Grammar: Quantifiers

Posted January 11, 2015 by Kathy Davie in Author Resources, Editing, Grammar Explanations, Self-Editing, Writing

Quantifier is a fancy way to say “count”. Now, whether it’s an exact count (a definite quantifier) or a general idea of lots, few, or some (an indefinite quantifier) depends upon the context or the idea you want to provide your reader.

Grammar Explanations is . . .

. . . an evolving list of the structural rules and principles that determines where words are placed in phrases or sentences as well as how the language is spoken. Sometimes I run across an example that helps explain better or another “also known as”. Heck, there’s always a better way to explain it, so if it makes quicker and/or better sense, I would appreciate suggestions and comments from anyone on an area of grammar with which you struggle or on which you can contribute more understanding.

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Quantifier

Definition: A word, number, or phrase that usually precedes a noun and tells how much or how many there is of something.

See “Nouns” for details on countable and uncountable nouns.

List of Indefinite Quantifiers

Use with Countable & Uncountable Nouns

Use Only with Countable Nouns

Use Only with Uncountable Nouns

Often Used with Abstract Nouns

a load of
a lot of
all
any
enough
less
heaps of
loads of
lots
lots of
more
most
no
none of
plenty of
some
tons of . . .

a couple of
a large number of
an
both
each
either
every
(a) few
fewer
hundreds of
many
neither
several
thousands of . . .
one, two, three . . .
1, 2, 3 . . .

a bit of
a little
(not) much

a good deal of
a great deal of
a large amount of

Example Sentences

Legend:

Blue indicates the quantifier

Mark ate three huge desserts

It was just a bit of fun.

We’ve spent a good deal of time on this.

There are many trees in a forest.

Noun Goes After Quantifier

Rule: When speaking of members of a group in general, put a noun after the quantifier.

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Examples:

Legend:

Blue indicates the quantifier
Orange indicates the noun

Few tulips emerged.

Both the tulips and roses were beautiful this year.

Is it possible to have enough flowers?

Specific Group

Rule: When speaking of a specific group of people or things, use of the.

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Examples:

Legend:

Blue indicates the of the

Few of the tulips are still alive.

All of the rosebushes bloomed this summer.

Is it possible to have all of the flowers you want?

Two People or Things

Rule: When speaking of two people or things, use both, either *, or neither *.

* Only use with a singular verb.

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Examples:

Legend:

Blue indicates the quantifier
Orange indicates the singular verb

Both kids were grounded.

You can have either ice cream or chocolate.

I’m sorry, but neither Mary nor George can come play.

Each, Every means All

Rule: Use each or every with a singular noun to mean all.

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Examples:

Each / Every

All

Each horse has their own stall.

He hauled down a bale of hay and fed each of the horses.

Every gift box was festooned with ribbons.

It felt as though every muscle in her body was sore.

All of the horses have their own stalls.

He hauled down a bale of hay and fed all of the horses.

All of the gift boxes are festooned with ribbons.

It felt as though all of the muscles in her body were sore.

Legend:

Green indicates the singular word
Blue indicates the quantifier
Orange indicates the plural word

Using Number

Rule: The word, number, can be:

Singular – the number	Plural – a number
The number of people voting for Bush was astonishing.	A number of us have volunteered to get off the bus. Legend: Green indicates the singular/plural indicator Blue indicates the verb

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Satisfy your curiosity about other Grammar Explanations by exploring its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Word Confusions, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.