
English vocabulary and phrases on Mid-Autumn Festival
Quantity words in English are one of the most common parts of grammar. But it also causes many difficulties for learners because of the variety of words and structures. Quantity words in English are not simply "many" or "few", they are divided into many levels. To avoid mistakes that lead to unfortunate loss of points, below EnglishVocabulary will bring useful knowledge to you!
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:
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:
– 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:
+ A few is equivalent to some, meaning a small number or a few, and can be used in affirmative sentences.
Example:
Note: Only a few can be used to emphasize quantity, but it carries a negative connotation.
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– Little and A little are typically used before uncountable nouns.
+ Little means very little, not as much as desired.
Example:
+ A little means a small amount and is used in affirmative sentences.
Example:
Note:
+ Little can also be used as an adjective meaning small or cute.
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+ Only can be added before a little to emphasize quantity, but it carries a negative connotation.
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– Some: When used with countable nouns, it means "a few"; with uncountable nouns, it means "a little." Common uses of some in English include:
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+ After some, a singular countable noun can be used to refer to an unspecified person or thing.
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+ Some is used in affirmative sentences, questions, and requests.
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+ Some with numbers expresses an unexpectedly high quantity.
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+ 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:
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.
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+ In negative and interrogative sentences, any is followed by a plural noun or an uncountable noun.
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+ In affirmative sentences, any can be used with singular, plural, countable, or uncountable nouns, meaning "anybody/anything."
Example:
+ Any can be used with hardly or after if and words with negative meanings.
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+ 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:
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:
In contrast, a number of + N means "some" + N, often forming a plural noun phrase, and the verb is conjugated in the plural.
Example:
+ 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.
Among quantifiers, most cannot be overlooked.
– Structure: most + noun means "most" or "the majority."
Example:
– 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 + 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:
Note: most + Noun is used for general statements, while most of the + Noun refers to something specific.
Examples:
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:
– Many, meaning "many" or "a lot," is typically used:
+ With plural countable nouns.
Example:
+ Mainly in negative and interrogative sentences.
Examples:
+ In affirmative sentences with words like very, a great, too, so, as, how.
Example:
+ In formal affirmative sentences when the noun after many is followed by a relative pronoun.
Example:
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:
+ In interrogative and negative sentences.
Examples:
+ Not commonly used in affirmative sentences, except in formal contexts.
Example:
+ Used in affirmative sentences with words like very, too, so, as, how.
Example:
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:
Meaning "all" or "everything," all is used with both countable and uncountable nouns.
Example:
+ All is used before the article the, possessive adjectives (my, his, her), demonstrative pronouns (this, those), and numbers.
Example:
+ All is used with the preposition of when it precedes relative pronouns (whom, which) or object pronouns (him, her, us).
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+ All of is often used before possessive adjectives, the article the, and demonstrative pronouns, but the preposition of can be omitted.
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+ When referring to an entire group or thing (in general), the quantifier all is used with a noun without the or of.
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+ No can precede singular and plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns.
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+ None functions as a pronoun, used as a subject or object. It stands alone and replaces both countable and uncountable nouns.
Example:
+ When none is the subject, the verb is conjugated based on the noun it represents.
Example:
+ 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 is not used in sentences that already contain a negative word like not.
Another quantifier that is often overlooked is enough. The structure enough is used before both countable and uncountable nouns.
Example:
+ Used in affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences.
Example:
+ 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:
Meaning "less" or "fewer," less is a quantifier used with singular uncountable nouns.
Example:
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:
Exercises on quantity words 1
Exercises on quantity words 2
Exercises on quantity words 3
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