Use

We use quantifiers to describe the quantity of a noun.

Example:

I ate a lot of pasta.

Explanation:

A lot of tells us that ‘I ate a large quantity of pasta’.

How to build

The quantifier you use depends on the amount you are describing, and what you are describing.

Some quantifiers can only be used with countable nouns (many, few). Others can only be used with uncountable nouns (much, little).

Some quantifiers that indicate a large quantity: a lot of, lots of, much, many

• I have a lot of cars.

Some quantifiers that indicate a quantity between none and a large quantity: some, several, a number of

• I have some sweets. Do you want one?

Some quantifiers that indicate a small quantity: few, little, a little of, not a lot of, not much, not many

• There are very few trees in our park.

• There is not much beer left.

Any is used with negative sentences to indicate that there is zero amount.

• “Is there any coffe left?”

• “No, there isn’t any left.”

Enough is used to describe when no more is needed.

• I have enough water, thank you.