DETERMINERS:

QUANTIFIERS

(ADAPTED FROM NOEMÍ PEREIRA´S NOTES)

 DETERMINERS
Determiners /dɪˈtɜːmɪnə/ modify nouns by setting a limitation over the nouns to
indicate how specific or general they are. Determiners include:

• Articles (the, a/an, zero article) – see material from Week 4 on the Virtual
Campus.
• Possessives /pəˈzesɪvz/ (my, your, his, her, our, their, its, etc.)
• Demonstratives /dɪˈmɒnstrətɪvz/ (this, these, that, those)
• Quantifiers /ˈkwɒntɪfaɪəz/
Quantifiers are determiners that modify a noun to indicate its quantity. Examples:
any, all, many, much, most, some, a few, and a lot of, a little, a large amount of, none, the
cardinal numbers [one, two, three, four], etc.

THIS LECTURE CLASS WILL BE DEVOTED TO REVIEWING THE USES OF QUANTIFIERS

QUANTIFIERS
 Note:

QUANTIFIERS Countable nouns can be counted e.g an apple, two pens, etc.
Uncountable nouns cannot be counted, e.g air, water, help etc.
SOME EXAMPLES

UNDEFINED some/any
QUANTITIES
LARGE many/much a lot of/lots of loads of/heaps of/a large amount of/ a great deal, etc.
QUANTITIES all most/most of several/several of
SMALL few/ little a few/ a little
QUANTITIES
BINARY both / neither / either
QUANTIFIERS
SINGULAR each / every
QUANTIFIERS
OTHER other/another none of no
QUANTIFIERS
SOME/ANY
(UNDEFINED QUANTITIES)
SOME and ANY mean ‘a certain number or amount’. They are used with plural or
uncountable nouns. Note that some is a possible plural form of a/an and one:
Have a biscuit/some biscuits
Some people hate lecture classes (COMPARE: Some of the people I know hate lecture classes)
Did any of your photos come out well?

In general, we use some in affirmatives and any in questions and negatives.

SOME is used:
• In affirmative sentences: There is some cheese in the fridge.
• In questions where the answer ‘yes’ is expected: Could you give me some bread? (I expect so)
• In offers and requests: Would you like some wine?
→ Some can also mean ‘an unspecified or unknown’: Some idiot parked his car outside my
garage.

ANY is used:
• In negative sentences: I haven’t any money.
• In interrogative sentences in general: Do you need any help?
• When referring to quantities that may not exist: Please phone me if you have any problems OR
I don’t think there is any petrol in the tank.
• With the meaning ‘practically every’, ‘no particular (one)’, ‘it doesn’t matter which’: Any
MANY/MUCH; A
LOT OF/ LOTS
OF; & OTHER
EXPRESSIONS
(LARGE QUANTITIES)
MANY and MUCH mean ‘a large number of’. MANY is used with countable
nouns, and MUCH is used with uncountable nouns.
There are many people in the town centre.
Much Italian wine is sold abroad.

A LOT OF & LOTS OF also mean ‘a large amount’ and they can be used instead of
‘many’ or ‘much’ in affirmative sentences.
• Many people find this kind of movie unpleasant / A lot of/Lots of people find this kind of movie
unpleasant.
• He spent much money on his house / He spent a lot of/ lots of money on his house. [The second
option is more frequent as ‘much’ is unusual in positive sentences].

BUT:
• He hasn’t won many races.
• He didn’t eat much fruit.
• How many books have you read up to now?

→ Note that we say ‘many years’, ‘many weeks’ (NOT: a lot of years, weeks).
• ‘A great deal of’, ‘a good deal of’ & ‘a large amount of’ also mean ‘a large
number of’. They are generally used with uncountable nouns.
I have spent a great deal of time studying for the exam.
She spent a large amount of money on her new house.

• ‘A large number of’ is, however, used with plural nouns and it takes a plural
verb.
A large number of people are waiting to meet the President.

→ Note that ‘the number of’ + plural noun is followed by a singular verb: The number of
homeless people has increased dramatically in recent years.

• ‘Heaps of’, ‘loads of’ & ‘plenty of’ can be followed by countable and uncountable
nouns.
Don’t worry there are plenty of options.
Well, we’ve got plenty of rice.

