QUANTIFIERS WITH AND WITHOUT “OF”

We usually need to put of after quantifiers that are followed by a pronoun, a determiner or a possessive form before a noun.

Compare:

Quantifier	Without of	With of
Some	I made some fresh coffee and handed a cup to Adam.	Some of my jewellery is missing.
Any	Don’t pay any attention to what she says.	Have you seen any of these new light bulbs in the shops yet?
Much	She did the job, but without much enthusiasm.	Snow is now covering much of the country.
Many	Many talented young scientists are moving to Australia.	She gave many of her best paintings to her friends.
Both	Both Alice and Tim enjoy cycling.	Both of my parents are teachers.
All	All people over 18 are required to vote.	All of Bob’s closest friends were women.
Each	He wrote down the cost of each item in his shopping basket.	Each of you should sign the register before you leave.
None	She searched the shelves for books on yoga, but could find none.	I tried on lots of coats but none of them fitted perfectly.
Few	There was silence for a few seconds, and then she began to speak.	They had a few of their friends round.
Little	It’ll take a little time, but I should be able to mend it.	Little of his money came from his parents.

NOTE: However, notice the following about many, all/both and each.

v We can use many between a determiner or possessive form and a following noun, particularly in rather formal speech and writing.

Example: The letter could have been sent by any of his many enemies.

v We can use much or many with this and that.

Compare:

- I’ve never had this much money before.

- Many boys enjoy football. (= about boys in general) and

- Many of the boys enjoy football. (= about a particular group of boys)

v After personal pronouns we use all/both, not all of/both of.

Compare:

- I’ve given all of/both of them to Bob/I’ve given them all/both to Bob.

- All of/Both of them need cleaning/They all/both need cleaning.

v In informal contexts we can leave out of before the, these, those (and this or that with all); my, her, his, etc., but not before them, you, or us (and it with all)

Compare:

- Are you going to eat all (of) that cake, or can I finish it?

- All champagne comes from France. (= about champagne in general)

- All (of) the champagne we sell is from France. (= about a particular type of champagne)

v We can use each before articles, pronouns such as my, her, and our and possessive forms, when it means ‘each one’.

Example: I could see five young elephants, each the size of a car. (= each one)

FEW AND LITTLE

1) (A) FEW

We use (a) few with plural countable nouns.

Compare:

- I’ve got a few close friends that I meet regularly. (positive)

- He has few close friends and often feels lonely. (negative)

- A few of her songs were popular and she was very well known. (positive)

- Few of her songs were very popular and eventually she gave up her musical career. (negative)

2) (A) LITTLE

We use (a) little with uncountable nouns.

Compare:

- I have to go now, I have a little work to do. (positive)

- There was little work to do, so I didn’t earn much money. (negative)

- We had a little money left, so we went out for a meal. (positive)

- We decided to abandon our trip as we had little money left. (negative)

NOTE:

Ø We often use a few and a little in a ‘positive’ way; for example, to talk about a small amount or quantity, to indicate that this is enough, or suggest that it is more than we would expect.

Ø We often use few and little in a ‘negative’ way; for example, to suggest that the amount or quantity is not enough, is surprisingly low. This use of few and little is often rather formal.

3) FEW AND LITTLE

We can also use few and little with the, her, my, etc. in a similar ‘negative’ way.

Example:

- She put her few clothes into a bag, and walked out of the house for ever.

- We should use the little time we have available to discuss Jon’s proposal.

NOTE:

Ø In speech or informal writing, it is more usual to use not many/much or only a few/little instead of few and little, and we often use a bit of in informal speech instead of a little.

Compare:

- I won’t be long. I’ve only got a few things to get. (rather than …got few things…)

- Sorry I haven’t finished, I haven’t much time to do today. (rather than …I had little time…)

- Do you want a bit of chocolate? (rather than …a little chocolate?)

Ø In more formal contexts, such as academic writing, we generally prefer few and little

Example: The results take little account of personal preference. (rather than …don’t take much…)

NO/NONE AND NOT A/NOT ANY

1) NO AND NONE

Ø We use no + noun.

Example:

- She had no shoes on.

- No information was given about how the study was conducted.

- There is no train until tomorrow.

Ø We use none without any noun after it.

Example:

- Have we got any more sugar? There’s none in the kitchen.

- ‘How many children have you got?’ ‘None.’

Ø We use no or none (of) instead of not a or not any to emphasize the negative idea in a sentence.

Compare:

Less emphatic	More emphatic
- There isn’t a key for this door. - She didn’t give me any help at all. - Sorry, there isn’t any left. - She didn’t have any of the typical symptoms of cholera.	- There’s no key for this door. - She gave no help at all. - Sorry, there is none left. - She had none of the typical symptoms of cholera.

