Quantity Expressions

Introduction

We use certain expressions to talk about quantities. The expressions we use willl depend on whether our nouns are "countable" or "uncountable". You can check more information on this here:

Countable and uncountable nouns

Sometimes, these expressions can have a possitive or a negative connotation. Can you see the difference between these two examples?

There are a few apples on the table. You can take one. :)

There are few apples on the table. There won't be enough for everyone. :(

"A few" has a possitive or neutral meaning, so the quantity is enough.

"Few" has a negative meaning, which means that the quantity is not enough.

Check more information about these expressions below.

Quantity expressions

Countable nouns

Many

Many books, many people

Too many (negative meaning)

There were too many people at the concert. We couldn't move!

A few (positive or neutral meaning)

I have a few apples, you can take one.

Few (usually a negative connotation)

There are few apples. They aren't enough for everyone

Several

Several chairs, several ideas

Each / Every

Each child, every country

Both

All (the /of the)

All the students passed the test.

All the sand was cleaned.

A lot of / Lots of

A lot of friends, lots of traffic

Plenty of

Plenty of chairs, plenty of salt

Some

Some oranges, some juice

Enough

Enough sandwiches, enough time

Any (questions and negatives)

Are there any pens?

I didn't see any monkeys at the zoo.

There are no cookies.

Uncountable nouns

Much (usually a negative connotation)

Much water, much information

Too much

There's too much noise. I can't hear you.

A little (positive or neutral meaning)

I'll drink a little milk.

Little (usually a negative connotation)

I have little time. I'm in a rush!

A bit of

A bit of sugar

Summary of expressions with a negative meaning

As stated above, some of these expressions can express a negative idea.

Few

Countable

Not enough / almost none

Few students understood the lesson.

Little

Uncountable

Not enough / almost nothing

There’s little hope of success.

Too many

Countable

Excessive in a bad way

There are too many emails to answer.