A lot of compared with similar quantifiers

Much and many do not normally occur in the affirmative in everyday speech [> 5.13]. Instead, we use a lot of and (informally) lots of: I've got a lot of/lots of timeI've got a lot of/lots of booksA lot of lots of and plenty of (+ plural countable or singular uncountable) are normally used in the affirmative. They also occur in questions, especially when we expect the answer 'Yes': / met a lot of/lots of interesting peopleon holiday Don't worry Weve got plenty of timebefore the tram leaves Were there a lot of/lots of questionsafter the lecture? A lot of and lots of occur in the negative as well, especially when we are emphasizing a negative or denying, but the use of plenty of in negative statements is less common: haven't got a lot of patiencewith hypochondriacs!

5 Quantity

A lot of (notlots of orplenty of) can bemodified by quite/rather Jimmy s caused quite a lot of troubleat his new school The new law has affected rather a lot of people

Plenty of a lot of and lots of can be used with singular or plural verbs depending on the noun that follows them:

There has been a lot of/lots of/plenty of gossipabout her

(uncountable noun, so singular verb)

There have been a lot of/lots of/plenty of inquiries

(plural countable, so plural verb)

Several can only be used with plural countables in the affirmative:

We ve already had several offersfor our flat It canalso combine with dozen hundred, thousand, million etc

Several hundred people took part in the demonstration

A lot of/lots of are often considered unsuitable in formal style. Instead, we use much/many [> 5.13] or other quantifiers, such as:

- a great deal of or a great amount of + uncountable noun: A great deal of/A great amount of money is spent on research

- a large number of or a great number of +plural countable noun: A large number of/A great number of our students are American

Some native speakers use amount of with countable nouns as well: A large/great amount of our investments are in property

5.15 '(A) few' and '(a) little'

5.15.1 'Few' and 'a few'

Few and a few are used with plural countables.

Few is negative, suggesting 'hardly any at all', and is often used after

very.

Mona has had very few opportunitiesto practise her English In everyday speech we prefer not many or hardly any-,

Mona hasn't had many opportunitiesto practise her English

Mona has had hardly any opportunitiesto practise her English Few can also convey the idea of 'not as many as were expected':

A lot of guests were expected but fewcame

A few is positive, suggesting 'some, a (small) number': The police would like to ask him a few questions

A fewcan mean 'a very small number', or even 'quite a lot'. The size

of the number depends on the speaker's viewpoint:

/ don t know how much he's got, but it must be a few million

A fewcan be used to mean 'more than none, more than expected': Have we run out of sardines'? - No there are a few tinsleft

A fewcan also combine with other words: e.g.

just How many do you want? Just a fewplease

(i.e. a limited number, not many) only There are only a fewseats left

(i.e. very few, hardly any) quite How many do you want? Quite a fewplease

(i.e. quite a lot)

Particular quantifiers and their uses

a good We had a good fewletters this morning (i.e. quite a lot)

dozen 100 The film director employed a few hundredpeople as

1000 extras (i.e. several hundred)

the, my etc: The few people who saw the film enjoyed it Her fewpossessions were sold after her death (i.e. thesmall number of)

5.15.2 Little' and a tittle'

Little and a little are used with (singular) uncountables.

Little (like few) is negative, suggesting 'hardly any at all' and is often

used after very:

He has very little hopeof winning this race In everyday speech we prefer not much or hardly any:

He hasn't much hopeof winning this race

He has hardly any hopeof winning this race Little can also convey the idea of 'not as much as was expected':

We climbed all day but made little progressLittle occurs in idiomatic 'negative' phrases such as little point little sense, little use, etc.:

There’s little pointin trying to mend it

A little and, in very informal contexts, a bit (of) are positive, suggesting 'some, a (small) quantity':

I'd like a little(or a bit of) time to think about it please The size of the amount depends on the viewpoint of the speaker:

Mrs Lacey left a little moneyin her will - about $1 000,000' A little can also mean 'more than none, more than expected':

Have we got any flour? - Yes there s a littlein the packet

A little can combine with other words: e.g.

just How much do you want? - Just a littleplease

(i.e. a limited quantity, not much) only There s only a littlesoup left (i.e. very little, hardly any)

Few andlittle can be modified by e.g.extremely relatively

There are relatively few jobsfor astronauts A few and a little can modify other quantifiers, as in a few more, and a little less [compare > 6.27.5, 7.45-46],

5.16 'Fewer/the fewest' and 'less/the least'

These are the comparative and superlative forms of few and little. In theory, fewer'the fewest should be used only with plural countables (fewer/the fewest videos) andless/the least only with uncountables(less/the least oil):

Fewer videos were sold this year than last

Less oil was produced this year than last In practice, however, the informal use by native speakers of less and the least with plural countables or collective words like people is commonly heard(jess people, less newspapers, etc.) but is notgenerally approved:

Less and less people can afford to go abroad for their holidays

Political programmes on TV attract the least viewers

5 Quantity

Less (not fewer) is used before than for prices and periods of time: It costs less than£5 I'II see you in less than three weeks

5.16.1 The modification of 'fewer' and 'less'

Fewer is modified by even far many a good deal,many and a lot: There are far fewer/a lot feweraccidents in modern factories

Less is commonly modified by even far a good deal a little a lot

many (many less — see 5.16) and much:

I've got much/a lot/far lessfree time than I used to have

5.17 'Enough'

Enough, meaning 'adequate in quantity or number', can be used in front of plural countable nouns and (singular) uncountable nouns in all kinds of utterances: statements, questions or negatives: Have we got enough booksto read while we are on holiday? Have we got enough foodin the house to last the next few days? Compare the use of enough, meaning 'of an adequate degree', after adjectives and adverbs [> 7.47-48]:

Is there enough hot waterfor me to take a bath? (quantity) Is the water hot enoughfor me to take a bath? (degree)

Enough of will combine with a singular countable: Your education is enough of a problemfor me

Enough can be modified by about almost, hardly, less than more than nearly, not, not nearly quite not quite and scarcely: There is hardly enough cakeThere are hardly enough biscuitsIn special contexts, little and few can modify enough: I can't lend you any money I have little enoughas it is I can t give you any stamps I have few enoughas it is (i.e. less than enough money/fewer than enough stamps)

Enough (= sufficient) is associated with plenty (= more than enough),

especially in questions and answers:

Have you got enough creamon your strawberries?

- Yes I ve got plentythank you