{"id":536,"date":"2012-03-06T09:00:50","date_gmt":"2012-03-06T14:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/?p=536"},"modified":"2012-03-02T17:03:57","modified_gmt":"2012-03-02T22:03:57","slug":"expressing-quantity-with-count-and-non-count-nouns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/expressing-quantity-with-count-and-non-count-nouns\/","title":{"rendered":"Expressing Quantity with Count and Non-count Nouns"},"content":{"rendered":"

In my last two previous posts I gave an introduction<\/a> into the difference between count and non-count nouns and discussed some exceptions<\/a> to the rules regarding these types of nouns.\u00a0 Today I am going to review what adjectives to use to express quantity based on whether a noun is count or non-count. Like articles (the, a, an<\/em>), quantifiers are words that precede and modify nouns. Quantifiers<\/strong> tell about quantity: how much or how many there is of something.\u00a0 Selecting the correct quantifier requires knowing whether a noun is count or non-count, or whether it is being used in a count or non-count sense.<\/p>\n

Here are some common quantifiers:<\/p>\n

Much <\/strong><\/em>or Many<\/strong><\/em>
\n\u201cMuch\u201d and \u201cmany\u201d are used in negative sentences and questions. Much is used with non-count nouns such as \u2018money.\u2019\u00a0 Many is used with count nouns such as \u2018dog(s).\u2019<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

How much<\/strong> money do you have?\u00a0 or<\/em>\u00a0 There isn’t much<\/strong> money left.<\/p>\n

How many<\/strong> dogs are there in the kennel*? or<\/em> There aren’t many<\/strong> dog left to be adopted.<\/p>\n

A Lot Of <\/strong><\/em>or Lots Of<\/strong><\/em>
\n\u201cA lot of\u201d and \u201clots of\u201d can be used with both count and non-count nouns.\u00a0 A lot of and lots of are used in positive sentences.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

There is a lot of<\/strong> money in my wallet. or<\/em> There is lots of<\/strong> money in my wallet.<\/p>\n

There are lots of<\/strong> dogs in this neighborhood. or<\/em> There are a lot of<\/strong> dogs in this neighborhood.<\/p>\n

(A) Little <\/strong><\/em>or (A) Few<\/strong><\/em>
\n\u201cA little\u201d and \u201ca few\u201d indicate a quantity or number. Use \u201ca little\u201d with non-count nouns and use \u201ca few\u201d with count nouns.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

There is a little<\/strong> money left.<\/p>\n

He has a few<\/strong> dogs.<\/p>\n

Note:<\/em> There is an important a difference between \u201ca little\u201d and \u201clittle\u201d (used with non-count words) and between \u201ca few\u201d and \u201cfew\u201d (used with count words).<\/p>\n

A little <\/strong><\/em>vs. Little<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

If I say, “John has a little experience<\/em> in coaching.”\u00a0 This means that although John is not an expert he has some experience and that experience is probably enough.\u00a0 But, if I say, “John has little experience<\/em> in coaching.”\u00a0 This means he does not have enough experience.<\/p>\n

A few <\/strong><\/em>vs. Few<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

If I say, “Kerry owns a few books<\/em> on English literature.”\u00a0 This means, she has some books, not a lot of books, but probably enough.\u00a0 But, if I say, “Kerry owns few books<\/em> on English literature.” This means she does not have enough books and she will need more.<\/p>\n

Here is a table of quantifiers which summarizes which types of nouns (count, non-count, or both) these adjectives can be used with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Count<\/strong><\/td>\nNon-count<\/strong><\/td>\nBoth count & non-count<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
many, a few, few, several, a couple of, none of the<\/td>\nnot much, little, a little, a bit of, a good deal of<\/td>\nall of the, most of the, some, enough, a lot of, lots of,\u00a0plenty of, a lack of<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

I hope this review of count and non-count nouns has been helpful in general and that this last post has helped to expand your vocabulary of quantifiers and help you to use them correctly.<\/p>\n

* kennel = a shelter for dogs or cats<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In my last two previous posts I gave an introduction into the difference between count and non-count nouns and discussed some exceptions to the rules regarding these types of nouns.\u00a0 Today I am going to review what adjectives to use to express quantity based on whether a noun is count or non-count. Like articles (the…<\/p>\n

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