncountable nouns and few is used with
plural, countable nouns to mean ‘not as much’ or ‘not as many’.
For example:
• The play made little sense to me, but I’m glad you enjoyed it. (sense is
uncountable) = the play didn’t make much sense.
• There are few tourists at this time of year so the beaches are nice and
quiet. (tourists is countable) = there aren’t many tourists.
 Either & Neither
Although either and neither are both used as a “negative too”, they follow different rules:
Either is combined with a negative verb and comes last in the sentence.
(2) Mary did not pass the exam. John did not either.

Neither is combined with a positive verb and comes first in the sentence and is followed by
the verb. The subject comes third.
(3) Mary did not pass the exam. Neither did John.

When used alone, either means “any of the two.”

(8) I need to find a car to move house. My uncle has two. Either
will suit my purposes.
When used alone, neither means “none of the two.”
(9) I have two cars, but neither is big enough.