Quantitative Adjectives

Words that describe quantity in English grammar

A quantitative adjective specifies the amount or quantity of a noun. It answers questions like how much or how many. These adjectives are essential in both written and spoken English to express precise information.

Common Quantitative Adjectives

  • much, many
  • some, any
  • little, few
  • all, several, enough, each
  • no, every, whole, most
  • cardinal numbers: one, two, ten

Types of Quantitative Adjectives

  • Definite Quantity: "He bought three apples."
  • Indefinite Quantity: "Many students passed the test."
  • Negative Quantity: "No time was wasted."
  • Distributive Quantity: "Each student must apply."

Usage Examples

  • "All children need encouragement."
  • "There is little hope left."
  • "Several options are available."
  • "We ate some of the cake."
  • "Ten candidates were shortlisted."

Rules for Correct Usage

Countable vs Uncountable:
  • Many (countable): "Many books were donated."
  • Much (uncountable): "Much water was wasted."
Singular vs Plural Nouns:
  • Each and every + singular noun
  • Few and several + plural nouns
Avoid Redundancy:
  • ❌ "Many several people" → ✅ "Several people"
  • ❌ "Each and every student" (avoid unless for emphasis)

Advanced Nuances

Emphatic Use:
  • "Absolutely no excuses will be accepted."
  • "He has only a few friends."
Placement in Sentences:
  • Usually placed before the noun: "Many books..."
  • Can follow linking verbs in emphasis: "The result was enough."

Common Mistakes

  • Using much with plural nouns → ❌ "Much apples" → ✅ "Many apples"
  • Confusing few with a few → "Few means hardly any; a few means some."
  • Using less for countable nouns → ❌ "Less people" → ✅ "Fewer people"

Practice Exercises

1. Identify the Quantitative Adjective:

  • "Most students passed the exam." → most
  • "He had no time left." → no

2. Choose the Correct Word:

  • ❌ "He doesn't have much friends." → ✅ "He doesn't have many friends."
  • ❌ "She has less problems now." → ✅ "She has fewer problems now."