Quantifiers: much, many, little, few, some, any - A2 Grammar

1. Which sentence is correct?

• A. How many money do you need?
• B. How much money do you need? ✓
• C. How few money do you need?
• D. How little money do you need?

Answer: How much money do you need?

Money is uncountable. How much for uncountable nouns. Never how many money.

2. Which sentence is correct?

• A. I did not buy some bread.
• B. I did not buy any bread. ✓
• C. I did not buy many bread.
• D. I did not buy few bread.

Answer: I did not buy any bread.

Any in negative sentences. Bread is uncountable, so not many or few.

3. Which sentence is correct?

• A. There is very few sugar left.
• B. There is very little sugar left. ✓
• C. There is very many sugar left.
• D. There is very much sugar left.

Answer: There is very little sugar left.

Sugar is uncountable. Little for a small amount of uncountable nouns. Few is for countable nouns.

4. Which sentence is correct?

• A. Would you like some coffee? ✓
• B. Would you like any coffee?
• C. Would you like many coffee?
• D. Would you like much coffee?

Answer: Would you like some coffee?

Some in offers and polite questions. Coffee is uncountable.

5. Which sentence is correct?

• A. Only a little people came to the party.
• B. Only a few people came to the party. ✓
• C. Only a much people came to the party.
• D. Only a many people came to the party.

Answer: Only a few people came to the party.

People is countable (plural). A few for a small number of countable nouns.

6. Which sentence is correct?

• A. Are there some seats available?
• B. Are there much seats available?
• C. Are there any seats available? ✓
• D. Are there little seats available?

Answer: Are there any seats available?

Any in questions. Seats is countable (plural).

7. Which sentence is correct?

• A. I have much good friends.
• B. I have many good friends. ✓
• C. I have little good friends.
• D. I have a few good friend.

Answer: I have many good friends.

Friends is countable (plural). Many for a large number. Positive sentence.

8. Which sentence is correct?

• A. She does not have some experience.
• B. She does not have many experience.
• C. She does not have any experience. ✓
• D. She does not have few experience.

Answer: She does not have any experience.

Experience is uncountable. Any in negative sentences. Never many or few with uncountable nouns.

9. Which sentence is correct?

• A. There is many traffic today.
• B. There is much traffic today. ✓
• C. There are many traffic today.
• D. There is any traffic today.

Answer: There is much traffic today.

Traffic is uncountable (it is a mass noun). Much for uncountable. There is (not are) with uncountable.

10. Which sentence is correct?

• A. How much books did you buy?
• B. How few books did you buy?
• C. How many books did you buy? ✓
• D. How little books did you buy?

Answer: How many books did you buy?

Books is countable (plural). How many for countable nouns.

1. Massimo Bottura is one of the most famous chefs in the world. When he was young, there were very _____ cooking schools in his city, so he taught himself by reading and experimenting.<br> In the early days of his restaurant, he did not have _____ money and there was very little space in his kitchen.<br> He spent _____ years working in New York and Paris before returning to Modena, Italy.<br> Today, his restaurant Osteria Francescana holds three Michelin stars and there are not _____ tables - reservations are almost impossible to get.<br> Bottura also runs a social project to feed homeless people. He wastes very _____ food and uses leftovers from markets to create nutritious meals.

• A. few
• B. little
• C. any
• D. much
• E. many
• F. some
• G. some
• H. any
• I. many
• J. many
• K. much
• L. any
• M. little
• N. few
• O. much

Answer: few, much, some, many, little

Few = small number of countable (schools, tables). Much = large/small amount of uncountable (money). Some = positive sentence (years). Little = small amount of uncountable (food).

1. left / there / milk / is / any / ?

Answer: Is there any milk left?

Any in questions. Milk is uncountable. There is (singular) with uncountable nouns.

2. do / how / languages / many / speak / you / ?

Answer: How many languages do you speak?

How many for countable nouns (languages). Question: How many + plural noun + do + subject + verb?

3. not / have / any / I / do / time

Answer: I do not have any time.

Any in negative sentences. Time is uncountable.

4. left / there / very / sugar / is / little

Answer: There is very little sugar left.

Little for a small amount of uncountable nouns (sugar). Very emphasises the small quantity.

5. friends / she / has / good / some

Answer: She has some good friends.

Some in positive sentences. Friends is countable.

6. money / much / cost / how / does / this / ?

Answer: How much does this cost?

How much for price (uncountable). How much + does + subject + verb?

7. few / came / only / meeting / to / a / people / the

Answer: Only a few people came to the meeting.

A few = a small number of countable nouns (people). Only emphasises the small number.

8. information / there / about / is / available / little / topic / the

Answer: There is little information available about the topic.

Little for a small amount of uncountable nouns (information).

9. coffee / like / would / some / you / ?

Answer: Would you like some coffee?

Some in polite offers. Coffee is uncountable.

10. people / how / were / many / there / event / at / the / ?

Answer: How many people were there at the event?

How many for countable nouns (people). Were (past tense) with plural.

1. You are a friendly English tutor doing a structured speaking drill with an A2 student. The grammar focus is: (1) much + uncountable nouns in negatives/questions, (2) many + countable plural nouns in negatives/questions, (3) little + uncountable nouns for a small amount, (4) few + countable plural nouns for a small number, (5) some + any noun in positive sentences, (6) any + any noun in negatives and questions. STRUCTURE: Ask exactly 6 questions, one at a time. Wait for the student's full answer before asking the next one. QUESTIONS TO ASK (in this order): 1. 'Let us talk about your daily life. How much time do you spend on your phone every day? And how many apps do you use regularly?' (Target: I spend a lot of time / I do not spend much time. I use many apps / I use only a few apps. Check: much for time (uncountable), many/few for apps (countable).) 2. 'Tell me about your kitchen. Is there much food in your fridge right now? Are there many vegetables or is there very little?' (Target: There is not much food. There are some vegetables but very little fruit. Check: much/little for food/fruit (uncountable), many/few for vegetables (countable).) 3. 'How many people do you know who speak more than two languages? Do you have much experience with other languages yourself?' (Target: I know a few people who speak many languages. I have some experience / I do not have much experience. Check: many/few for people (countable), much for experience (uncountable).) 4. 'I will give you a situation. Tell me what you would say. You are at a cafe. The waiter asks what you want. How do you ask about the coffee and the sandwiches?' (Target: Do you have any decaf coffee? How much does this sandwich cost? Could I have some water please? Check: any in questions, much for price, some in requests.) 5. 'Think about your city. Is there much traffic? Are there many parks? Is there any good public transport?' (Target: There is a lot of traffic / there is not much traffic. There are many parks / there are very few parks. There is some good transport / there is not any. Check quantifiers match countable/uncountable nouns throughout.) 6. 'Final question. Tell me about your free time. Do you have much free time? How many hobbies do you have? And is there any activity you would like to do more of?' (Target: I do not have much free time. I have a few hobbies. There are some activities I would like to try. Check: much for time (uncountable), many/few for hobbies (countable), any for the question.) FEEDBACK RULES: - Never explain the grammar rule. Recast errors naturally. - If student says 'how many money' or 'much friends': recast - 'Oh, you have many friends! That is great.' or 'You do not have much money? That is tricky.' - If student uses some in a negative ('I do not have some time'): recast - 'You do not have any time! That sounds stressful.' - If student uses few with uncountable ('very few traffic'): recast - 'Yes, there is very little traffic! That must be nice.' - Keep your own language at A2 level. - After all 6 questions, give one genuine specific compliment and say goodbye.

1. Question 1