English Grammar: Quantifiers

Quantifiers

• Much is used with uncountable nouns, while many is used with countable nouns.
• A little is used with uncountable nouns, while a few is used with countable nouns.

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

• Countable nouns:
  • Can be counted individually (e.g. one book, two books)
  • Use many and a few with them
  • Examples: books, people, fruits
• Uncountable nouns:
  • Cannot be counted individually (e.g. water, air)
  • Use much and a little with them
  • Examples: water, space, time

Expressions of Quantity

• Some is used to express an unspecified quantity of something.
• A lot of and plenty of are used to express a large quantity of something.
• Enough is used to express a sufficient quantity of something.

Arabic-English Translations

• بعض (some) in Arabic translates to some in English.
• كثير من (many) in Arabic translates to a lot of or many in English.
• الكثير من (plenty of) in Arabic translates to plenty of in English.
• قليل (a little) in Arabic translates to a little in English.
• أَي (any) in Arabic translates to any in English.
• كافي (enough) in Arabic translates to enough in English.

Plural Nouns

• Times is a plural noun, not a countable noun.
• Exercises is a plural noun that can be countable or uncountable.
• Spaces is a plural noun that can be countable or uncountable.
• People is a plural noun that is countable.
• Fruit can be a countable or uncountable noun.

Choosing between many and much

• Use many with countable nouns (e.g. "How many times...").
• Use much with uncountable nouns (e.g. "How much time...").

Choosing between a few and a little

• Use a few with countable nouns (e.g. "We need a few more oranges...").
• Use a little with uncountable nouns (e.g. "There is a little orange juice left...").