B2 Upper-intermediate Articles, quantifiers, word order, linking, reporting
Advanced quantifiers
Lesson goal. After this lesson you can feel the difference between few / a few and little / a little, and use plenty of and a great deal of.
When to use it
- Saying you have some, which is fine: I have a few friends here.
- Complaining there are too few: I have few friends here.
- Saying there is plenty: There is plenty of time.
- Formal register: a great deal of money, a great many people.
Form
| Quantifier | Used with | Feeling |
|---|---|---|
| a few | countable | some — positive |
| few | countable | very few — negative |
| a little | uncountable | a little — positive |
| little | uncountable | hardly any — negative |
| plenty of | both kinds | plenty |
| a great deal of | uncountable | a great many, formal |
| a great many | countable | a great many, formal |
Step by step
- Question 1: is the noun countable or uncountable? Pick the few or little column.
- Question 2: do you mean there are some or hardly any?
- Some, enough → add the a: a few, a little.
- Hardly any, a complaint → drop the a: few, little.
One letter changes the attitude
| Sentence | Feeling |
|---|---|
| I have a few friends. | fine, not lonely |
| I have few friends. | a bit sad |
| We have a little time. | still in time |
| We have little time. | need to hurry |
Examples
I have a few friends here, so I'm not lonely.
Few students passed — only three out of forty.
Don't worry, we still have a little time.
Hurry up! We have little time left.
There is plenty of food for everyone.
He spends a great deal of money on books.
Common mistakes
There were a little students in the room. → There were a few students in the room.
students is countable → a few. a little only goes with uncountables.
I have few friends, so I'm never lonely. → I have a few friends, so I'm never lonely.
The second half is positive, so the first needs a few. Without the a it becomes a complaint and contradicts the rest.
He has a great deal of friends. → He has a great many friends.
a great deal of is for uncountable nouns.
Memory tip
Listen to the feeling. If the speaker sounds content, the a is there; if they sound unhappy, it is gone. One letter carries the whole attitude.
Summary
- a few / a little = some, positive · few / little = hardly any, negative.
- few, a few + countable · little, a little + uncountable.
- plenty of both · a great deal of uncountable · a great many countable.
Practise this lesson
Do exercises with an explanation for every question, take mini tests and track your progress on GrammUp.