Ø We use no or none (of) but we can’t use not any in initial position in a clause or sentence.

Example:

- No force was needed to make them move. (not Not any force was needed…)

- None of the children was awake. (not Not any of children…)

NOTE: We often prefer no and none of rather than not any in formal written English.

2) NOT A

We use not a in a formal or literary style we can use not a in initial position in a clause or sentence.

Example:

- Not a word would she say about the robbery.

- Not a sound came from the classroom.

3) NO

After no, we use a singular noun in situations where we would expect one of something, and a plural noun where we would expect more than one.

Compare:

- Since his resignation, the team has had no manager. (rather than …had no managers.)

- There were no biscuits left. (rather than …was no biscuit left.)

- He seems very lonely at school, and has no friends. (rather than …no friend.)

NOTE: Sometimes we can use either a singular or plural noun with little difference in meaning.

Example:

- No answer (or answers) could be found.

- We want to go to the island but there’s no boat (or no boats) to take us.

4) NONE OF

We can use none of with a plural noun and the verb can be either singular or plural, although the singular form is usually more formal.

Example:

- None of the children were awake. (or …was awake.)

- None of the parcels have arrived yet. (or …has arrived yet.)

NOTE: However, when we use none with an uncountable noun the verb must be singular.

- None of the water was kept in the jar.

- None of the money has been transferred to the United States.

5) NO AMOUNT OF

If we want to give emphasis to no or none of we can use phrases like no amount of with uncountable nouns and not one (of) with singular countable nouns.

Example:

- She was so seriously ill that no amount of expensive treatment could cure her.

- It was clear that no amount of negotiation would bring the employers and workers closer together.

- Not one member of the History department attended the meeting.

- Not one of the hundreds of families affected by the noise wants to move.

EACH, EVERY AND ALL

1). EACH AND EVERY WITH THE SAME MEANING

We can use each (of) and every with singular countable nouns to mean all things or people in a group of two or more each (of) or three or more every.

Example:

- The program is on every (or each) weekday morning at 10:00.

- Each (or every) ticket costs $ 40.

NOTE

Ø We use a singular verb after each (of) and every.

Example: Following the flood, every building in the area needs major repair work. (not…need…)

Ø However, when each follows the noun or pronoun it refers to, the noun and verb are plural.

Example: Every student is rested twice a year. They are each given a hundred questions to do.

Ø Notice that we use they, their and them to refer back to phrases such as ‘each soldier’, ‘every candidate’ etc. which do not indicate a specific gender (male or female).

Compare:

- Each woman complained that she (or they) had been unfairly treated.

- Every candidate said that they thought the interview was too long.

2). EACH AND EVERY WITH LITTLE DIFFERENT IN MEANING

Often we use every or each (of) with little difference in meaning.

a). We use every:

Ø with almost, nearly, virtually, etc. that emphasize we are talking about a group as a whole.

Example: Almost every visitor stopped and stared. (not Almost each visitor…)

Ø if we are talking about a large group with an indefinite number of things or people in it.

Example:

- Before I met Daniel, I thought every small child liked sweets! (rather than…each…)

- Every new car now has to be fitted with seat belts. (rather than…each…)

Ø with a plural noun when every is followed by a number.

Example: I go to the dentist every six months. (rather than…each six months)

Ø in phrases referring to regular or repeated events such as every other (kilometer), every single (day), every so often, every few (months), every now and again (= occasionally).

Ø with abstract uncountable noun such as chance, confidence, hope, reason, and sympathy to show a positive attitude to what we are saying. Here every means ‘complete’ or ‘total’.

Example: She has every chance of success in her application for the job.

b). We use each:

Ø if we are thinking about the individual members of the group.

Compare:

- We greeted each guest as they entered. (Emphasizes that we greeted them individually)

- We greeted every guest as they entered. (Means something like ‘all the guests’)

3). ALL AND EVERY

When we use all (with plural or uncountable nouns) or every (with singular countable nouns) to talk about things or people in a group they have a similar meaning.

Example:

- Have you eaten all the apples?

- He ate every apple in the house.

NOTE: However, when we use all or every to talk about time, their meaning is usually different.

Example:

- John stayed all weekend. (= the whole of the week)

- John stayed every weekend when he was at the university. (= without exception)

ALL, THE WHOLE AND BOTH

1). ALL AND ALL OF

We use all or all of when we are talking about the total number of things or people in a group, or the total amount of something.

Example:

- All (of) my brothers and sisters were at the airport to see me off.

- The baby seems to cry all (of) the time.

NOTE:

Ø To make negative sentences with all we normally use not all, particularly in a formal style,.

Example: Not all the seats were taken. (rather than All the seats were not taken)

Ø However, in spoken English we sometimes use all…not. We can also use none (of). But notice that not all and none (of) have a different meaning.

