You quantifiersare widely used in the English language to talk about general quantities|1|. Known for preceding the nouns, them too signal whether we are facing countable or uncountable nouns. Some quantifiers they can only accompany countable nouns, while others only accompany uncountable nouns. However, some quantifiers accompany both types of nouns in clauses. the main quantifiers of the English language are: disappear any (The) little, (The) few, a bit of, many, much, a lot of, lots of.
Read too: Adverbsoffrequency – words that express the frequency of some actions
Countable and Countless Nouns in English
According to some grammars|1||2|, nouns are classified into counts or uncountables (countable and uncountable nouns). This notion of what can or cannot be quantified varies from language to language. For example, in Portuguese, the word recreation can be counted and inflected in the plural: recreations. However, in English, that same word is countless: recreationaction. There is no possibility to say "recreations”.
Consequently, for the student of that foreign language, it is important to know the notion of countless nouns. You countless nouns cannot be divided, as in oil (oil), suck (sugar), bread (bread), meat (meat) etc.., for they refer to abstract concepts and unaccountable units. Hence, the countless nouns only appear in singular form and are always accompanied by the verb in the singular also:
This bread is amazing.
(This bread is wonderful.)
However, there is a very specific way to make them “countable”, through the containers that can hold them or through measurements. In the previous example, we have the noun bread, which, in English, is considered countless, unlike our mother tongue, as we buy by quantity: one loaf, two loaves, 10 loaves, etc. In English, we cannot speak “two breads”. To quantify it, you can use the measure slice (piece) or loaf (chunk):
I’d like two slices of bread
(I would like two slices of bread.)
The same is true for meat (meat), which can be counted by weight (two kilos of meat), or for liquids, for example, in three bottles of water (three bottles of water). So, whenever you want to indicate a specific amount of a countless nouns, try to use measures or containers.
On the other hand, the countable nouns appear so much in singular form and plural form, as they can be accounted for, divided. Examples of countable nouns people (people), cats (cats), books (books), pants (pants) etc..
1. The book has arrived today.
(The book arrived today.)
2. The books have arrived today.
(The books arrived today.)
If the noun can be inflected in the plural form, that means it is a countable noun. Countless nouns only occur in the singular form.
Taking into account the previous notion, we will study in the following topic the main quantifiers, seen as determinants in prayer and accompanying countable and uncountable nouns.
See too: Prepositions – important phrasal articulators
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Main quantifiers
For indicate quantities in general, you can use the quantifiers, which function as determinants in the sentences and always accompany the nouns. Therefore, it is relevant to know which nouns are countable or not, since the quantifiers can accompany both types or just one. For the avoidance of doubt, we will explore in this topic the main quantifiers of the English language.
Take a look at some examples:
1. I read many books last year.
(I read a lot of books last year.)
2. I didn’t read much information last year.
(I didn't read a lot of information last year.)
In the first example, we have the noun books, in its plural form, proving to be a countable noun. He is accompanied by the quantifier many (many, many) to indicate a large general amount. On the other hand, in the second example, we have a countless word information, accompanied by a quantifier which also indicates a large amount and is only used with countless nouns.
Many, much, a lot of/lots of
To express the large quantity idea, use the following quantifiers: many, much, a lot of and lots of. In a more formal context, such as writing, it is recommended to use many and much. Furthermore, many and a lot of/lots of are used in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences, and much it is only used in negative and interrogative sentences.
Another important rule is regarding usage in relation to countable and uncountable nouns. Many is used with nouns countables, and much, with nouns countless. A lot of/lots of can be used for both nouns: countables in the plural form and countless.
Look at the examples:
→ Affirmative phrase with countable noun in the plural:
there are a lot of people in the supermarket.
(There is many people in the supermarket.)there are lots of people in the supermarket.
(There is many people in the supermarket.)there are many people in the supermaket.
(There is many people in the supermarket.)
→ Negative phrase with countless nouns
There isntmuch food in the supermarket.
(There is not lots of food in the supermarket.)
→ Interrogative phrase with countable noun
are there many people in the supermarket?
(There is many people in the supermarket?)
→ Affirmative phrase with uncountable noun
there is a lot of food in the supermarket.
(There is a lot of food in the supermarket.)
See too:much or many?
Little/a little, few/a few, a bit of
If the speaker's goal is to express a small amount, we can make use of the following quantifiers: therelittle/a little, few/a few and a bit of. Those quantifiers are mainly used in affirmative prayers.|2|. A bit of is used in more informal contexts than a little, which means “a little of”, being used with countless nouns. THE few means "few, some", being used with nouns countables. Few and little they have a negative semantic meaning, that is, "something less than expected".
Look at the examples:
→ Affirmative phrase with uncountable noun
Paul drank a little water yesterday.
(Paul drank a bit of water yesterday.)Paul drank bit of water yesterday.
(Paul drank a bit of water yesterday.)Paul drank little water yesterday.
(Paul drank few water yesterday.)
→ Affirmative phrase with countable noun
Anna returned a few days ago.
(Anna came back a few days ago.)
Add, any
To express the idea of indefinite quantity, we must use the quantifiers disappear and any. add up is used in affirmative sentences with countless and countable nouns in the plural form. On the other hand, any is used in negative and interrogative sentences with countless and countable nouns in the plural form. can ask a question with disappear, if you ask or offer something to someone.
Look at the examples:
→ Interrogative sentence with uncountable noun
is there any fish in the frigde?
(There is some fish in the fridge?)would you like disappear coffee?
(Would you like some coffee?)
→ Negative phrase with countless nouns
I dont have any money in my wallet.
(I do not have none money in my wallet.)
→ Affirmative phrase with countable noun
she bought disappear clothes.
(She bought some clothes.)
→ Affirmative phrase with uncountable noun
there is disappear fish in the fridge.
(There is an little/some fish in the fridge.)
Now that you've studied the main quantifiers in English, how about creating a list with your personal examples? Remember to identify whether the noun is countable or not. At this point, a printed or virtual dictionary can help.
solved exercises
Question 1 - (Navy 2019) Read the extract from the text:
“When the light turns green and there are no other cars at the intersection, (…)”
Mark the option that can replace the underlined sentence.
a) there are some other cars
b) there aren’t any other cars
c) there is another car
d) there are a few other cars
e) there aren’t many cars
Resolution
AlternativeB, because any it is a quantifier used in negative sentences with plural and uncountable countable nouns. cars is a plural countable noun.
Question 2 - (EPCAR 2019) Mark the option that replaces the underlined words, respectively, keeping the same meaning.
“[...] many people often confuse child slavery with child labor [...]” (lines 48 and 49)
a) a lot
b) very
c) much
d) a lot of
Resolution
Alternative D, because many and a lot of they are quantifiers used with plural or uncountable count nouns. people is a countable plural noun.
Question 3 - (EEAR 2019) Read the text to answer question.
Paul: Mary, the party is tomorrow! Do we have everything we need? Mary: We have _____ juice, but we should buy more. Pau: Do we need to buy bread? Mary: Well, we have _____, I don’t know if it’s enough. Paul: So let's talk to Jen and ask for ____ advice.
Choose the alternative that best completes the text:
a) a lot of / some / some
b) many / some / an
c) many / a / some
d) a lot / a / an
Resolution
Alternative A, because juice, bread and advice are countless nouns, so they could not be accompanied by many, the or an.
Grades
|1| DECAPUA, A. grammar for teachers: a guide to American English for native and non-native speakers. Springer: New York, 2008.
|2| EASTWOOD, J. Oxford guide to English grammar. Oxford University Press: Oxford, 2002.
By Patricia Veronica Moreira
English teacher
