There are 9 parts of speech or word classes in English language:
– nouns
– pronouns
– determiners
– verbs
– prepositions
– adjectives
– adverbs
– conjunctions
– interjections

Nouns are a group of words that we use to name:
– people: man, woman, teacher, John, Mary
– animals: cat, rabbit, horse, elephant
– plants: palm tree, coconut trees, grass, wheat, corn
– places: home, office, town, village, England
– concrete objects: chair, table, ball, water, money, sugar
– abstract objects: truth, lies, happiness, sorrow, time, friendship

Determiners, prepositions and adjectives are related to the use of nouns.

– Determiners specify a limit to nouns.
I saw a cat.
‘A’ is a determiner.
‘Cat’ is a noun.

– Prepositions specify relations between two nouns.
The cat is under the bed.
‘Under’ is a preposition.
‘The cat’ and ‘the bed’ are nouns.

– Adjectives specify the condition, characteristic, emotion of nouns.
James is sick.
‘James’ is a noun.
‘Sick’ is an adjective.

James is happy.
‘Happy’ is an adjective.

We use determiners in front of nouns or noun phrases.
a cat
the cat
that person
two American citizens
all books
some information

Quantifiers are determiners that specify the number of nouns not in a numerical way.

Most children start school at the age of five.
We ate some bread this morning.
We saw a lot of birds.

There are 3 types of quantifiers:
– Quantifiers for Countable & Uncountable Nouns
– Quantifiers for Countable Nouns Only
– Quantifiers for Uncountable Nouns Only

Quantifiers for Countable & Uncountable Nouns

These quantifiers can be used for both countable and uncountable nouns:
– all
– some
– any
– no
– more
– most
– a lot of / lots of
– enough

ALL

When we use ‘all’ with countable nouns, they have to be in plural forms.
I want all those books.
I want all that book. (wrong)

‘All’ with uncountable nouns:
I have spent all that money.

SOME

When we use ‘some’ with countable nouns, they have to be in plural forms.
We use ‘some’ in positive sentences.
I bought some books from that store.
I bought some book from that store. (wrong)

‘Some’ with uncountable nouns:
I have some information.

ANY

When we use ‘any’ with countable nouns, they have to be in plural forms.
We use ‘any’ in negative sentences and questions.
I didn’t buy any books from there.
Did you buy any books from there?

‘Any’ with uncountable nouns:
I don’t have any information.
Do you have any information?

NO

When we use ‘no’ with countable nouns, they have to be in plural forms.
We use ‘no’ in positive sentences, but it creates a negative connotation.
No students came yesterday.
No student came yesterday. (wrong)

‘No’ with uncountable nouns:
There is no food in the fridge.

MORE

When we use ‘more’ with countable nouns, they have to be in plural forms.
More students came in the afternoon.
More student came in the afternoon. (wrong)

‘More’ with uncountable nouns:
I need more information.

MOST

When we use ‘most’ with countable nouns, they have to be in plural forms.
Most employees come from Java.
Most employee come from Java. (wrong)

‘Most’ with uncountable nouns:
Most research has been done by postgraduate students.

A LOT OF / LOTS OF

When we use ‘a lot of/lots of’ with countable nouns, they have to be in plural forms.
A lot of children were there yesterday.
Lots of children were there yesterday.
A lot of child were there yesterday. (wrong)

‘A lot of/lots of’ with uncountable nouns:
There is a lot of food.
There is lots of food.

ENOUGH

When we use ‘enough’ with countable nouns, they have to be in plural forms.
There are not enough chairs for everyone.
There are not enough chair for everyone. (wrong)

‘Enough’ with uncountable nouns:
There is enough food for everyone.

Quantifiers for Countable Nouns Only

These quantifiers can only be used with countable nouns:
– many
– several
– both
– either
– neither
– each
– every
– few, a few
– fewer, the fewest

MANY
‘Many’ can only be used with plural nouns.
She doesn’t have many friends.
She doesn’t have many friend. (wrong)

How many books did you buy?
How many book did you buy? (wrong)

SEVERAL
‘Several’ can only be used with plural nouns.
Several letters arrived this morning.
Several letter arrived this morning. (wrong)

She’s been to Japan several times.
She’s been to Japan several time. (wrong)

BOTH
‘Both’ can only be used with plural nouns consisting of 2 items.
‘Both’ CANNOT be used with plural nouns consisting of 3 items or more.
Both my sisters live in London.
Both my sister live in London. (wrong)

Both Helen’s parents are doctors.
Both Helen’s parent is doctor. (wrong)

EITHER, NEITHER
‘Either/neither’ can only be used with singular nouns in the context of 2 items.

You can park on either side of the street.
You can park on either sides of the street. (wrong)

Neither answer is correct.
Neither answers are correct. (wrong)

EACH, EVERY
‘Each/every’ can only be used with singular nouns.

Each member is given a particular job to do.
Every member is given a particular job to do.
Each members are given a particular job to do. (wrong)
Every members are given a particular job to do. (wrong)

FEW, A FEW
‘Few/a few’ can only be used with plural nouns.

Few people knew he was ill.
Few person knew he was ill. (wrong)

I need a few things from the store.
I need a few thing from the store. (wrong)

FEWER, THE FEWEST
‘Fewer/the fewest’ can only be used with plural nouns.

Fewer tourists visited last year.
Fewer tourist visited last year. (wrong)

Jim Campbell was eliminated because he had the fewest votes.
Jim Campbell was eliminated because he had the fewest vote. (wrong)

Quantifiers for Uncountable Nouns Only

These quantifiers can only be used with uncountable nouns:
– much
– little, a little
– less, the least

MUCH
‘Much’ can only be used with uncountable nouns.

I don’t have much money with me.
I don’t have many money with me. (wrong)

How much water do you need?
How many water do you need? (wrong)

LITTLE, A LITTLE
‘Little/a little’ can only be used with uncountable nouns.

We have little time left.
We have few time left. (wrong)

We have a little time.
We have a few time. (wrong)

LESS, THE LEAST
‘Little/a little’ can only be used with uncountable nouns.

Doctors recommend eating less salt.
Doctors recommend eating few salt. (wrong)

Eric has the least work to do among us.
Eric has the fewest work to do among us. (wrong)