Quantifiers

The point

Many and a few go with countable plurals. Much and a little go with uncountable nouns. Some fits positive lines. Any fits negatives and questions.

Form and use

Match the quantifier to the noun. Many, a few, few, and a lot of take a countable plural: many notes, a few questions, few seats, a lot of files. Much, a little, and little take an uncountable noun: much time, a little water, little money. A lot of also fits time.

Read the full set. She has many notes. She has a few questions. She has few seats. They have a lot of files. We have a lot of time. We do not have much time. I need a little water. He has little money. I have some notes. I do not have any notes. Do you have any questions? There is no time. There are no seats. Both plans work. All the notes are here. Most of the staff agree. None of the files is missing. Each file is ready. Every seat is taken.

A few and a little mean a small but real amount. Few and little, with no a, mean almost none. Some fits a positive line. Any fits a negative or a question. No sits before the noun with no extra not: there is no time.

Both means the two. All and most cover a wider group. None of means not one. Each and every take a singular verb: each file is ready, every seat is taken. Do not write every seats are.

Don't translate it like this

Time is uncountable here, so much.

Short examples