Quantifiers: All, Both, Much, Many Quiz
12 multiple-choice questions on English quantifiers — all, both, much, many, some, any, every, each, few and little. B1–B2 level. Test yourself and check answers instantly.
Quantifiers in English — FAQ
A quantifier is a word or phrase that comes before a noun to indicate how much or how many of something there is. Common quantifiers include: much, many, some, any, a few, a little, all, both, every, each, no, none, several, a lot of, and plenty of. They answer the question 'How much?' or 'How many?'
'Much' is used with uncountable nouns (nouns you cannot count individually): much water, much time, much money, much information. 'Many' is used with countable nouns (nouns you can count): many books, many people, many questions, many years. In affirmative sentences, 'a lot of' is often preferred over both: 'I have a lot of time / a lot of books.'
'All' is used with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns to refer to the total amount: 'All students must attend' / 'All the water was gone.' 'Every' is used with singular countable nouns and emphasises each individual member: 'Every student must attend.' The meaning is similar but the grammar differs — 'every' always takes a singular noun and singular verb.
'Both' is used to refer to two things or people: 'Both students passed.' 'All' refers to three or more (or to an uncountable noun): 'All students passed.' You cannot use 'both' for groups of three or more. Note: 'both' can be followed by 'of' + determiner: 'Both of the students passed.'
'A few' has a positive meaning: it means 'some, a small number' — 'I have a few friends in London' (I have some friends — that's good). 'Few' without the article has a negative meaning: it means 'almost none, not enough' — 'I have few friends in London' (I have hardly any friends). The same rule applies to 'a little' vs 'little' for uncountable nouns.
'Some' is generally used in affirmative sentences and in offers or requests where we expect a yes answer: 'I have some milk.' / 'Would you like some coffee?' 'Any' is used in negative sentences and in questions: 'I don't have any milk.' / 'Do you have any questions?' In conditional clauses, 'any' is also standard: 'If you have any problems, let me know.'
Both 'each' and 'every' mean all members of a group individually. 'Each' focuses on individual members one by one and can be used for two or more: 'Each student got a certificate.' 'Every' refers to all members as a whole and implies a larger group: 'Every student passed.' You can say 'each of the two' but not 'every of the two'.
Yes. These quantifiers can appear before a determiner (the, my, this, etc.) without 'of': 'All the students', 'Both my sisters', 'Half the cake'. They can also appear with 'of': 'All of the students', 'Both of my sisters', 'Half of the cake'. Both structures are correct. With pronouns, 'of' is required: 'all of them', 'both of us'.
'No' as a quantifier means zero, none — it comes directly before a noun: 'There is no milk.' / 'He has no friends.' It is equivalent in meaning to 'not any' but is more emphatic and direct: 'There isn't any milk.' / 'He doesn't have any friends.' 'No' is grammatically simpler and often preferred in formal writing.
Quantifiers used only with uncountable nouns: much, a little, little (without article), a great deal of, a large/small amount of. For example: 'much water', 'a little advice', 'little patience', 'a great deal of effort'. Remember: 'a few' and 'many' go with countable nouns only. 'Some', 'any', 'a lot of', 'plenty of', 'no', 'all', and 'most' can go with both.