Kilo Lingo
English grammar Part of Chapter 7

CEFR A2-B1

3 min read

Test yourself (24 questions)

Quantifiers in English: some, any, much, many, few, little

By Michael McGettrickUpdated 12 October 2026

Quantifiers say how much or how many: , , . To choose one, first ask: can you count the noun?

with nouns you can countwith nouns you cannot countwith bothWhat do the colours mean?
You can count itYou can't count it

Quick check

Now use it: three quick questions on the chart above. The full practice is further down.

Pick the right one

0/3

Some or any? Read the words in brackets, then tap.

  1. (a yes sentence) I have money.

  2. I don't have money.

  3. (an offer) Would you like tea?

Count it or not?

with nouns you can countwith nouns you cannot countWhat do the colours mean?

You can count friends, books and cars: one book, two books. You cannot count water, money or time: there is no two waters.

  • ? (one, two, three...)
  • ? (a glass, a lot)

The full lists, with the nouns that catch everyone (advice, information, news), are on countable and uncountable nouns.

Some and any

with bothWhat do the colours mean?

Some and any go with both kinds of noun. The choice is about the sentence.

SentenceWordExample
.
.
?
?
?

Much, many and a lot of

with nouns you can countwith nouns you cannot countwith bothWhat do the colours mean?

Many with nouns you can count. Much with nouns you cannot count.

NounWith notIn a question
. ?
. ?

In a yes sentence, much usually sounds odd (outside formal writing) and many sounds a little formal. In speech, say a lot of, which goes with both:

WordSounds oddSay this
I have much money. .
She has many friends. (formal) .

Lots of means the same and is more informal: . Plenty of means more than you need:

, .

A lot of is three words. Alot is a spelling mistake.

A few or few? A little or little?

with nouns you can countwith nouns you cannot countWhat do the colours mean?

A few goes with nouns you can count, a little with nouns you cannot. Both mean some, a small amount, and both feel good:

  • . (I am not alone.)
  • . (I can buy a coffee.)

Take away the a and the meaning changes: almost none, and it feels bad.

NoneA lot
  1. no friendszero
  2. few friendsalmost none: sad
  3. a few friendssome: good
  4. a lot of friends
Feels goodAlmost none: bad

Few and little alone sound a little formal. In speech, people often say not many and not much: .

No and none

with bothWhat do the colours mean?

No means zero, and it goes in front of a noun. None stands alone.

On a table, a smiling blue bowl heaped with steaming porridge and berries, a spoon standing in it, beside a sleepy green bowl that has been eaten clean, the spoon resting inside and a few crumbs left.

The full bowl: there is a lot of food. The empty bowl: there is no food. How much is left? None.

WordExample
.
? .
.

Do not put not and no together: . or ., never I don't have no money in standard English.

Enough, too much and too many

with nouns you can countwith nouns you cannot countwith bothWhat do the colours mean?
WordMeaningExample
.
.
.

Too and enough also go with adjectives (too hot, old enough), in a different order: see so, such, too and enough. For two things, English has its own words: both, either and neither.

Common mistakes

WrongRightWhy
much peoplemany people .
I haven't some.I haven't any. : .
I have few money.I have little money.: , .
alot of timea lot of time .
How many milk?How much milk? .

What to do next

  1. Say what is in your kitchen: There is some..., there isn't any...
  2. Ask a friend: How many...? How much...?
  3. Do the drills below.

Practise: test yourself

Sort into groups

0/7

Much or many? Which word goes in front of each noun?

Tap a word, then the group it belongs in.

Pick the right one

0/5

Some or any? Read the words in brackets, then tap.

  1. (a yes sentence) I have money.

  2. I don't have money.

  3. (an offer) Would you like tea?

  4. I can't find the milk. Is there milk?

  5. (you ask for it) Can I have water, please?

Pick the right one

0/4

Read the words in brackets, then tap.

  1. (I am not alone.) I have friends here.

  2. (I am lonely.) I have friends here.

  3. (I can wait.) I have time.

  4. How people were there?

Spot the mistake

0/4

Each sentence has one mistake. Tap it.

Complete the story

0/4

Tap the words that fit each gap.

Tom's party

Tom is having a party tonight. He has food, but he doesn't have drinks. How people are coming? About twenty. Ana says: I can bring juice.

Gap 1 of 4

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between some and any?
Some goes in yes sentences: I have some money. Any goes with not and in most questions: I don't have any money. Have you got any money? When you offer or ask for something, use some even in a question: Would you like some tea? Can I have some water?
When do I use much and when do I use many?
Many goes with nouns you can count: many books, many people. Much goes with nouns you cannot count: much water, much money. Both are most common with not and in questions: How many people? I don't have much time. In a yes sentence, much usually sounds odd and many a little formal, so say a lot of: I have a lot of time.
What is the difference between a few and few?
A few means some, a small number, and it feels good: I have a few friends here (I am not alone). Few means almost none, and it feels bad: I have few friends here (I am lonely). The same goes for a little and little with nouns you cannot count.
Is it a lot of or alot of?
A lot of, three words. Alot is a spelling mistake. A lot of goes with both kinds of noun: a lot of books, a lot of water. Lots of means the same and is a little more informal.
What is the difference between no and none?
No goes in front of a noun: There is no milk. None stands alone, with no noun after it: How much milk is there? None. You can also say none of: None of my friends came.