L.E.O. Learning English Online

Quantifiers – some, any, much, many – English - Grammar Explanations

                   a lot of, lots of

When do we use a lot of and when lots of?

These phrases are mainly used in informal English – lots of sounds a bit more informal than a lot of. Both forms are used in singular and in plural sentences.

It is not the phrase a lot of or lots of which determines singular or plural, but the noun of the sentence (here: water and computers).

1. Informal English

Singular

• A lot of water is wasted.
• Lots of water is wasted.

Plural

• A lot of computers are needed at schools.
• Lots of computers are needed at schools.

2. Formal English

In formal English we use plenty of or much and many instead of a lot of/lots of.

Singular

• Plenty of water is wasted.
• Much water is wasted.

Plural

• Plenty of computers are needed at schools.
• Many computers are needed at schools.

each, every

When do we use each and when every?

The words each and every have similar meanings.

Each/Every time I go to work, the red car is parked in front of the office.

But each and every are not always interchangeable. There are situations where you can either use each or every.

Use

• each is used when you see the persons in a group as individuals.
• every is used when you see the persons in a group as a unit.

1 each

The word each can be used alone or before an of-phrase.

1.1.can be used for two persons or things

There are two boys. Each is smiling.

1.2. can be used as a pronoun

There are 5 worksheets. Please take one of each.

1.3. can be used before a verb

The students each received a free copy of the magazine.

2. every

2.1. used for three or more persons or things

The manager wants to speak to every employee in his office.

2.2. has to be used before a noun

They enjoyed every minute of their holidays.

2.3. used for repeated actions

• I get up at 6 o'clock every morning.
• The show will be broadcast every other Monday.
• Every time I go shopping I choose the wrong queue.
• There's a tram every ten minutes.

3. Singular or plural and each, every

• If each is used after a subject in the plural (the girls), the verb is used in the plural (have):
• The girls each have written an e-mail.
• The girls each have written e-mails.
• If every should be used in this sentence, the singular of the verb is used (has):
• Every girl has written an e-mail.

much, many – a little, a few

1. When do we use much and when many?

• much: uncountable nouns (milk, marmalade, money, time etc.)
• many: countable nouns (bottles of milk, jars of marmalade, dollars, minutes etc.)

Examples:

• How much money have you got?
• How many dollars have you got?

In informal English these questions are often answered with a lot of, lots of. There is no much difference between the two phrases.

2. When do we use a little/little and when a few/few?

• a little: non countable nouns (milk, marmalade, money, time etc.)
• a few: countable nouns (bottles of milk, jars of marmalade, dollars, minutes etc.)

Examples:

• He has a little money left.
• He has a few dollars left.

We use few and little without the article a to point out a more negative meaning.

Examples:

• A few students of our school know this. (There are some student who know it.)
• Few students know this. (It is almost unkonown.)

some and any – English Grammar

When do we use some and when any?

We use some and any for an amount which is not known e.g. Have you got any crisps?

Use of some and any

• some: affirmative statements, offers, requests and in questions when you expect the answer ›yes‹
• any: negative statements, questions

Have you got any bananas? No, we haven't got any. But we've got some oranges.

Exceptions:

I would like to buy fruit at a market. I see the man has wonderful apples so I can ask him:

• Can I have some of these apples?

If I do not see apples or if I am not sure whether there are apples at all I use any in this question.

• Have you got any apples?

something, anything and other compounds

Compounds with some and any

The compounds with some and any are used like the single words some/any.

Compounds	Sentences
something, anything	There is something wrong with our car.
someone, anyone*	There is someone at the door.
somebody, anybody*	I would like to be somebody.
someday	Someday he'll be rich.
sometime, anytime	We saw her sometime last month.
sometimes	I sometimes take the bus to school.
someplace, anyplace, somewhere, anywhere	Can't you sing somewhere else?
somehow, anyhow, someway, anyway	She looked ill, somehow.
anymore	I can't help you anymore.

* The compounds someone/anyone and somebody/anybody are nearly identical.

What is the difference between someone and somebody?

someone is used for a more special person and somebody for a person in general.

• There's someone at the door.
• I'd like to be somebody.