EXPRESSING QUANTITY
We can express definite or indefinite (approximate) amounts of something. The use of such expressions is sometimes limited by whether they precede a countable or an uncountable noun.
DEFINITE AMOUNTS WITH COUNTABLE NOUNS
The noun is preceded by a number – a cardinal numeral.
three chairs, five trees, 124 pupils
DEFINITE AMOUNTS WITH UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
The noun is preceded by a number and a unit of measurement.
three bags of flour, 2 spoons of sugar, 5 liters of water, 1 cup of coffee, two glasses of beer, one piece of advice
INDEFINITE AMOUNTS WITH COUNTABLE NOUNS
We use expressions like: few, a few, too few, fewer, many, too many
I have few real friends, but I have quite a few acquaintances.
I have fewer friends than John.
We have too few eggs to make a cake, but we have many biscuits you can eat.
INDEFINITE AMOUNTS WITH UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
We use expressions like: little, a little, too little, less, much, too much
A little wine with your meal is good for you, but you shouldn't drink too much.
You shouldn't drink so much coffee. You should drink less of it.
Some expressions can be used with countable and uncountable nouns.
We have a lot of beer. There are a lot of people here. This house has a lot of rooms.
There are plenty of chairs inside. You should drink plenty of water.
We have some flour and some eggs, but not enough milk and barely enough nuts to make a cake.
We can express definite or indefinite (approximate) amounts of something. The use of such expressions is sometimes limited by whether they precede a countable or an uncountable noun.
DEFINITE AMOUNTS WITH COUNTABLE NOUNS
The noun is preceded by a number – a cardinal numeral.
three chairs, five trees, 124 pupils
DEFINITE AMOUNTS WITH UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
The noun is preceded by a number and a unit of measurement.
three bags of flour, 2 spoons of sugar, 5 liters of water, 1 cup of coffee, two glasses of beer, one piece of advice
INDEFINITE AMOUNTS WITH COUNTABLE NOUNS
We use expressions like: few, a few, too few, fewer, many, too many
I have few real friends, but I have quite a few acquaintances.
I have fewer friends than John.
We have too few eggs to make a cake, but we have many biscuits you can eat.
INDEFINITE AMOUNTS WITH UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
We use expressions like: little, a little, too little, less, much, too much
A little wine with your meal is good for you, but you shouldn't drink too much.
You shouldn't drink so much coffee. You should drink less of it.
Some expressions can be used with countable and uncountable nouns.
We have a lot of beer. There are a lot of people here. This house has a lot of rooms.
There are plenty of chairs inside. You should drink plenty of water.
We have some flour and some eggs, but not enough milk and barely enough nuts to make a cake.