Quantifiers: How do they work?

• Engels
• HBO
• Studiejaar 2

How do they work?

What is a quantifier?

A quantifier is a word or phrase which is used before a noun to indicate the amount or quantity:

'Some', 'many', 'a lot of' and 'a few' are examples of quantifiers.

Quantifiers of Unit 10:

• Some vs Any
• All, Most, No/none
• No, none of

Some vs Any

• When we want to refer to a plural noun or an uncountable noun, without giving a specific quantity,
  we use ‘some’ and ‘any’. 
  
  

• We use ‘some’ in affirmatives and ‘any’ in questions and negatives.

Recap:

Some/Any + noun: when we don't know the exact number/amount, or it's not important:

We usually use some in positive and any in questions and negative sentences.

She has some flowers. Have we got any milk? 

Any

We can use any in questions to mean 'it doesn't matter which': 

'Which flavour ice cream do you want?'

'Oh get me any flavour - I don't mind which.'

Some

We can use some in questions if they are requests: 

offers: 

or suggestions:

'Can I have some information?'

'Would you like some tea?'

'Shall we do some work now?'

Quantifier

Noun

Some & Any

We can use some and any without a noun,
when it's clear what we're talking about:

'We haven't got any milk.'

'I'll go and get some.'

'We need some coins for the ticket machine.'

'Oh dear, I haven't got any.'

Some what?

Any what?

Quantifier

Noun

All, most, some and no/none

• We use ‘all', 'most', 'some' and 'no/one’ when we want to refer to a subject or an object in a sentence.
  
  
• They can go before plural or uncountable nouns.
  
  
• We use them for particular people or things.

All, most, some and no/none

You use: all, most, some and no/one
before the subject or object in a sentence. 

'All the tickets are thirty pounds'  'I've got all the tickets.'

Quantifier

Subject/object

All, Most, Some and No

They can go before plural or uncountable nouns:

'All fruit contains sugar'          'Most vegetables contain vitamins.'

'Some fish is expensive.'        'No sugary food is good for you.'

Quantifier

Subject/object

Plural

Unc. noun

All (of), Most of, Some of and None of

We use these quantifiers for particular people or things:

'All (of) the vegetables are fresh.'                    'Most of our customers like candy.'

'Do you want some of this chocolate?'           'None of our jam contains extra sugar.'

Quantifier

Subject/object

No, None of

No and none of mean: 'not any'.
We use them in negative statements, with a positive verb.

	Singular countable noun	Plural noun	Uncountable noun
None of	-	None of the machines is/are working	None of the bread was fresh
No	no reason was given	no reasons were given	No information was given

'None of the advice he gave was useful.

Quantifier

Subject/object

Verb

Some/Any 

Multiple choice questions

We have some/any free time later this afternoon.

1. Some
2. Any

She doesn’t want some/any coffee.

1. Some
2. Any

Do they need some/any bread?

1. Some
2. Any

Will there be some/any managers at the party?

1. Some
2. Any

I went to some/any meetings in Rome last week.

1. Some
2. Any

All, Most, Some and No/none

Multiple choice questions

I'm sorry, but there's ___ milk. Is black coffee OK?

1. no
2. most

 ___ the milk has gone bad, there's nothing we can do.

1. some of
2. all of

 ___ fruit is very espensive compared to others. 

1. some
2. most

 ___ our customers like vegetarian food, it's very popular.

1. none of
2. most of

 ___ the jam I sell contains sugar, don't worry.

1. none of
2. most of

No, none of

Multiple choice questions

You mean to say that ___ the sugar was used?

1. no
2. none of

You say that, but ___ the bread was fresh.

1. no
2. none of

 ___ options were reliable.

1. no
2. none of

___ the IKEA furniture sets are complete.

1. no
2. none of

___ validation was given for leaving the premises.

1. no
2. none of