Questions tagged [quantifiers]
For questions about words that give information about the quantity or amount of something.
201
questions
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2
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Is the definite article 'the' necessary in phrases like 'neither of the cats'?
When I want to say
neither of the cats
either of the cats
none of the cats
half the cats
a lot of the cats
most of the cats
each of the cats
every one of the cats
all the cats
That 'the' is ...
-3
votes
2
answers
78
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Rank quantifiers based on intensity [closed]
Is there any ranking for quantifiers based on intensity (pretty, quite, very, etc..) in English?
0
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1
answer
31
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where he could find any cigarettes
a. He wanted to know where he could find any cigarettes.
b. He wanted to know where there were any cigarettes.
Would you say that the sentences sort of imply scarcity and he'd be happy if he could ...
0
votes
1
answer
32
views
About the use of other quantifiers instead of ‘much’ , ‘many’, ‘few’, ‘little’, etc [closed]
I was always told that the use of many/few/fewer is for countable nouns and the use of much/little/less is for uncountable nouns. But what happens if I want to use other words to specify quantity? Can ...
-1
votes
1
answer
30
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the whereabouts of any given employee
a. I don't know the whereabouts of any given employee at any given time.
Does that mean
I am not suppose to know the whereabouts of any given employee at any given time.
or
I have no idea where any ...
1
vote
1
answer
29
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I'd risk my life for any of you
a. I risked my life for Jeff, and I want you to know that I'd risk my life for every one of you.
b. I risked my life for Jeff, and I want you to know that I'd risk my life for each of you.
c. I risked ...
0
votes
2
answers
29
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most of them entered the building
a. Most of the students entered the building but Tom, Pete and Hank didn't.
b. Some of the students entered the building but Tom, Pete and Hank didn't.
Would you say that Tom, Pete and Hank were the ...
0
votes
1
answer
24
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We both vs both of us
The book "Practical English Usage" by Michael Swan, page 155, contains the following guidance:
I wonder if instead of an object pronoun we had a subject pronoun, would be possible to use to ...
0
votes
4
answers
64
views
Which one is correct: "one more book than" or "one more books than"?
Prerequisite:Mr.Smith has 30 books and Ms.Smith has 31 books.
Which is correct?
A. Ms.Smith has one more book than Mr.Smith.
B. Ms.Smith has one more books than Mr.Smith.
0
votes
2
answers
89
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doing [determiner] grocery shopping
Pedagogical materials commonly advise adding a determiner or quantity word to "do [the/one's/some] Ving." However, in the following passage, "doing grocery shopping" does not have ...
0
votes
1
answer
25
views
Quantifier + proper name
How should I use QUANTIFIERS with PROPER NOUNS? What's the proper form?
e.G:
Each of Johnson's cars has one different color.
Some of Carl's cattle heads have no pedigree.
All of Ryder's companies ...
1
vote
1
answer
36
views
Whole VS Whole of with common nouns
What is the difference between "the whole of + noun" and "the whole + noun"?
They pretty much mean the same to me.
E.G.:
Original:
But, on St. Thomas’ view, my typing of this ...
0
votes
0
answers
13
views
All vs Whole with singular nouns: Which should I choose?
Which should I choose when there's a singular countable noun?
e.G.:
My whole youtube channel was made thinking about recording Snes gameplays.
All my youtube channel was made thinking about ...
1
vote
1
answer
27
views
thought little of them
Take note of the following sentence:
Paul Newman himself thought little of them. [1]
In this sentence, is "little" modifying the verb " thought" as an adverb or there's something ...
3
votes
4
answers
214
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The usage of "little" versus "a little"
I was taught that "little" is the negative form of "a little" [1] [2] [3]. So why don't we use "little" in these sentences? :
I'm a little confused.
I'm a little ...
2
votes
2
answers
31
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they send invitations to
a. I got an invitation from their company and thought they really liked me. Then I found out that they send invitations to anyone.
b. The fact that you received samples of their chocolates doesn't ...