→ Note that ‘plenty of’ is not a strict synonym of ‘lots’ because, sometimes, it contains an implication of
sufficiency, of not needing more or being more than enough. Example: I have plenty of time to complete
FEW, A FEW/
LITTLE, A LITTLE
(SMALL QUANTITIES)
FEW / A FEW (OF) are both used with plural countable nouns, but they convey different
implications:
FEW = not many; not enough – it conveys a negative idea.
There are few face-to-face classes this year (= not many; not enough).
Few trains arrive on time (= not many; a small number).

A FEW (of) = some; a small number of, but enough.

We have a few jobs available in our company (=a small number).
I’ve read a few of her books (=a small number).

LITTLE / A LITTLE (OF) are both used with uncountable nouns, but they convey different
implications:
LITTLE = not much; not enough – it conveys a negative idea.
There was little time for consultation (= not enough).
Little attention is given to the problem (= not enough attention – negative connotations).

A LITTLE (of) = some, a small amount, but enough.

The city is regaining a little of its former glory.
I told him a little (bit) about the problem.
BOTH; EITHER;
NEITHER
(BINARY QUANTITIES)
BOTH refers to ‘two people or things together’.
Both (of) her parents are doctors.
Both supermarkets were closed.
Both of them managed to pass the subject (OR: They both managed to pass the subject).

• OF is optional (especially in less formal language) with BOTH.

• BUT OF is necessary before personal pronouns: Both of them spoke quickly (NOT: Both them…).
• BOTH is always plural: Both books are mine.

IMPORTANT: Avoid using both in negative sentences; use either or neither instead.
Both of them can’t swim. Neither of them can swim.
She didn’t like both dresses. She didn’t like either dress.

POSITION OF BOTH
SUBJECT + both + verb They both learnt a lot from the course OR Both of them
learnt a lot from the course.
SUBJECT + modal/auxiliary/be + both We had both hoped to be home by dinner time.
They can both be contacted by email.
They are both waiting for the results of Friday’s exam.
EITHER means ‘one or the other of two things or people’.
I’ve lived in New York and Chicago, but I don’t like either city much.
You can have either this blue one or that one over there.

NEITHER means ‘not one or the other of two people or things.’ It is used with positive verbs.
I’ve lived in New York and Chicago, but I like neither city much.
Neither John’s father nor mine could understand my problem.

We follow either & neither with a singular noun:

Either bag will be suitable (=both bags). NOT: Either bags….

Nouns with either & neither are followed by a singular verb (in informal speaking, people often use plural
verbs):
Either of them deserves punishment.
Both players have been warned but neither of them seems to take it seriously.

Either & neither require OF when followed by another determiner (articles, possessives, etc.):
Neither of these films is appropriate for their age group.
Neither of the supermarkets was open.

→ Note that, when followed by OF, either & neither can take a plural noun, but they still take a singular verb.
 BOTH, EITHER, NEITHER
ONE SUPERMARKET 2 SUPERMARKETS MORE THAN 2
SUPERMARKETS

The supermarket was Both supermarkets were closed. All the supermarkets were
closed. closed.

The supermarket Neither of the supermarkets None of the supermarkets

wasn’t open. was open. was open.

I don’t think the I don’t think either of the I don’t think any of the
supermarket was supermarkets was open. supermarkets were open.
open.

→ ‘None of’ = not any of three or more things or people (with positive verbs).
 EACH; EVERY
(SINGULAR QUANTIFIERS)
We use EACH and EVERY with a singular noun and singular verb to mean ALL.
There was a party on every street. There were parties on all the streets.
Each child was given a paper. All the children were given a paper.

EACH or EVERY?
• We tend to use EACH for two or more; we tend to use EVERY for three or more.

• We prefer EACH when we want to say that things are separate and different:
Each day is new and different.
Each of the people I asked gave a different answer.

• We use EVERY to emphasise that we are referring to the whole of something, or when talking
about times like days, weeks and years:
Every student must fill in a survey.
I enjoyed every minute of the film (=the whole film).
We visit our daughter every Christmas.

→ Remember that EACH and EVERY are followed by singular nouns and singular verbs.
→ EACH requires OF when followed by another determiner: Each of the candidates must write their
names on a different sheet of paper.
TEST
 TEST
1.- There are already a/some/the/lots people waiting outside to buy tickets.
There are already some people waiting outside to buy tickets.

2.- I don’t have some/any money. Do you have some/any money on you?
I don’t have any money. Do you have any money on you?

3.- Could you give me some/any bread?

Could you give me some bread?
→ Note that ‘some’ is used in questions when we expect a yes/no answer.

4.- I would be glad to answer some/every/any questions you may have.

