7. Quantifiers + Countable and Uncountable Nouns

 There are quantifiers that can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. They include all , any , enough , most , no , and some .

Examples:

  • Countable : All  volunteers will undergo some first-aid training.
  • Uncountable : He has been trying all  morning to call the government office.
  • Countable : There wasn't any  policeman around when the fighting broke out.
  • Uncountable : She left her husband without any warning..
  • Countable : There were not enough  cups at the party, so I drank from the bottle. .
  • Uncountable : I just had enough  money to buy her an ice cream. .
  • Countable : She received the most  Christmas cards in the family.
  • Uncountable : She spent the most  time chatting with friends. .
  • Countable : Hurriedly, he sent the letter with no  stamp on the envelope..
  • Uncountable : The job is not for me as I have no  experience in managing a turkey farm..
  • Countable : There were some  noisy passengers in the bus.
  • Uncountable : She gave me some  advice about looking after my grandmother. .
A lot of  and lots of A lot of  and lots of  mean the same. They both mean a large quantity of .  

Examples:

  • He has  a lot of  hair on his chest.
  • He has  lots of  hair on his chest.

Both a lot of  and lots of  can be used before uncountable nouns or plural countable nouns.

Examples:

  • A lot of / Lots of  sand has got into my shoes. (Uncountable noun)
  • There was a lot of / lots of  rubbish everywhere. (Uncountable noun)
  • I can eat a lot of / lots of  grapes when I want to. (Countable noun)
  • There were a lot of / lots of  people doing nothing on the beach. (Countable noun).

When we use a lot of / lots of  with a plural subject, we use a plural verb or a singular verb if the subject is singular.

Examples:

  • A lot of / Lots of  replies were received in response to her advertisement.
  • A lot of / Lots of  false information was given by him to the tax authorities.
Quantity words + of The following quantifiers (quantity words + of) are used with specific countable and uncountable nouns.

Examples:

  • Countable : All of  the complaints were against the Manager.
  • Uncountable : All of  the household waste was dumped in a small bin, causing overflow.
  • Countable : We have enough of  your meat pies.
  • Uncountable : I have had enough of  your nonsense.
  • Countable : Most of  the teaching staff were female. .
  • Uncountable : They are looking for the one who leaked most of  the confidential information to the press.
  • Countable : We bought plenty of  beans to last the weekends.
  • Uncountable : We had plenty of  time to prepare before we set off.
  • Countable : Some of  the ghost stories in the book are believed to be true.
  • Uncountable : You honestly think this bakery makes some of  the best bread in the city?  
Another  and other Another  means one more person or one more thing . It is a determiner that is used before a singular countable noun.

 

Examples:

  • The tribal chief has five wives already, and now he wants another  one.
  • We need another  pair of hands to help carry this heavy thing.

Other  means additional or alternative type .

Examples:

Other  is used with singular uncountable nouns or plural nouns.
  • They have found other  evidence that would prove him guilty.
  • There must be other  ways of eliminating rats besides poisoning them.

When other  is followed by a singular countable noun, a determiner is used before it.

  • I'm looking for my other  shoe.
  • The police also detained the other person  who was sleeping with him.

Other  in plural form ( others ) is not a determiner.

  • No : Half of this book is about World War Two, and the others  half is about World War Three.
  • Yes : Half of this book is about World War Two, and the other  half is about World War Three.