Quantifiers

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo, mavo, havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1-5

Quantifiers

Some and Any

The words some and any are used when we do not know the exact amount of something. 

Some  = 'enkele' of 'wat'

Any      = 'geen enkele' of 'helemaal geen'

FLOWERS

FLOWERS

I have some flowers!

I have some flowers!

Positive

I do not have any flowers

I do not have any flowers

Negative

Can I have any flowers?

Can I have any flowers?

Question

When to use what

• Some is used for positive sentences

       e.g. I have some flowers.

• Any is used for negative sentences and question

       e.g. I do not have any flowers.

                Do you have any flowers?

Exceptions

When you are asking a question and you are sure the answer is yes, you can use some.

For example: May I have some water?

Much or many / little or few

We use much, many, little, and few when we don't know the exact amount.

We use much or many when talking about big amounts.

We use little or few when talking about a small amount

Much / many = 'veel'

little / few = 'weinig'

When to use what

• Much is used before uncountable nouns.

       e.g. How much time do you have

• Many is used before countable nouns.

      e.g. How many friends do you have?

• Little is used before uncountable nouns.

       e.g. I have little motivation to do my homework.

• Few is used before countable nouns

       e.g. There are very few people in the world that speak Dutch.

(a) few, (a) little

• little / few = weinig 

He has little money left.

He has a little money left.

• a few / a little = (nog maar) een paar 

Few people complained. 

A few people complained. 

Quiz Time

Fill in the correct quantifiers.

Use: much, many, (a) little, (a) few

The President had ... power.

1. few
2. little

They have had ... homework in mathematics recently.

1. much
2. many

She has ... friends.

1. much
2. many
3. a lot of
4. lots of

We've got ... time before the plane leaves.

1. few
2. little

They have ... customers

1. much
2. many