From only numbers

1. Concept of Quantifiers

Quantifiers are words that indicate the quantity of something and can replace determiners. Some quantifiers are used with countable nouns, some with uncountable nouns, and some can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns, specifically:

• Quantifiers used with countable nouns: many, a large number of, few, a few, a larger number of, hundreds of, thousands of, a couple of, several
• Quantifiers used with uncountable nouns: much, a great deal of, little, a little, a large amount of
• Quantifiers used with both countable and uncountable nouns: some, any, most, no, plenty of, a lot of, heaps of, lots of, all, none of, tons of

2. Types of Quantifiers

There are many quantifiers in English, with more than ten different types. Therefore, you need to organize these words logically to easily remember and apply them in daily English communication.

Note: The preposition of is often used with (a) few and (a) little when they precede an article (a/an, the), a demonstrative pronoun (this/that), a possessive adjective (my, his, their), or an object pronoun (him, her, us).

Example:

• Pour a little of the milk into that bowl.

2.1. (A) Few / (A) Little

– Few and A few are typically used before plural countable nouns, e.g., few trees, a few trees.

+ Few carries a near-negative, pessimistic meaning.

Example:

• I don’t want to go there because I have few friends.

+ A few is equivalent to some, meaning a small number or a few, and can be used in affirmative sentences.

Example:

• You can see quite a few houses on the hill.

Note: Only a few can be used to emphasize quantity, but it carries a negative connotation.

Example:

• The village was very small. There were only a few houses there.

– Little and A little are typically used before uncountable nouns.

+ Little means very little, not as much as desired.

Example:

• We had little rain in summer.

+ A little means a small amount and is used in affirmative sentences.

Example:

• It causes a little confusion.

Note:

+ Little can also be used as an adjective meaning small or cute.

Example:

• Amanda is just a little girl.

+ Only can be added before a little to emphasize quantity, but it carries a negative connotation.

Example:

• Hurry up! We’ve got only a little time to prepare.

2.2. Some and Any

– Some: When used with countable nouns, it means "a few"; with uncountable nouns, it means "a little." Common uses of some in English include:

Examples:

• He saw some strangers in his house.
• I want some milk.

+ After some, a singular countable noun can be used to refer to an unspecified person or thing.

Example:

• Some student hid my bags.

+ Some is used in affirmative sentences, questions, and requests.

Example:

• Would you like some more coffee?

+ Some with numbers expresses an unexpectedly high quantity.

Example:

• Some $60 million was needed to conduct this project.

+ The preposition of is used with some when it precedes an article (a/an, the), demonstrative pronoun (this/that), possessive adjective (my, his, their), or object pronoun (him, her, us). Use some of to refer to a part of a whole.

Example:

• Some of my friends were late to school yesterday.

Note: Do not use some with units of time.

– Any: It means "somebody/something" (in questions), "not at all/nobody" (in negative sentences), or "anybody/anything" (in affirmative sentences). The meaning of any varies depending on the sentence’s context. It is used to refer to an unspecified or unknown quantity. Be sure to distinguish the use of any and some based on whether the noun is countable or uncountable.

Example:

• She didn’t know any boys in her class.

+ In negative and interrogative sentences, any is followed by a plural noun or an uncountable noun.

Example:

• There aren’t any yellow cars here.

+ In affirmative sentences, any can be used with singular, plural, countable, or uncountable nouns, meaning "anybody/anything."

Example:

• Call this hotline if you have any questions about the show.

+ Any can be used with hardly or after if and words with negative meanings.

Example:

• He speaks hardly any French.

+ The preposition of is used with any when it precedes an article (a/an, the), demonstrative pronoun (this/that), possessive adjective (my, his, their), or object pronoun (him, her, us).

Example:

• I couldn’t finish any of these homework assignments.

2.3. A Large Number of, A Great Number of, Plenty of, A Lot of, Lots of

A large number of, a great number of, plenty of, a lot of, lots of all mean "many." They can be used to replace many and much in affirmative sentences with a formal tone.

Pay special attention to distinguishing between the easily confused phrases the number of and a number of. Although both indicate the quantity of something, the number of + N refers to a general total quantity and is typically used with singular nouns, so the verb is conjugated in the singular.

Example:

• The number of workers we need to hire is there.

In contrast, a number of + N means "some" + N, often forming a plural noun phrase, and the verb is conjugated in the plural.

Example:

• A number of cars are on all the streets during rush hour in Hanoi city.

+ Notably, a lot of and lots of are used for both countable and uncountable nouns. However, lots of is less formal than a lot of.

+ The verb in the sentence is conjugated based on the subject/noun following of.

2.4. Most

Among quantifiers, most cannot be overlooked.

