QUANTIFIERS

THE CORRECT AND PROPER USE

 Definition of Quantifiers

Quantifiers are adjectives and adjectival phrases that give approximate or

specific answers to the questions How Much? and How Many?.

Let us see how they are used in these different contexts:

1. Numbers in English.
2. Choosing the quantifier.
3. Expessing opinions about quantity.
4. Indefinite and Incomplete quantities: Some and any.
5. Distributive Determiners: All, whole, both, each, every.
6. Using the quantifiers too and enough.
 4. Indefinite and Incomplete quantities

Some and any can be used with both countable and uncountable
nouns to describe an undefined or incomplete quantity.

Examples:
- I had some rice for lunch.
- Do you have any friends in London?
- Would you like some tea?
- I don't want any cake.
 CHOOSING THE RIGHT QUANTIFIER

To answer the questions How Much? and How Many? certain quantifiers can be used
with countable nouns (friends,cups, people), others with uncountable nouns (sugar,
tea, money) and still others with all types of nouns.

Uncountable Nouns All Types Countable Nouns

a little no, none, not any a few
a bit of some a number of
- any several
a great deal of a lot of, lots of a great number of
a large amount of plenty of a large number of
 USING SOME

Some can be used in descriptive or affirmative sentences.

EXAMPLES

- I had some rice for lunch.

- He got some books from the library.
- I will have some news next week.
- Philip wants some help with his exams.
- There is some butter in the fridge.
 USING SOME

Some can also be used in interrogative sentences when you think you
already know the answer.

EXAMPLES

- Did he give you some tea? = I think he did.

- Is there some fruit juice in the fridge? = I think there is.
- Would you like some help? = Probably you do.
- Will you have some roast beef? = Probably you will
 USING SOME

Some can also be used in interrogative sentences to ask for something

or to offer something.

EXAMPLES

- Could I have some books, please?

- Why don't you take some apples home with you?
- Would you like some tea?
- Will you have some cake?
 USING ANY

Any is used in interrogative sentences when you do not know the

answer.

EXAMPLES

- Do you have any friends in London?

- Do they have any children?
- Do you want any groceries from the shop?
- Are there any problems with your work?
 USING ANY

Any is used before nouns to refer to unknown quantities or an unlimited

entity.

EXAMPLES
- Did you bring any bread?
- Mr. Jacobson refused to answer any questions.
- If I were able to travel back to any place and time in history, I would go
to ancient China.
- Any doctor can prescribe medicine.
 USING ANY

Any is also used with not to form negative sentences. In these

sentences, the word any emphasizes the negativity to make it more
absolute.

EXAMPLES
- She doesn't want any kitchen appliances for Christmas.
- They don't need any help moving to their new house.
- I don't want any cake.
- There isn't any reason to complain.
 EXERCISES

Im sure I made __________ mistakes on the test.

You can order a pizza at _____ time. Its a 24/7 restaurant.
Maggie, Im making coffee. Would you like _______?
Sorry, I couldnt take _____ pictures. It was forbidden.
______ of the students here are foreigners.
Youve won a free trip to _____ of the countries in Asia.
 5. DISTRIBUTIVE DETERMINERS.

Distributive determiners refer to a group of people or things, and to individual

members of the group. They show different ways of looking at the individuals within a
group, and they express how something is distributed, shared, or divided.

Distributive Determiner Examples

ALL (the) (of) I didnt go out this weekend because I was studying all the time
(the) WHOLE The whole class is on a school trip
BOTH (of) I want both of you out of my store!
EACH (of) Bring each suspect to the interrogation room
EVERY Every person here is aware of what you did
 5. DISTRIBUTIVE DETERMINERS: ALL.

ALL - It is used to talk about a whole group, with a special emphasis on the fact that
nothing has been left out. All can be used as a distributive in several different cases.
1. All can be used with uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns by itself. In this
case, it refers to the group as a concept rather than as individuals.

EXAMPLES
All cheese contains protein.
I like all dogs.
All children need affection.
This soap is for all purposes.
 5. DISTRIBUTIVE DETERMINERS: ALL.

2. All can be used with uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns preceded by the
or a possessive adjective. In this case, the meaning is shifted towards referring to a
concrete, physical group rather than the group as a concept. In these uses, the word of
can be added just after all with no change in meaning.