Compare:

- Not all my cousins were at the wedding. (= some of them were there) and

- None of my cousins were at the wedding. (= not one of them were there)

POSITION OF ALL

Ø Notice where we should put all in the following sentences in order to make those sentences meaningful or more accurate.

Example:

- We are all going to Athens during the vacation. (rather than We all are going…)

- They have all heard the news already. (rather than They all have heard…)

- All (of) their hard work had been of no use. (not Their all hard work…)

- These are all confidential files. (not These are all…)

Ø In modern English we don’t use all without a noun or mean ‘everyone’ or ‘everything’

Example:

- Everyone was waiting to hear the results. (not All were waiting…)

- I don’t agree with all that he said. (= everything that he said)

Ø We can also use all without a noun to mean ‘the only thing.’

Example: All she wants to do is help.

2). ALL (OF) THE AND THE WHOLE (OF)

Ø Before singular countable nouns we usually use the whole (of) rather than all (of) the.

Example:

- They weren’t able to stay for the whole concert. (rather than …all (of) the concert.)

- The whole of the field was flooded. (rather than All (of) the field was flooded.)

NOTE: However, in informal speech all (of) the is sometimes used in this way.

Ø Before plural nouns we can use all (of) or whole, but they have different meanings.

Compare:

- All (of the) towns had their electricity cut off. (= every town in an area) and

- After the storm, whole towns were left without electricity. (= some towns were completely affected)

3). BOTH (OF) AND ALL (OF)

Ø We use both (of) when we want to talk about two things together. Both (of) and all (of) are used in the same places in sentences.

Compare:

- Both (of) the houses have now been sold.

- Are both of you (or Are you both) going to the conference?

- I went on holiday with both of them (or …with them both…) last year.

- They have both finished their dinner. (rather than They both have finished…)

NOTE: We don’t usually use negative sentences with both (of). Instead we can use neither (of).

Example: Neither of them knew the answer. (rather than Both of them didn’t know the answer.)

v However, in informal speech both (of) is sometimes used in this way.

Ø

MUCH, MANY AND A LOT OF

1). MANY

We generally use “many” in questions and negative sentences with countable noun.

Example:

- Have you got many pens in your bag?

- She doesn’t have many cars.

2). MUCH

We also use “much” in questions and negative sentences but with uncountable noun.

Example:

- Is there much water left?

- We don’t spend much money.

3). A LOT OF/ LOTS OF

We mostly use “a lot of/lots of” in positive sentences with both countable and uncountable noun.

Example:

- He drinks a lot of beer in the pub.

- I can speak lots of languages.

NOTE 1: We often use plenty of instead of a lot of. However, plenty of means ‘enough, or more than enough’ and is therefore not likely in certain contexts.

Compare:

- We took lots of food and drink on our walk through the hills. (or …plenty of…) and

- Jim doesn’t look well. He’s lost a lot of weight. (‘plenty of’ is unlikely here)

NOTE 2: Unnaturally, we can use “many, much and a lot of/lots of” in all sentences—questions, positive and negative sentences.

Example:

- Many people are poor in Cambodia.

- She has much time to do everything.

- I don’t have a lot of computers to repair.

- Do you import a lot of cars from the United States?

SOME AND ANY

1). SOME AND ANY

We generally use some and any with count and uncountable nouns, usually when we are talking about unknown or uncertain amounts or numbers of things.

Example:

- I have some coffee for you. (uncountable noun)

- Can I ask you some questions? (countable noun)

- Janny doesn’t get any information. (uncountable noun)

- Do you receive any pictures from Jame? (countable noun)

2). SOME

We normally use some in positive sentence only.

Example:

- She had some doubts about the decision.

- I had some trouble building the house.

- John lost some money this morning.

NOTE: We can also use some in question when we want to offer or request something from someone or someone to do something.

Example:

- Can I borrow you some money, please? (request)

- Would you like some orange juice? (offer)

3). ANY

We usually use any in question (general question) and negative sentence only.

Example:

- We haven’t got any butter left.

- Do you any better ideas?

4) OTHER USES OF SOME AND ANY WITH THE SAME IN MEANING

We can also use a number of compound words begin with some and any such as someone/anyone, somebody/anybody, something/anything, and somewhere/anywhere.

Example:

- I thought I heard someone knocking at the door.

- Is there anyone at home?

NOTE: The use of these words is generally the same as that some and any describe above. Notice that we use a singular verb with them.