I would be glad to answer any questions you may have.
→ Note that ‘any’ can be used in positive sentences to refer to quantities that may not
exist.

5.- I’m not sure if she has any/some brothers.

I’m not sure if she has any brothers.
→ ‘Any’ is often used in conditional sentences for quantities that may not exist.
 TEST
6.- Unfortunately, there are few/ a few/ little/ a little jobs available at present.
Unfortunately, there are few (=not enough) jobs available at present.
We use ‘few’ with plural countable nouns, meaning ‘not many/not enough’.

7.- The company has grown and now there are few/a few/little/a little jobs available.
The company has grown and now there are a few (=a small number; enough) jobs
available.
We use ‘a few’ with plural countable nouns, meaning ‘a small number, but
enough’.

8.- Unfortunately, by then we had few/a few/ little/ a little money left.
Unfortunately, by then we had little money left.
We use ‘little’ with uncountable nouns, meaning ‘not much’.

9.- The city is regaining few/ a few/ little/ a little prestige right now.
The city is regaining a little prestige right now.
We use ‘a little’ with uncountable nouns, meaning ‘a small amount’.
10.- You have met Peter, but I have two other/another brothers.
You have met Peter, but I have two other brothers.

11.- Could you please get another/other chair from next door?
Could you please get another chair from next door?
→ ‘Another’ is used with singular countable nouns, meaning ‘an additional person or
thing’.

12.- Most/ most of the universities offer a wide range of courses.

Most universities offer a wide range of courses.
→ With a general plural noun (i.e. when you are not referring to a specific entity), of the
is dropped. Compare: Most people (NOT: most of the people) are in favour of plastic surgery
(typical mistake). BUT: Most of the people I know are in favour of plastic surgery.

13.- Most/ most of the lecturers at this university have a PhD.

Most of the lecturers at this university have a PhD.
→ Here we are referring to a particular group: ‘lecturers at this university’, not any
university.

14.- Most/ most of them offer a wide range of courses.

Most of them offer a wide range of courses.
15.- Each/each of teacher was given a card, and each/each of the children was given a present
Each teacher was given a card, and each of the children was given a present.
→ ‘Each’ is always followed by a singular noun; ‘each of’ is followed by a plural noun or
pronoun and a singular verb.

16.- There was a prize in each/every competition.

There was a prize in each/every competition (=in all the competitions)

17.- Mary wore anklets on each/every ankle.

Mary wore anklets on each ankle. (only two elements in question)

18.- Each of/Every of us has a bike.

Each of us has a bike (NOT: Every of us) BUT: Every one of us has a bike.

19.- Almost every/each car in the car park was new.

Almost every car in the car park was new.
→ We use almost, practically and nearly with every, but not with each.
20.- That’ll be so nice for you both/both you!
That’ll be so nice for you both. (BUT: That’ll be nice for both of you)
→ ‘Both’ comes before the object pronoun when it is followed by a preposition (‘of’).

21.- They both learnt / they learnt both a lot from the course
They both learnt a lot from the course.
→SUBJECT + both + verb

22.- They are both / they both are waiting for the results of Friday’s exam.
They are both waiting for the results of Friday’s exam.
→ SUBJECT + modal/auxiliary/be + both

23.-Neither of them can swim/Both of them can’t swim.

Neither of them can swim.
→ Avoid using both in negative sentences; use either or neither instead.

24.-She didn’t like either dress / She didn’t like both dresses.
She didn’t like either dress.
→ Avoid using both in negative sentences; use either or neither instead.
S TU D Y TH E N O TES O N TH E V IRTU A L
C A M P U S A N D C O M P LETE TH E
EX ER C ISE .

FOR FURTHER PRACTICE, YOU CAN

BORROW THE FOLLOWING BOOKS FROM
T H E L I B R A R Y:
• M U R P H Y, R . ( 2 0 1 9 ) . E N G L I S H G R A M M A R
IN USE: A SELF-STUDY REFERENCE
AND PRACTICE BOOK FOR
I N T E R M E D I AT E S T U D E N T S O F
E N G L I S H . C A M B R I D G E : C U P.
• PRODROMOU, L. (2001). GRAMMAR &
V O C A B U L A RY F O R F I R S T C E R T I F I C AT E .
LONGMAN.
• V I N C E , M . ( 2 0 0 9 ) . F I R S T C E R T I F I C AT E
LANGUAGE PRACTICE. ENGLISH
GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY.
MACMILLAN PUBLISHERS.