– Structure: most + noun means "most" or "the majority."

Example:

• Most people are afraid of snakes.

– Most + plural noun: the verb is conjugated in the plural.

– Most + singular noun: the verb is conjugated in the singular.

– Most of is another form of quantifier derived from most.

+ Most is used with the preposition of when it precedes an article (a/an, the), demonstrative pronoun (this/that), possessive adjective (my, his, their), or object pronoun (him, her, us).

Example:

• Most of these students are intelligent.

+ Most of + plural noun: the verb is conjugated in the plural.

+ Most of + singular noun: the verb is conjugated in the singular.

+ Most of is also used before proper geographical names.

Example:

• Most of England, most of Vietnam

Note: most + Noun is used for general statements, while most of the + Noun refers to something specific.

Examples:

• Most cakes are sweet.
• Most of the cakes at this festival are sponsored by Kinh Do.

2.5. Much and Many

These are among the most familiar quantifiers in English. The preposition of is used with much and many when they precede an article (a/an, the), demonstrative pronoun (this/that), possessive adjective (my, his, their), or object pronoun (him, her, us).

Examples:

• Not many of them passed the final exam.
• How much of this article is true?

– Many, meaning "many" or "a lot," is typically used:

+ With plural countable nouns.

Example:

• Many people came to the meeting.

+ Mainly in negative and interrogative sentences.

Examples:

• There aren’t many foreigners in the town.
• How many apples do you have?

+ In affirmative sentences with words like very, a great, too, so, as, how.

Example:

• There are so many questions in the meeting.

+ In formal affirmative sentences when the noun after many is followed by a relative pronoun.

Example:

• There are many improvements which have been conducted but the result still remains the same.

Note: In affirmative sentences, many is not commonly used; instead, a lot of is preferred.

– Much is synonymous with many but used differently:

+ With singular uncountable nouns.

Example:

• Is there much sugar left?

+ In interrogative and negative sentences.

Examples:

• We didn’t eat much meat.
• How much time do we have left?

+ Not commonly used in affirmative sentences, except in formal contexts.

Example:

• There is much concern about the lifestyle of young people.

+ Used in affirmative sentences with words like very, too, so, as, how.

Example:

• He drank so much wine at the party.

2.6. A Bit

A bit (of), bits (of) means "a little" or "a few" and is used for both concrete and abstract things, often to soften or understate a statement. They are commonly used in informal contexts. In formal contexts, some, a piece of, pieces of are preferred.

Examples:

• They asked for bits of help with their problem.
• It’s just a bit of a problem. You don’t need to mind.

2.7. All

Meaning "all" or "everything," all is used with both countable and uncountable nouns.

Example:

• All information about this case is secret.

+ All is used before the article the, possessive adjectives (my, his, her), demonstrative pronouns (this, those), and numbers.

Example:

• All these students passed the exam.

+ All is used with the preposition of when it precedes relative pronouns (whom, which) or object pronouns (him, her, us).

Example:

• I love all of you.

+ All of is often used before possessive adjectives, the article the, and demonstrative pronouns, but the preposition of can be omitted.

Example:

• All (of) my students are very naughty.

+ When referring to an entire group or thing (in general), the quantifier all is used with a noun without the or of.

Example:

• All mothers love their children.

2.8. None

+ No can precede singular and plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns.

Example:

• We got no time.

+ None functions as a pronoun, used as a subject or object. It stands alone and replaces both countable and uncountable nouns.

Example:

• He has two best friends, but none came to attend his wedding.

+ When none is the subject, the verb is conjugated based on the noun it represents.

Example:

• I’m always looking for ideas. None ever come.

+ None is used with the preposition of when it precedes the article the, object pronouns (him, it), demonstrative pronouns (this/that), or possessive adjectives (my, your).

Example:

• None of the students know what happened to their teacher.

+ None is not used in sentences that already contain a negative word like not.

2.9. Enough

Another quantifier that is often overlooked is enough. The structure enough is used before both countable and uncountable nouns.

Example:

• I never have enough money to buy this house.

+ Used in affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences.

Example:

• She has enough time to watch that movie.

+ Enough is used with the preposition of when it precedes the article the, demonstrative pronouns (this/that), possessive adjectives (my, his, their), or object pronouns (him, her, us).

Example:

• I have enough of you.

2.10. Less

Meaning "less" or "fewer," less is a quantifier used with singular uncountable nouns.

Example:

• You have less chance when competing with him.

Less is used with the preposition of when it precedes an article (a/an, the), demonstrative pronoun (this/that), possessive adjective (my, his, their), or object pronoun (him, her, us).

Example:

• I meet less of him since he moved away.