Quantifieurs : Much, many, little and few

Quantifieurs : Much, many, little and few -



Much, many, little and few


We use much and little with uncountable nouns:

much time / much luck / little energy / little money/



We use many and few with plural nouns:

many friends / many people / few cars / few countries


We use much/many especially in negative sentences and questions. A lot (of) is also possible:


• We didn't spend much money, (or We didn't spend a lot of money.)

• Do you know many people? (or Do you know a lot of people?)

• I don't go out much, (or I don't go out a lot.)

In positive sentences a lot (of) is more usual. Much is unusual in positive sentences in spoken English:

• We spent a lot of money, (not 'We spent much money')

• He goes out a lot. (not' He goes out much')

You can use many in positive sentences, but a lot (of) is more usual in spoken English:
• A lot of people (or Many people) drive too fast.
But note that we use too much and so much in positive sentences:
• We spent too much money.

Little and few (without 'a') are negative ideas (=not much / not many):
• We must be quick. There is little time. (=not much, not enough time)
• He isn't popular. He has few friends. (=not many, not enough friends)

You can say very little and very few:
• There is very little time.
• He has very few friends.