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Understanding Much, Little, Many, Few

The document explains the use of quantifiers in English, specifically focusing on 'much', 'many', 'a little', 'a few', 'little', and 'few'. It outlines their appropriate contexts, such as using 'much' in negative sentences and questions, and differentiating between 'a few' (some but not many) and 'few' (nearly none). Additionally, it provides examples to illustrate the correct usage of these terms with countable and uncountable nouns.

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Timea Horváth
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8 views1 page

Understanding Much, Little, Many, Few

The document explains the use of quantifiers in English, specifically focusing on 'much', 'many', 'a little', 'a few', 'little', and 'few'. It outlines their appropriate contexts, such as using 'much' in negative sentences and questions, and differentiating between 'a few' (some but not many) and 'few' (nearly none). Additionally, it provides examples to illustrate the correct usage of these terms with countable and uncountable nouns.

Uploaded by

Timea Horváth
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

MUCH + uncountable noun We have many friends/ a lot of

(a)LITTLE + uncountable noun friends.

 We use much in questions and


negative sentences, but not usually
in positive sentences:
e.g. Do you drink much coffee/ a lot of
(a) FEW + countable noun
coffee?
 a few = some but not many
I don’t drink much coffee/ a lot of
e.g. Last night I wrote a few letters.
coffee.
We’re going away for a few
days.
BUT: I drink a lot of coffee.
I speak a few words of Spanish.
(not: I drink much coffee.)
‘Do you drink much coffee?’ ‘Yes, a lot.’
(not ‘much’)
 Few (without a) = nearly no…
e.g. There were few people in the
park. It was nearly empty.
(a) LITTLE + uncountable noun  You can say very few:
 a little = some but not much e.g. Your English is very correct. You
e.g. She didn’t eat anything but she make very few mistakes.
drank a little water.
I speak a little Spanish.

 little (without a) = nearly no...


or nearly nothing
e.g. There was little food in the fridge.
It was nearly empty.
 You can use very little:
e.g. Dan is very thin because he eats
very little.

MANY + countable noun


(a)FEW + countable noun

 We use many and a lot of in all


types of sentences:
e.g. Do you have many friends/ a
lot of friends?
We don’t have many friends/ a lot
of friends.

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