EXAMPLES
All the people in the room were silent. - All of the birds flew away.
Have you eaten all the bread? - I will need all of the sugar youve bought.
I've invited all my friends to the party. - I've used up all of our eggs.
You wasted all your time.
 5. DISTRIBUTIVE DETERMINERS: ALL.

3. All can be used with object pronouns preceded by of.

EXAMPLES

All of us are going.

He has accused all of you.
Did you find all of them?
 5. DISTRIBUTIVE DETERMINERS: ALL.

4. All can be used in questions and exclamations with uncountable nouns

preceded by this or that. In these uses, the word of can be added just after all
with no change in meaning.

EXAMPLES
Who has left all this paper on my desk?
Look at all this snow!
Why is all of that sugar on the floor?
Where did all of this confetti come from?
 5. DISTRIBUTIVE DETERMINERS: ALL.

5. All can be used in questions and exclamations with countable nouns

preceded by these or those. In these uses, the word of can be added just after
all with no change in meaning.

EXAMPLES
Look at all those balloons!
Where did all of those books come from?
Why are all these children crying?
 5. DISTRIBUTIVE DETERMINERS: WHOLE.

Whole is essentially used with nouns in the singular. It is occasionally used

as a descriptive adjective with nouns in the plural, and cannot be used
with pronouns.

EXAMPLES
We'll have to repaint the whole room.
Whole collections of Victoria Secret were sold in this festival.
 5. DISTRIBUTIVE DETERMINERS: WHOLE.

There are two main uses for WHOLE.

1. Whole as a Quantifier - can only be used with singular nouns, either singular
count nouns or singular non-count nouns. It may have a similar meaning to all,
but they are different.
We want to express an united and complete entity, not its multiple components.

EXAMPLES
You will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
The whole story has been made up.
My whole family is Christian.
 5. DISTRIBUTIVE DETERMINERS: WHOLE.

There are two main uses for WHOLE.

2. Whole as an Adjective - Occasionally, whole functions as a descriptive
adjective, a synonym of entire or complete.
In this function, it can qualify plural nouns.

EXAMPLES

The tsunami washed away whole sections of the coastline.

We only sell whole computers, not the separate components.
 EXERCISES

1. _________ world is experiencing climate change.

2. Dan is having a party next weekend and he invited
________ his classmates.
3. That club was so much fun; we stayed until 3 A.M. and
danced __________ time.
4. I love that movie. My children watch it ________ time.
5. When almost ________ the tickets were sold, the band
decided to add another show to their tour.
 EXERCISES

6. I can't go shopping this weekend because I spent

________ my money on books.
7. Although we don't need ________ members to contribute
their time to the project, we do need financial
contributions from ________ group.
8. Adam: What happened to the pizza?
James: I ate it.
Adam: _________ it?
 5. DISTRIBUTIVE DETERMINERS: BOTH.

We use both to refer to two things or people together:

EXAMPLE
Both those chairs are occupied, Im afraid.
(The two chairs are occupied.)

Are both your parents going to Chile?

(Are your mother and father going to Chile?)
 5. DISTRIBUTIVE DETERMINERS: BOTH.

Both with nouns.

When we use both before a determiner (e.g. a/an, the, she, his) + noun,
both and both of can be used:
She knew both my children. (or both of my children.)
Both her brothers are living in Canada. (or Both of her brothers )

We can use both before a noun:

This button starts both engines at the same time. (or both of the
engines )
Are both cats female?
 5. DISTRIBUTIVE DETERMINERS: BOTH.

Both of + object pronoun

When we use both as part of a subject or object which is a pronoun, it
may be followed by of + an object pronoun:
We both dislike soap operas. (subject pronoun + both) or Both of
us dislike soap operas. (both + of + object pronoun).
She looked at both of us.

We usually use both of + object pronoun after prepositions:

He shouted at both of them.
Thatll be so nice for both of you.
 EXERCISES

1. _____ Paris and Rome have catacombs.

2. Hey! ___________ you. Stop right there.
3. ____________ my parents have curly hair.
4. She is going to prepare lunch for _________ us.
5. They have agreed to work with ______
companies at the same time.