Practice
Adjectives of quantity: forms and examples
We have a few chairs, but we have little space. Both phrases talk about quantity, yet chairs can be counted and space cannot. That difference helps you choose the right word.
Choose quantity words that match a countable or uncountable noun, and use few, a few, little, and a little to show the amount you mean.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
a little /ə ˈlɪtəl/
The short answer
Use many and few with plural countable nouns, such as books or emails. Use much and little with uncountable nouns, such as water or time. Use a few and a little when the small amount is enough or useful in the situation.
A few guests stayed after the meeting, but there was little coffee left.
Why it works: Guests are countable, so a few fits. Coffee is uncountable, so little fits.
5 more examples
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Many applicants sent their forms before the deadline.
Applicants can be counted, so many comes before the plural countable noun.
Not this:
Muchinformation was missing from the forms. What changes: Information is uncountable in this meaning, so much is the matching quantity word. -
Few buses run after midnight.
Few suggests that the number of buses is smaller than the speaker wants or needs.
Not this:
A fewbuses run after midnight. What changes: A few still means a small number, but it presents those buses as available. -
There is little time before the store closes.
Time is uncountable here. Little suggests that the remaining amount is not enough.
Not this:There is
a littletime before the store closes. What changes: A little means that a small amount of time remains and may still be useful. -
Some students asked questions after class.
Some can introduce a plural countable noun when the exact number is not named.
Not this:
Somemilk is still in the refrigerator. What changes: Some can also introduce an uncountable noun when the exact amount is not named. -
We have enough chairs for everyone.
Enough says that the number of chairs meets the need.
Not this:We have
enoughwater for the trip. What changes: Enough also works with an uncountable noun when the amount meets the need.
Read the full guide
Start with the noun after the quantity word. If you can count it as one item, two items, and three items, use a countable-noun pattern. If you normally measure it in an amount, such as water, money, or advice, use an uncountable-noun pattern.
Check the noun first
A countable noun has separate items. You can say one chair, two chairs, and three chairs. An uncountable noun describes a substance, material, idea, or amount that is not normally counted as separate items in this use. You can count bottles of water, but water itself is uncountable.
How many chairs are in the room? How much water is in the bottle?
Chairs is plural and countable, so it takes many. Water is uncountable, so it takes much.
Which word fits the noun advice: many or much?
Use much because advice is uncountable: How much advice did she give?
Use many and much for number or amount
Many works with plural countable nouns. Much works with uncountable nouns. Both are especially common in questions and negative statements. In an ordinary positive statement, a lot of often sounds more natural, although much can appear in formal writing.
We do not have many options, and we do not have much time.
Options is a plural countable noun. Time is uncountable.
Complete the question: How ___ messages did you receive?
Use many: How many messages did you receive? Messages can be counted.
Understand few and a few
Few and a few both go before plural countable nouns. Few often focuses on the problem of having almost none. A few means a small number is available. The difference is about the speaker's view of that small number.
Few people understood the instructions, so the organizer explained them again.
Few sounds negative here because the small number of people was not enough.
Choose the phrase for a small but useful number of questions: few questions or a few questions?
Use a few questions when a small number is available or enough for the purpose.
Understand little and a little
Little and a little follow the same meaning pattern, but they go with uncountable nouns. Little suggests that there is almost no amount or not enough. A little says that some amount exists.
I have a little money left, so I can buy a bus ticket.
A little money is enough for the ticket. Without a, little money would suggest a more serious shortage.
Which phrase suggests that the speaker has almost no patience left?
Use little patience. Patience is uncountable, and little stresses the shortage.
Use some, any, and enough by meaning
Some can go with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns. Any often appears in questions and negative statements. Enough works with either kind when the quantity meets a need. These choices depend on the sentence's purpose as well as the noun type.
Do you have any questions? We have enough time to answer them.
Any appears in a question. Enough says that the available time meets the need.
Complete the offer: May I bring you ___ soup?
Use some: May I bring you some soup? The speaker is offering soup and expects that the listener may accept.
Before you go
Remember this
Use many, few, and several with plural countable nouns. Use much and little with uncountable nouns. A few and a little describe a small amount that is present, while few and little often stress that the amount is disappointing or insufficient. Some and enough can work with either kind of noun.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Adjectives of quantity: forms and examples"
Are adjectives of quantity and quantifiers the same thing?
They often refer to the same group of words in learner grammar. Many school books use adjective of quantity for words such as many, much, few, and little. Other grammar references call them quantifiers or determiners. The label matters less than choosing a word that fits the noun and the meaning.
Many applicants sent their forms before the deadline.
When should I use much instead of many?
Use much with an uncountable noun, such as time, water, information, or traffic. Use many with a plural countable noun, such as chairs, questions, or messages. Compare: How much time is left? How many questions are left?
Much information was missing from the forms.
What is the difference between few and a few?
Both phrases go with plural countable nouns. Few often means that the number is smaller than needed or expected. A few means that a small number is present and can be useful. Compare: Few buses run late at night. A few buses run late at night.
Few buses run after midnight.
What is the difference between little and a little?
Both phrases go with uncountable nouns. Little often stresses a shortage, while a little says that some amount remains. Compare: There is little coffee left. There is a little coffee left, so we can each have a small cup.
A few buses run after midnight.
Can some and any both be used with countable nouns?
Yes. Both can come before plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns. Some is common in positive statements and in offers or requests that expect a positive answer. Any is common in questions and negative statements. For example: Do you have any questions? May I bring you some tea?
There is little time before the store closes.