Example:

- If anybody calls, tell them I’m not at home. (not If anybody call…)

- Someone wants to see you in a few minutes later. (not Someone want…)

5). OTHER USES OF SOME AND ANY WITH THE DIFFERENT IN MEANING

SOME

ANY

v When we mean quite a large amount of or large number of something. Ex: The talks went on at some length. (= a long time) v When we mean ‘not all’ Ex: Some people don’t like drinking coffee. v In offers and requests in order to sound positive, expecting the answer ‘Yes.’ Ex: Shall I send you some details?

v When we mean ‘all (of them), and it’s not important which.’ Ex: Any of the students could have answered the question. (‘Some of students…’ here would mean ‘some, but not all’) v When any means ‘If there is/are any’ Ex: Any questions should be sent to the manager. (If there are any questions…) v Commonly in ‘if-clauses’ Ex: If you have any problems, let me know. (‘some’ is possible, but is more positive, expecting problems)

HOLIDAY, TIMES OF THE DAY AND MEAL

Ø We often use “zero article” with the names of holidays, special times of the year, or with the names of months and days of the week: Easter, Ramadan, New Year’s Day, September, Monday…

Compare:

- I’ll see you on Saturday. (= next Saturday)

- They arrived on the Saturday as far as I can remember. (= we are only interested in the day of the week, not which particular Saturday)

- They arrived on the Saturday after my birthday party. (= a particular Saturday, specifying which one)

NOTE: With winter, summer, spring, autumn, and New Year (meaning the holiday period), we can often use either “the” or “zero article.”

Example:

- In (the) summer I try to spend as much time in the garden as I can.

- In Scotland, they really know how to celebrate (the) New Year.

Ø We use “the” when we understood which summer, spring, etc.

Example:

- ‘When did you meet Beth?’ ‘In the summer.’(= last summer)

- ‘When are you going to university?’ ‘In the autumn.’ (= next autumn)

- I first went skiing in the spring of 2008.

NOTE1: We say ‘in the New Year’ to mean at or near the beginning of next year.

Example: I’ll see you again in the New Year.

NOTE2: When we want to describe the features of a particular holiday, season, etc., we use “a/an.”

Example: That was a winter I’ll never forget.

Ø We use “the” and “a/an” in the usual way when we talk about the morning/afternoon/evening of a particular day.

Example:

- I woke up with a sore throat, and by the evening my voice had disappeared.

- We’re going in the afternoon.

- ‘You look upset.’ ‘Yes, I’ve had a terrible morning.’

NOTE: We use “zero article” with “at night” and “by night”

Compare:

- She kept us awake all through the night.

- I don’t like driving at night.

Ø We use “zero article” when we talk about meals.

Example:

- What have we got for dinner?

- I don’t like drinking coffee at breakfast.

NOTE1: We wouldn’t say, for example, ‘I had a/the breakfast before I went out’. However, if we want to describe a particular meal, then we can use an article.

Example:

- We didn’t get up until 10 o’clock and had a late breakfast.

- The dinner we had at Webster’s restaurant was marvelous.

NOTE2: When we talk about a formal dinner or lunch for a special occasion, we use ‘a dinner’ or ‘a lunch.’

Example: We’re having a dinner to welcome the new manager.

PEOPLE AND PLACES

Ø We usually use “zero article” before the names of particular people.

Example:

- President Clinton is to make a statement later today.

- The name of Nelson Mandela is known all over the world.

Ø However, we use “the”:

1) When there are two people with the same name and we want to specify which one we are talking about.

Example: That’s not the Stephen Fraser I went to school with.

2) When we want to emphasize that a person is the one that everyone probably knows.

Example: Do they mean the Ronal Reagan, or someone else?

3) With an adductive to describe a person or their bob.

Example: the late (=dead) Buddy Holly, the artist William Turner, the Aboriginal writer Sally Morgan, the wonderful actor Harrison Ford.

4) When we talk about a family as a whole.

Example: The Robinsons are away this weekend. (= the Robinson family)

Notice that “a/an” or sometimes “zero article” is used with a name to mean that someone else has or does not have the particular excellent qualities of the person named.

Example: Jane plays tennis well, but she’ll never be (a) Steffi Graf.

Ø We use “zero article” when we talk about institutions such as hospital, university, school, college, or church being used for their intended purpose: medical treatment in hospital, studying in university, and so on.

Example:

- Nara goes to school every morning. (= go to study)

- Janne is in hospital now. (= he is ill)

NOTE: We use “articles” when we talk about them as particular place or building. And when we talk about this “bed” is the same use.

Example:

- She usually stays in bed late at the weekend. (= sleep)

- ‘Have you seen my socks?’ ‘You left them on the bed. (= a particular place)

5) When we talk about cinema, opera or theater in general, or when we refer to a building where this type of entertainment takes place, we use “the.”

Example:

- I try to go to the cinema at least once a week. (= cinema in general)

- We usually go to the cinema in New Street. (= a specific cinema)

NOTE: If we are talking about a form of art, we generally prefer “zero article.”

Example: Not many children enjoy opera. (rather than…enjoy the opera.)