Countable and Uncountable Nouns: Quantifiers

1. Countable and uncountable nouns

English nouns can be countable or uncountable. This affects the words we use to talk about quantity.

Countable nouns	Uncountable nouns
one book, two books many people a few chairs fewer mistakes	some money much time a little information less traffic

Countable nouns have singular and plural forms. We can use numbers with them: three students, ten eggs.

Uncountable nouns are not normally counted individually. They usually have no plural form: water, advice, furniture, information, money, equipment.

Remember: some nouns can be countable in one meaning and uncountable in another. For example: I'd like a coffee (a cup of coffee); I don't drink much coffee (coffee as a substance).

2. Talking about quantity: much, many, a lot of

Use many with plural countable nouns and much with uncountable nouns.

How many students are there?
How much money have you got?
There aren't many shops here.
We haven't got much time.

A lot of and lots of can be used with both plural countable and uncountable nouns. They are especially common in affirmative statements.

There are a lot of people here.
We've got a lot of work to do.

Few and a few; little and a little

Plural countable	Uncountable
few people = not many; hardly any a few people = some people	little time = not much; hardly any a little time = some time

There are few buses after midnight. (There are not many.)

There are a few buses after midnight. (There are some.)

We have little time left. (Almost no time.)

We have a little time left. (We have some time.)

Use fewer with plural countable nouns and less with uncountable nouns:

There are fewer cars today. We have less traffic today.

3. Some, any, no and every

These words help us talk about people and things without saying exactly who or what they are. They can also be used before nouns.

Word	Typical use	Example
some	Often in affirmative statements; also offers and requests	There are some apples. Would you like some tea?
any	Often in questions and negative sentences	Are there any apples? There aren't any apples.
no	Means zero; used before a noun	There are no apples. There is no milk.
every	Includes all the members of a group; used before a singular noun	Every student has a book.

Some and any

We commonly use some in affirmative sentences and any in questions and negative sentences.

I've got some friends in London.
Have you got any friends in London?
I haven't got any friends in London.

But some is common in offers and requests when we expect or invite a positive response.

Would you like some coffee? Could I have some water, please?

Any can also mean 'it doesn't matter which' in affirmative sentences.

You can choose any book you like. Call me any time.

No and not any

No means zero. It is used before a noun. It has a similar meaning to not … any.

There are no students in the room. = There aren't any students in the room.
There is no milk left. = There isn't any milk left.

Notice the difference in the grammar: no students has a positive verb form (are), while not any students has a negative verb form (aren't).

Every

Every refers to all the members of a group, considered one by one. It is followed by a singular noun and a singular verb.

Every student has a dictionary. Every room is occupied. Every day is

Do not confuse every and all: Every student is ready, but All the students are ready.

4. People, things and places

We can combine some, any, no and every with -body or -one, -thing and -where.

	People	Things	Places
some-	somebody / someone	something	somewhere
any-	anybody / anyone	anything	anywhere
no-	nobody / no one	nothing	nowhere
every-	everybody / everyone	everything	everywhere

Somebody and someone mean the same thing. The same is true of everybody/everyone, anybody/anyone and nobody/no one.

Meaning and use

Somebody is waiting outside. (An unknown person.)

Is anybody at home? (Is there a person at home?)

Nobody knows the answer. (No person knows.)

Everybody enjoyed the party. (All the people enjoyed it.)

I need something to drink. Have you got anything to eat? There's nothing in the fridge. Everything is ready.

Let's go somewhere quiet. I can't find my keys anywhere. There's nowhere to sit. We looked everywhere.

Agreement: a singular verb

Everybody, everyone, somebody, nobody and similar words are grammatically singular. Use a singular verb.

Everybody is here.

Nobody knows the answer.

Everything looks fine.

Is anybody coming?

When we refer back to a person with one of these words, they/their is commonly used when the person's sex is not known or not important.

Everybody should bring their own lunch. Someone has left their umbrella.

Negative sentences

In standard English, we normally use any- words with a negative verb, or use a no- word with an affirmative verb.

I don't know anybody here. = I know nobody here.
We didn't go anywhere. = We went nowhere.

Avoid using two negatives together in standard English: I don't know nobody. Say I don't know anybody or I know nobody.

5. All people, everybody; all things, everything

Everybody means all the people in a group. Everything means all the things or facts in a situation. These expressions are often more natural than using all people or all things.

Expression	Example
everybody / everyone	Everybody in my class is studying English.
everything	Everything is ready for the journey.
everywhere	We looked everywhere for the missing dog.

But all is also correct when it is used appropriately:

All the people in my class are studying English.
All the things on the table belong to me.

Compare every + singular noun with all + plural or uncountable noun:

Every student has a book. = All the students have a book.
Every room is occupied. = All the rooms are occupied.
Every drop of water matters. = All the water matters.

Practice 1 – How much or how many?

Choose the expression that fits the noun and the meaning.

Practice 2 – Some, any, no or every?

Read the whole sentence before choosing.

Practice 3 – People, things and places

Choose the word that completes the meaning.

Practice 4 – What does the sentence mean?

Choose the interpretation that matches the sentence.

6. Reading – Getting ready for a party

Emma is organising a party for her friends. She has invited everybody from her evening English class, but not everybody can come. A few people have other plans, and some students are working late. Emma has bought some food and drinks, but she hasn't bought everything yet. There isn't much time left, and there are still a few things to do.

She asks her brother, “Have you got anything to decorate the room with?” He says, “There are some balloons in the cupboard, but I can't find any coloured paper.” Emma looks everywhere, but there is nowhere in the house where she can find any. “Never mind,” she says. “We can manage without it.”

Later, somebody phones to ask if they can bring a friend. Emma says, “Of course. Everybody is welcome. There is plenty of food, and we have room for a few more people.” She hopes nobody will arrive too early, because she still has a little work to do!

Unit 4 – Quantity and Indefinite Expressions