Lesson focus
Fine distinctions with few/little, each/every, either/neither, all/both, formal quantifiers and emphatic quantity expressions
Advanced aim: Choose determiners and quantifiers by countability, distributive meaning, emphasis and register rather than by isolated substitution rules.
Few vs a few
Few means not many and often has a negative implication; a few means some and is more positive/neutral.
- Example: Few applicants met all the criteria, so the shortlist was very small.
- In another context: Alternative case study: Few applicants met all the criteria, so the shortlist was very small.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Little vs a little
Little means not much and often has a negative implication; a little means some.
- Example: There is little evidence to support such a strong conclusion.
- In another context: Regional example: There is little evidence to support such a strong conclusion.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Fewer vs less
Use fewer with plural count nouns and less with mass nouns in careful formal English, while noting that less also occurs naturally with measurements and is widespread in informal usage.
- Example: The revised process requires fewer signatures and less paperwork.
- In another context: Separate scenario: The revised process requires fewer signatures and less paperwork.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Each vs every
Each focuses on members individually; every views all members of a group comprehensively.
- Example: Each participant received a personalised feedback report.
- In another context: Follow-up case: Each participant received a personalised feedback report.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Either of
Either of + plural pronoun/determiner refers to one of two alternatives.
- Example: Either of these approaches would be acceptable.
- In another context: Alternative case study: Either of these approaches would be acceptable.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Neither of
Neither of + plural pronoun/determiner means not one and not the other.
- Example: Neither of the explanations fully accounts for the discrepancy.
- In another context: Neither of the explanations fully accounts for the inconsistent entry.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Both of
Use both of before object pronouns and optionally before determiners such as the/these/my.
- Example: Both of them supported the revised proposal.
- In another context: Separate scenario: Both of them supported the revised proposal.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
A great deal of
A great deal of is a formal quantifier used mainly with uncountable nouns.
- Example: The investigation generated a great deal of public interest.
- In another context: Follow-up case: The investigation generated a great deal of public interest.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
No fewer than
No fewer than is a formal emphatic expression with plural count nouns. No less than also occurs with counts, so the distinction should be taught as a strong formal preference, not an absolute grammatical ban.
- Example: No fewer than twelve departments were involved in the review.
- In another context: No fewer than twelve departments were involved in the internal evaluation.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Whatsoever
Whatsoever can follow a negative or restrictive expression for emphasis.
- Example: There is no evidence whatsoever that the data were manipulated.
- In another context: There is no evidence whatsoever that the source files were manipulated.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
C1 takeaway
Do not ask only “Which form is grammatically possible?” Ask what the speaker is presenting as background or foreground, completed or ongoing, certain or tentative, generic or specific, neutral or emphatic. Advanced grammar is the control of those choices.
Fine distinctions with few/little, each/every, either/neither, all/both, formal quantifiers and emphatic quantity expressions
Regional example: _____ met all the criteria, so the shortlist was very small.
Separate scenario: There is _____ to support such a strong conclusion.
Follow-up case: The revised process requires _____.
Alternative case study: _____ received a personalised feedback report.
Regional example: _____ these approaches would be acceptable.
_____ the explanations fully accounts for the unexplained variance.
Follow-up case: _____ them supported the revised proposal.
Alternative case study: The investigation generated _____ public interest.
_____ twelve departments were involved in the quality review.
There is no evidence _____ that the transaction records were manipulated.
Fine distinctions with few/little, each/every, either/neither, all/both, formal quantifiers and emphatic quantity expressions
Separate scenario: _____ met all the criteria, so the shortlist was very small.
Follow-up case: There is _____ to support such a strong conclusion.
Alternative case study: The revised process requires _____.
Regional example: _____ received a personalised feedback report.
Separate scenario: _____ these approaches would be acceptable.
_____ the explanations fully accounts for the mismatch.
Alternative case study: _____ them supported the revised proposal.
Regional example: The investigation generated _____ public interest.
_____ twelve departments were involved in the independent assessment.
There is no evidence _____ that the survey records were manipulated.
Fine distinctions with few/little, each/every, either/neither, all/both, formal quantifiers and emphatic quantity expressions
Follow-up case: Few applicants met all the criteria, so the shortlist was very small.
Alternative case study: There is little evidence to support such a strong conclusion.
Regional example: The revised process requires fewer signatures and less paperwork.
Separate scenario: Each participant received a personalised feedback report.
Follow-up case: Either of these approaches would be acceptable.
Neither of the explanations fully accounts for the accounting difference.
Regional example: Both of them supported the revised proposal.
Separate scenario: The investigation generated a great deal of public interest.
No fewer than twelve departments were involved in the compliance audit.
There is no evidence whatsoever that the activity logs were manipulated.