1
vote
2
answers
282
views
The most time VS Most time
Please, read the following sentences:
Mary's father spends most (of the) time in the mill, where he works with his brother, Mario.
Mary's father spends the most time in the mill, where he works with ...
0
votes
1
answer
97
views
Some advice vs. advice vs. a piece of advice vs. any advice
What are the differences, in terms of the amount of advice asked for, between the following questions:
Can you give me advice?
Can you give me some advice?
Can you give me a piece of advice?
Can you ...
0
votes
2
answers
27
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anyone here works hard
a. Anyone here works hard to make a living.
b. Anyone here uses his brains to make a living.
c. Anyone here makes a living by using their intelligence.
Are the above sentences grammatically correct ...
1
vote
1
answer
23
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anyone with a criminal record
a. Anyone with a criminal record cannot apply for this job.
b. Anybody who is Tom's friend cannot be trusted.
Are the above sentences grammatical and meaningful?
I tend to use 'nobody who... can...' ...
0
votes
1
answer
56
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(...) and neither are/is they?
Although it is widely disseminated that "neither", as well as "either" is singular, I bring you the following sentence:
I'm not a good person, and neither is they.
I don't know ...
3
votes
2
answers
168
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Each have or Have each
Good day, people.
The question aims to elucidate the correct position of "EACH" in relation to the following sentences:
What is the correct order?
They have each won University Challenge on ...
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votes
1
answer
28
views
No; not any; not a;
Good morning, people. I know there are some related posts, but they don't answer my many questions. All ELL and other forum links are purple. Believe me, hahaha.
1 - In questions/negative questions, ...
1
vote
1
answer
139
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None, none of: usage
Today I come with some new doubts about the more specific use of "none", ahaha.
1- Is none of also a pronoun or just a determiner?
E.g:
I had many cars while young. But none of my brothers ...
1
vote
1
answer
67
views
None meaning nobody
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, we do not use "none" with the meaning of "no one/nobody".
I have a lot of sporty friends. Some of them play football, but none ...
2
votes
1
answer
63
views
Is it possible to use quantifiers with proper nouns?
As far as I know, we always use quantifiers before nouns. From this I would like to know if the following constructions, with PROPER NOUNS, sound grammatically correct. If not, an explanation is most ...
0
votes
1
answer
31
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"they'd"/"there'd" be too much of "a distraction"/"distraction"?
What sentence is correct?
1
They'd be too much of a distraction.
2
They'd be too much of distraction.
3
There'd be too much of a distraction.
4
There'd be too much of distraction.
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votes
2
answers
30
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each of us might get fired [closed]
a. Each of us might get fired tomorrow.
b. We might each get fired tomorrow.
================
c. All of us might get fired tomorrow.
d. We might all get fired tomorrow.
===================
e. Every ...
4
votes
4
answers
946
views
there was/were a number of
All examples are mine.
They arose as a result of my interest: whether we must always use verbs in the plural form when these verbs agree with "a (...) number of + noun".
My first example:
(...
0
votes
2
answers
336
views
Is "There is lots of..." wrong?
I'm aware of these phrases that people usually use:
A lot of...
Lots of...
A load of...
Loads of...
And I would think those phrases are interchangeably used without changing the meaning or something,...
0
votes
1
answer
26
views
do [the/some] online banking vs. do [the/some] grocery shopping
In the following phrases, is it optional to include the bracketed part?
do [the/some] online banking
do [the/some] grocery shopping
0
votes
2
answers
78
views
Plural quantifying expression + "of" + uncountable noun – which verb form?
Consider the following NPs:
500 years of history
100 liters of milk
300 grams of apple pie
When used as subjects in full clauses, which verb form do these NPs take – singular or plural verb? Am I ...
0
votes
1
answer
24
views
a ban on going to these places
a. You say there is a ban on going to some of the countries on this list. I think there's a ban on going to any of the countries on this list.
b. You say there is a ban on going to some of the ...
