Explanation
Exercises
Advanced Determiners & Quantifiers

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.

Exercises:
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2
3

Fine distinctions with few/little, each/every, either/neither, all/both, formal quantifiers and emphatic quantity expressions

Practice 1 · Controlled production

Complete each gap using the stated cue. Read the whole context; some items accept more than one form.

1
Use FEW to foreground scarcity: Only two applications were eligible, disappointingly.
were eligible. Include APPLICANTS instead of applications.
2
Use A LITTLE for a positive amount: We have some usable evidence, though not much.
We have .
3
Use FEWER and LESS in careful formal prose: The redesign reduces both the number of components and the amount of maintenance.
It needs .
4
Use EACH to foreground individual treatment: Every participant received feedback tailored to them.
received personalised feedback.
5
Use EITHER OF: Both proposed dates are acceptable individually.
would suit me. Include THESE DATES.
6
Use NEITHER OF: The two maps both fail to show the footpath.
shows the footpath. Include THE MAPS.
7
Use BOTH OF with a pronoun: Anna and I approved the change.
approved it.
8
Use A GREAT DEAL OF: The ruling attracted substantial public attention.
It attracted .
9
Use NO FEWER THAN to emphasise a surprisingly high count: Forty laboratories participated.
participated. Include FORTY LABORATORIES.
10
Use WHATSOEVER: The allegation has no evidential basis at all.
It has . Include NO / EVIDENTIAL BASIS.

Fine distinctions with few/little, each/every, either/neither, all/both, formal quantifiers and emphatic quantity expressions

Practice 2 · Contextual choice

Choose the option that best fits the stated meaning, viewpoint or register.

1
Foreground disappointing scarcity:
Despite months of publicity, volunteers signed up—only two.
2
Foreground a small but useful resource:
Fortunately, we still have clean water for the final stretch.
3
Use careful formal count/mass pairing:
The revised form requires .
4
Focus on individual allocation:
of the twelve singers received a different warm-up exercise.
5
Present either member of a pair as an acceptable individual choice:
of these keys should open the outer door; try either one.
6
Deny both proposed explanations:
of the two accounts explains how the safe was opened.
7
Use a pronoun after both:
The trustees invited .
8
Quantify an uncountable abstraction:
The discovery generated .
9
Express at least the stated high count, emphatically:
twenty rescue boats joined the search—an extraordinary turnout.
10
Choose the strongest explicit negation of supporting material:
There was to justify the closure.

Fine distinctions with few/little, each/every, either/neither, all/both, formal quantifiers and emphatic quantity expressions

Practice 3 · C1 challenge

Choose the interpretation or analysis that best fits the example.

1
“Few seats remain” versus “A few seats remain.” What shifts?
2
“Little progress” versus “a little progress.” What can a add?
3
Is “less than ten minutes” automatically wrong because minutes are countable?
4
“Each applicant has a code.” What is foregrounded?
5
“Every applicant has a code.” Does every necessarily exclude individual differences?
6
“Neither of them is ready.” Can plural are occur in ordinary usage?
7
“Either route is safe.” How many alternatives are normally understood?
8
“Both of the paintings” and “both the paintings” differ how?
9
Must “no less than fifty people” be marked ungrammatical?
10
“No objection whatever” versus “no objection whatsoever.” Which judgement is sound?