Much, many, a lot of, a little, a few, no, any, none

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much/many

many for countable, much for uncountable in (?) (-)

We use much/many in negative sentences and questions. We use many before plural countable nouns and much before uncountable nouns. We don’t normally use them in affirmative sentences.

There isn’t much coffee in the jar.
Were there many people at the party?

how much/how many

We use how many + plural nouns and how much + uncountable nouns to ask about quantity. You can review countable and uncountable nouns here.

How many books did you read last semester?
How much coffee do you drink every day?

We can also say How much is it? to ask about the price of an item.

‘How much is it?’ ‘It’s 43 pounds.’
‘How much are the trousers?’ ‘They’re 58 pounds.’

a lot (of)

Before both countable and uncountable

We use a lot of before both plural countable and uncountable nouns to talk about big quantity. We normally use a lot of in positive sentences.

She spends a lot of time watching TV.
We had lots of good moments together.

We can say quite a lot of to talk about medium quantity.

With my new job, I have quite a lot of free time.

It is also possible to use a lot of in negative sentences and questions.

Do you eat a lot of sugar?
I don’t read a lot of books.

of before noun; of at the end of sentence

We must always use a lot of including of before a noun. However, we can use a lot (without of) at the end of a sentence or in short answers.

‘How many beers did you have?’ ‘I don’t know; I had a lot.’
I like her a lot.
‘How much coffee did you have?’ ‘A lot.’

a few/a little

a few for countable; a little for uncountable

We use a few before plural countable nouns and a little before uncountable nouns in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences to talk about small quantity.

I have to do a few things this afternoon.
I always put a little milk in my tea.

not many, not much

We can also use not many + plural countable or not much + uncountable nouns. The meaning is similar.

I don’t have to do many things this afternoon.
I don’t put much milk in my tea.

no/not…any/none

When we want to talk about zero quantity, we can use no + noun or not…any + noun. The meaning is the same.

I have no time today.
I don’t have any time today.

In short answers we use none.

‘How much time do you have?’ ‘None.’

Much, many, little, few, some, any

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many/much

many for countable, much for uncountable in (?) (-)

We use many before plural (countable) nouns and much before uncountable nouns. We use them in negative sentences and questions. We don’t normally use them in affirmative sentences.

There isn’t much coffee in the jar.
Were there many people in the party?

too much/too many

Note that we don’t normally use much/many in affirmative sentences, but we can use too much and too many in affirmative sentences.

There’s too much salt in the soup.
You eat too many biscuits.

how much/how many

We use how many and how much to ask about quantity.

How many concerts have you ever been to?
How much coffee have you had today?

a lot of/lots of

Before both countable and uncountable

We use a lot of or lots of (more informal) before both plural (countable) and uncountable nouns. We normally use them in positive sentences.

She spends a lot of time watching TV.
We had lots of good moments together.

of before noun; no of at the end of sentence

We must always use a lot of or lots of including of before a noun. However, we can use the expressions a lot or lots (without of) at the end of a sentence.

‘How many beers did you have?’ ‘I don’t know; I had lots/a lot.’
I like her a lot.

(a) few/(a) little/a bit of

few for countable; little for uncountable

We use (a) few before plural (countable) nouns and (a) little or a bit of (more informal) before uncountable nouns.

I have to do a few things this afternoon.
He always gets good results with very little effort.
Can you put a bit of sugar in the tea?

few or a few? little or a little?

A few means ‘some but not many; enough’, and a little means ‘some but not much; enough’ .

Few/little mean ‘almost none; not enough’.

Normally, the difference between a few/little (WITH a) and few/little (WITHOUT a) is that a few/little is positive in meaning, and few/little is negative. Compare:

There’s little milk in the fridge; we have to buy more. (Not enough; we need more)
‘Shall I buy some beers?’ ‘No, it’s OK, there are a few in the fridge.’ (=Enough; we don’t need more)
‘Do you speak English?’ ‘No, I speak very little English.’ (=Negative)
‘Do you speak English?’ ‘Yes, I speak a little English.’ (=Positive)

some/any

some for (+); any for (?) (-)

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

Is there any sugar in the cupboard?
Have you got any new friends?
I have some questions to ask you.

With both countable (plural) and uncountable

Both some and any can be used before countable and uncountable nouns. But if we use them before a countable noun, the noun must be in the plural form.

Are there any students in the classroom? (NOT ~~Is there any student in the classroom?~~)

some for offers and requests

We use some (NOT any) in interrogative sentences when we are offering or requesting (=asking for) something.

Would you like some help?
Can I have some tea, please?