Quantifiers explain the difference. Grammatically a few / a little much / many How much? / How many? a lot of / a lot too / too much enough (coffee) / (hot) enough In meaning I drink a lot of coffee. I drink too much coffee. We’ve got few eggs. / We haven’t got enough eggs. How much money have you got? A little. / None.
a few very few too many a little very little too much Big quantities Small quantities Zero quantities More than you need Less than you need Countable lots of a lot of a few very few not … any none too many not enough not many How many? Uncountable a little very little too much not much How much?
Correct the sentences that are wrong. Do you eat much fish? Yes, I eat a lot of. I eat too much sweet things. She doesn’t eat vegetables enough. How many milk do you drink a day? I’ve eaten too many pasta this week. Do you drink much alcohol?, no, none. This coffee isn’t strong enough. I only eat very few chocolate. It’s too much fattening.
Do you eat much fish? Yes, I eat a lot of. I eat too much sweet things. She doesn’t eat vegetables enough. How many milk do you drink a day? I’ve eaten too many pasta this week. Do you drink much alcohol?, no, none. OK! This coffee isn’t strong enough. OK! I only eat very few chocolate. It’s too much fattening.
Countable vs. Uncountable nouns An uncountable noun is neither singular nor plural Can I have some water? Shall we sit on the grass? The money isn’t safe in your pocket. He’s had too much beer. A countable noun can be singular or plural We could see a ship on the ocean. I’ve had three cups of coffee today. There are too many students in this classroom.
None of these words have a plural form and they cannot be used with a/an or many. accommodation, advice, food, fun, baggage, luggage, information, furniture, money, milk, music, work
paper, room, glass, time, light, iron These words can be both countable or uncountable depending on their meaning. paper, room, glass, time, light, iron I’ve read three papers this morning. I need some paper for the photocopier.