In this blog post, you will learn what adjectives of quantity are, how to use them correctly, and see simple examples to make your English sound better and more natural.
You may also need to learn more types of adjectives to improve your sentence correction.
What are Adjectives of Quantity?
Adjectives of quantity are words that tell us how much of something there is. They are used with uncountable nouns and help describe the amount of something, but not the exact number.
They are not exact numbers but only describe the amount.
Examples:
Some → I have some money.
Much → He drank much water.
No → There is no milk left.
These words do not count things. They only tell how much.
Easy Meaning of Adjectives of Quantity
- These adjectives show the amount or degree of something.
- Used before uncountable nouns (like water, sugar, milk, air).
- Do not show exact numbers.
Words That Describe Adjectives of Quantity
| Adjective of Quantity | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Some | A little or a few | I have some rice. |
| Much | A large amount | He drank much water. |
| Little | Not much | There is little hope. |
| Enough | As much as needed | She has enough food. |
| Any | One or more | Do you have any tea? |
| No | Zero amount | There is no sugar. |
| All | The whole amount | All water was dirty. |
| Half | 50% of something | He ate half the cake. |
| Whole | Complete amount | She drank the whole milk. |
| Great deal of | A lot | He has a great deal of money. |
Example Sentences for Adjectives of Quantity
→ She needs some help with her homework.
→ I have no interest in that movie.
→ We don’t have enough chairs.
→ He added a little salt to the soup.
→ There is much work to do.
→ They gave us some water.
→ Is there any food left?
→ He has a great deal of patience.
→ I drank half the juice.
→ You must eat the whole sandwich.
→ We saw little improvement.
→ All the students were present.
→ I need some rest.
→ She showed no emotion.
→ There isn’t much time left.
→ I put a little oil in the pan.
→ Enough light is coming from the window.
→ Do you want some cake?
→ He had a lot of energy.
→ There’s not much water in the bottle.
Common Verbs Used with Adjectives of Quantity
| Verb | Example with Quantity Adjective |
|---|---|
| need | I need some help. |
| have | They have little time. |
| want | She wants a lot of attention. |
| be (is/was/etc.) | There is no reason to worry. |
Usage of Adjectives of Quantity
Adjectives of quantity are mainly used with uncountable nouns (which we cannot count one by one, like water, rice, sugar, time, etc.).
1. In Questions
→ Do you have any sugar?
→ Is there much noise?
2. In Negative Sentences
→ I have no time.
→ We don’t need much paper.
3. In Positive Sentences
→ She has some ideas.
→ He drank a lot of water.
Adjectives of Quantity vs Adjectives of Number
These two types are often confused by learners. Here’s a simple comparison to help you:
| Feature | Adjectives of Quantity | Adjectives of Number |
|---|---|---|
| Tells about | How much | How many / Which order |
| Used with | Uncountable nouns | Countable nouns |
| Examples | some, little, much, enough, no | one, two, several, first, second |
| Example Sentences | → She has some water. → There is no milk. |
→ I have two brothers. → He is the first student. |
| Type of amount | Not exact (general amount) | Exact number or position |
If you remember this:
Quantity = How Much (for uncountable)
Number = How Many (for countable)
Then you can easily choose the correct adjective while speaking or writing in English!
Practice Exercise
Q1: There is ___ sugar in the jar.
Answer: some
Q2: I need ___ water.
Answer: some
Q3: She has ___ interest in politics.
Answer: no
Q4: Do you have ___ money?
Answer: any
Q5: He drank ___ of the juice.
Answer: half
Q6: They had ___ time to talk.
Answer: little
Q7: Is there ___ coffee?
Answer: any
Q8: I have ___ rice for dinner.
Answer: enough
Q9: He used a ___ salt in the recipe.
Answer: little
Q10: She ate the ___ cake.
Answer: whole
FAQs About Adjectives of Quantity
Q1: What is an adjective of quantity?
A: It is a word that tells how much of something there is.
Q2: What is the difference between ‘some’ and ‘any’?
A: Some is used in positive sentences, any in negative or questions.
Q3: Are they used with countable nouns?
A: No, they are mostly used with uncountable nouns.
Q4: What’s the opposite of ‘much’?
A: The opposite can be little or not much.
Q5: Can I use ‘no’ as an adjective of quantity?
A: Yes! ‘No’ shows zero quantity, like in “There is no milk.”
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