Determiners and Quantifiers
Determiners come before a noun and tell which, how many or how much.
1. Countable vs uncountable
| Only countable | Only uncountable | Both |
|---|---|---|
| many, few, a few, fewer, several, a number of, each, every, either, neither, both | much, little, a little, less, a great deal of, an amount of | a lot of, lots of, plenty of, some, any, no, all, most, enough, more |
2. few / little family
- few, little (no article) = hardly any → negative: He has few friends. There is little hope.
- a few, a little = some → positive: I have a few friends. Add a little salt.
- the few, the little = not many/much, but all there is: the few rupees he had.
- quite a few = a fairly large number; only a few = a small number.
- fewer (number) vs less (quantity): fewer mistakes, less noise.
3. some / any / no / none
- some — positive sentences, offers and requests (Would you like some tea?).
- any — negatives and questions; also "no matter which" (take any book).
- no + noun (no milk); none stands alone or with "of" (none of my friends).
4. each / every / either / neither / both / all
- each, every, either, neither + singular noun + singular verb.
- each — individuals in a group (can be two): each of the two boys. every — all members of a group of three or more; cannot take "of" directly (every one of).
- every for intervals: every week, every five years.
- either = one of two; also "each of two": either side of the road. neither = none of two.
- both + plural noun; both … and (never both … as well as).
- all + plural or uncountable noun: all the students, all the milk.
- many a + singular noun + singular verb: Many a man has tried.
5. Number phrases
- a number of (= many) + plural verb; the number of + singular verb.
- a great deal of / an amount of + uncountable; a number of + countable.
- ten thousand people (after a number: no s, no of); thousands of people.
- Ordinal before cardinal: the first two chapters.
- most + noun (general); most of + the/my + noun.
6. other / another / enough
- another + singular noun (one more); others = other people/things (pronoun); the other = the remaining one of two.
- enough before a noun (enough money), after an adjective (old enough).