0
votes
1
answer
31
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'some respect for myself': What does it mean?
I have recently heard of the sentence 'I have some respect for myself'. What is the difference between this sentence and another one 'I respect myself'? Is it a matter of degree of respect? Thanks for ...
0
votes
1
answer
41
views
such little amount of sleep
a. You won't be able to perform well with that little sleep.
a1. You won't be able to perform well with such little sleep.
(that small amount of sleep)
b. You want to sleep five hours a night. That ...
1
vote
2
answers
52
views
Which quantifier should I use? [duplicate]
Are these two sentences equivalent? Are they both correct?
"There are a little more than 1,000 inhabitants."
"There are a few more than 1,000 inhabitants."
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1
answer
80
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'a few too many' and Quantifiers before Adverbs
I have a few too many cloves of garlic in the tomato sauce.
1. I can't understand the meaning as how can something be 'a few' and 'too many' at the same time?
2. And, I found this sentence on a ...
0
votes
1
answer
37
views
Can I modify a quantifier with “not”?
There’s a 2/3 apple.
There’s a not whole (=incomplete) apple.
There’s a not half apple.
Are these two sentences acceptable?
2
votes
1
answer
82
views
half goat and half sheep
a.) This animal is half goat and half sheep.
b.) This animal looks half like a goat and half like a sheep.
In sentence a, half does not need to be followed by an indefinite article, does it? But why?...
10
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Which of no, none, any, some would fit in "few of the students knew ___ of the answers"?
A friend of mine recently had a test during one of her English classes and there was a task to choose the correct word that best fits the sentence: "Few of the students knew ___ of the answers&...
1
vote
1
answer
39
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"some customers" referring to a particular group of people
I am wondering if "some customers" can refer to a specific group of people at the restaurant in the following context. Does it need to be changed into "Some of the customers" or &...
7
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Which of "almost don't talk to each other" or "almost never talk to each other" is correct?
a. My sons almost don't talk to each other.
b. My sons almost never talk to each other.
Are both of the above sentences grammatically correct and do they mean the same?
I use (b). (a) sounds a bit ...
0
votes
1
answer
39
views
(very) few and negative polarity items
The negative polarity item ever normally occurs with interrogative or negative sentences:
a. *John has ever been to Japan. (unacceptable)
b. Has John ever been to Japan? (acceptable)
Now consider ...
2
votes
1
answer
55
views
What is the grammatical function of 'all' in 'noun + all'?
The people all wanted a new leader.
In the above example, what is the grammatical function of all? Is it an inversion of 'all of the people' or 'all the people'? Or is it something else entirely?
I ...
2
votes
1
answer
60
views
Quantifiers: Each and every when combining with '' different''
I know that there are differences between '' each'' and ''every'' and they are sometimes used interchangeably, and I have no problem choosing which one to use in daily conversations. However, I came ...
1
vote
1
answer
34
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some . . . some . . . still some
Are all the following combinations of quantifiers correct?
a. People have different skin colors. Some are yellow, some are white, and some are black.
b. People have different skin colors. Some are ...
0
votes
1
answer
40
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won't do it under any conditions
Which is correct:
I won't work for you under just any conditions simply to make ends meet. Some requirements will have to be met regarding the workplace before I start work.
I won't work for you ...
0
votes
2
answers
132
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Can I say “1kg of watermelons”
There are three watermelons, and each watermelon weighs 1kg. In this case, can I say “there are 1kg of watermelons”?
1
vote
1
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192
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A singular verb comes after "any of [plural noun]", or a plural one?
In some English text it is said that we should use a singular verb in the following example:
Any of the computers needs updating.
However, it is said that in the following examples we should use ...
0
votes
1
answer
54
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someone/some people
a. I had to publish those documents so that someone would believe me.
b. I had to publish those documents so that some people would believe me.
I think in (a) nobody believed me before I published ...