QUANTIFIERS

Quantifiers indicate the number of people, animals, or things. They are answers to the question "How many?". Like articles, quantifiers define a noun and are always placed before the noun. Some can be used with countable nouns only, some with uncountable nouns only, and some with both.

In the following summary you will be able to study how and when to use them.

• Many / Mucho

Expresses the idea of ​​a large quantity. It is used above all in negative and interrogative sentences with the countable noun in the plural. You can use "many" in affirmative sentences, although it is not very common. Normally, we use other quantifiers like “a lot.”

Examples:

In negative: There are not many tourists.

Interrogative: How many cats do you have?

Affirmative sentence: We have many friends.

It is also combined with "too" (too many) or "so" (many) to express the idea of ​​an excessive amount.

Examples:

There are too many changes for me. / There are too many changes for me.

There are so many things I want to do! / There are so many things I want to do!)

• Much / Mucho

As "many", it expresses the idea of ​​a large quantity and is used above all in negative and interrogative sentences. The difference with "many" is that we use "much" only with singular uncountable nouns. You can use "much" in affirmative sentences, although it would be more formal and is not as common.

Examples:

On the negative: There is not much time. / There is no much time.

In interrogative: How much money does he have? / How much money do you have?

In the affirmative: We have a lot to do! / We have a lot to do!

Like "many" it can also be combined with "too" or "so" to express the idea of ​​excessive quantity.

Examples:

There is too much work. / There is too much work.

We have so much work to do! / We have so much work to do!

• Some / Algunos, unos.

It is used both for uncountable names or nouns and for plural countable names or nouns. It is used in affirmative and interrogative sentences (to affirm something); “any” is substituted in negative or interrogative sentences. It means an indefinite quantity, but limited.

Examples:

In the affirmative – Accountant: She has some apples. / He has some apples.

In the affirmative – Uncountable: There is some milk in the kitchen. / There is some milk in the kitchen.

Interrogative – Accountant: Can I have some cookies? / Can I have some cookies?

Interrogative – Uncountable: Would you like some coffee? / Do you want coffee?

• Any / Algunos, ninguno.

It is used in the same contexts as "some," but in negative or interrogative sentences.

Examples:

In the negative – Accountant: I do not have any cats. / I dont have a cat.

Uncountable: He does not have any money. / Does not have money.

In interrogative – Accountant: Are there any changes? / Are there any changes?

Interrogative – Uncountable: Is there any milk? / Is there milk?

• No, None / No, ninguno.

Unlike the particle "no," "none" can be used without being accompanied by a noun, countable or uncountable. Therefore, it usually goes at the end of the sentence and as the only answer to a question that refers to quantities.

Examples:

Countable noun: How many pencils are there? None. / How many pencils are there? None.

Countable name: There are no pencils. / There are no pencils.

Uncountable noun: How much money do you have? None. / How much money do you have? Any.

Uncountable noun: I have no money. / I do not have money.

• A lot of – Lots of / Mucho.

Usage: They express the idea of ​​a large quantity. It can be used with nouns or countable and uncountable nouns. Unlike “many” and “much”, we don't use them in interrogative sentences. In general, “lots of” is more informal.

Examples:

Countable name: He has a lot of books. / Has many books.

Countable name: He does not have a lot of books. / He doesn't have many books.

Uncountable noun: I have lots of money. / I have a lot of money.

Uncountable noun: I do not have a lot of money. / I don't have much money.

• Little – A Little / Poco-s.

They express a small quantity and are used only with uncountable nouns. The choice to use “little” or “a little” reflects an opinion about quantity. If you use “a little”, it means a positive opinion about the amount and if you use “little” it implies a negative opinion.

Examples:

In interrogative: Do you have a little money? / Do you have some money?

In the affirmative: We have little time. / We have little time.

• Few – A few / Poco-s.

They express a small number. They are used only with countable nouns. As we have seen above, the option to use “few” or “a few” reflects the opinion about the quantity expressed. “Few” describes quantity in a negative way and “a few” describes it in a positive way.

Examples:

Interrogative: Do you have a few dollars? / Do you have a few dollars?

In the affirmative: There are few tourists here today. / There are few tourists here today.