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QUANTIFIERS. UNCOUNTABLE-NOUNS. L ittle and a Little are used with non-count nouns , that is, such that we can't express in number but in quantity, as an amount . Form (a) little + uncountable noun For example: I have little milk in the fridge. It's almost finished.
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UNCOUNTABLE-NOUNS • Little and a Littleare used with non-count nouns, that is, such that we can't express in number but in quantity, as an amount. • Form(a) little + uncountable noun For example: • I have little milk in the fridge. It's almost finished. (talking about the amount of something, as milk is measured in some quantity, but not in number) • I ate just a little. I don't eat much in the evening. (talking about the quantity of food, food is not measured in numbers, neither)
COUNTABLE-NOUNS Generally, Few and AFeware used with count nouns, therefore describing how big or small is the number of things. • Form - (a) few + plural countable noun For example: • Few people came to the party. (talking about the number of people) • I have already talked to a few people.
Few – LittleAre used to express a negative idea. We mean unsatisfactory number or amount of something, not enoughConsider the examples:- I feel sorry for her. She has (very) few friends.(Negative idea: She does not have many friends; she has almost no friends.)- There was few biscuits.- I have (very) little money. I don't even have enough money to buy food for dinner.(Negative idea: I do not have much money; I have almost no money.)- Therewaslittlecoffee.Note: the use of very (+few/little) makes the negative stronger, the number/amount smaller.
AFew - ALittleWe have a positive idea. That is, we mean the number or amount of something is satisfactory. Maybe not so many or not so much, but enough.Consider these examples:- She has been here only two weeks, but she has already made a few friends. (Positive idea: She has made some friends already.)- Therewas a fewbiscuits.- I'm very pleased. I've been able to save a little money this month. (Positive idea: I have saved some money instead of spending all of it.) - Therewas a littlecoffee. A few/ a little give a positive idea; they indicate that something exists, is present, as in the examples above.
Note: If we use a few or a little before a pronoun or determiner, we use of.Examples: - A few of them went to the cinema.- He only kept a little of his money with him.
Making comparisonsThe comparative form of "few" is fewer, and the comparative form of "little" is less.Remember: use "fewer" for plural countable nouns, and "less" for uncountable nouns.For example,"There are fewer people here than last year" or "He drinks less coffee than I do".It is grammatically incorrect to say "There are less people here than last year", as "people" is a plural countable noun.
A LOT OF , LOTS OFThese two expressions both mean a great deal of or several. They are used before a count or non-count noun. These two expressions tend to be used in informal English. - Form: A lot of - Lotsof + singular or plural nameExamples:- He'sgotlots ofbooks. - I'vegota lot ofexperienceat work. - We have seen a lot of changes in this company- There are lots of job opportunities in this country.
LOT OF • Use a lot at the end of a sentence as an adverb. A lot is NOT followed by a noun. The meaning is the same as a great deal. Examples: • I enjoy swimming a lot. • Mary seems to travel a lot.
ENOUGH Form: • adjective or adverb + enough • enough + noun • enough + of + pronoun/determiner Usage: 1. We use enough to mean sufficient. Examples: • Your clothes are big enough to fit me. • You've done enough work. You can stop now. • Have you got enough money to buy me a drink?
2. We use enough in negative sentences to mean less than sufficient or less than necessary. You're not working fast enough, you won't finish on time.Sorry, I haven't got enough food for everyone.Not enough of my friends are coming to the party.
3. We can use enough without a noun if the meaning is clear. There's a lot of food but not enough for everyone.
