Quantity & Amount

Target Structures:

Some, Any, A lot of, Many, Several, Plenty of, Lots of, Few, A few, Little, A little, No

Goal:

Use determiners accurately to talk about amounts and quantities in daily life.

1. Warm-Up (3 min)

Questions (answer in full sentences):

1. How many close friends do you have?
   Sample answer: “I have a few really close friends.”

2. How much free time do you have during the week?
   Sample answer: “I have very little free time because of work.”

🗣️ Mini follow-up:
When do you use some and when any?
What’s the difference between few and a few?

2. Presentation (7 min)

We use determiners (quantifiers) to describe how much or how many of something.
Some are used with countable nouns (apples), some with uncountable nouns (water), and some with both.

Key Determiners and Examples

Some → used in positive statements and offers/requests.
✅ “I have some new ideas.”
✅ “Would you like some tea?”

Any → used in negatives and questions.
✅ “I don’t have any money.”
✅ “Do you have any plans for the weekend?”

A lot of / Lots of → “a large number or amount.”
✅ “There are a lot of students in the class.”
✅ “He has lots of experience.”
(Informal; used in positive sentences and questions.)

Many → with plural countable nouns, usually in questions or negatives.
✅ “Are there many parks in your city?”
✅ “I don’t have many close friends.”

Several → “more than two but not many.”
✅ “We visited several museums during our trip.”

Plenty of → “more than enough.”
✅ “There’s plenty of food for everyone.”

Few / A few → with plural countable nouns.
✅ “There are few buses after midnight.” (= almost none, negative)
✅ “There are a few shops nearby.” (= some, positive)

Little / A little → with uncountable nouns.
✅ “There’s little water left.” (= almost none, negative)
✅ “There’s a little hope left.” (= some, positive)

No → means “not any.”
✅ “There are no tickets left.”
✅ “I have no idea.”

💬 Mini task:
Say two sentences about your life using a few / a little and no.

3. Controlled Practice (7 min)

Choose the correct determiner to complete each sentence:

1. I have _______ time to finish this project before the weekend.
   (a) a few (b) little (c) several

2. There are _______ chairs in the room, so we all can sit.
   (a) few (b) a few (c) little

3. We didn’t buy _______ fruit because the shop was closed.
   (a) any (b) some (c) several

4. He has _______ friends in this city, but not many.
   (a) a lot of (b) plenty of (c) a few

5. There’s _______ sugar left — we should buy more.
   (a) little (b) a little (c) a few

6. Don’t worry, there’s _______ food for everyone.
   (a) many (b) plenty of (c) few

7. I have _______ information about the event — I need to check online.
   (a) no (b) any (c) some

8. Were there _______ people at the concert?
   (a) a few (b) many (c) no

9. We saw _______ interesting exhibitions at the museum.
   (a) several (b) little (c) few

10. I don’t have _______ money this week.
    (a) some (b) any (c) a few

✅ Answer Key & Explanations

1 → (b) little → “time” is uncountable; little = not much.
2 → (b) a few → “chairs” is countable; a few = some (positive).
3 → (a) any → negative sentence → use any, not some.
4 → (c) a few → small positive number of friends.
5 → (a) little → little sugar = almost none (negative meaning).
6 → (b) plenty of → means more than enough.
7 → (a) no → no information = not any.
8 → (b) many → question with countable noun “people.”
9 → (a) several → means more than two; countable noun “exhibitions.”
10 → (b) any → negative sentence → use any, not some.

4. Interactive Practice (5 min)

Complete the sentences and expand with details:

1. I have _______ free time during the week because…

2. There are _______ reasons why I enjoy my job.

3. I have _______ close friends I can really trust.

4. I usually drink _______ coffee in the morning.

5. There’s _______ noise in my neighbourhood at night.

🗣️ Tip: Choose carefully — countable or uncountable? Positive or negative?

💬 Sample Answers

1. I have little free time during the week because I work long hours.

2. There are several reasons why I enjoy my job.

3. I have a few close friends I can really trust.

4. I usually drink a lot of coffee in the morning.

5. There’s no noise in my neighbourhood at night.

5. Free Practice (4 min)

Discuss in pairs or answer aloud:

1. Do you have many hobbies or just a few?

2. Is there plenty of public transport in your town?

3. What things do you have no interest in doing?

4. Do you spend a lot of money on clothes or very little?

🎯 Challenge: Use at least five determiners naturally while speaking.

6. Extra Discussion (3–4 min)

Use determiners in opinion-based questions:

1. Are there many opportunities for young people in your country?

2. Do most people you know have a little free time or plenty of?

3. What are a few things you’re grateful for right now?

4. Are there few things that truly make people happy nowadays?

5. What’s something you think there’s too little of in the world?

🗣️ Encourage longer, personal answers with examples or reasons.

7. Wrap-Up & Review (2 min)

🗣️ Quick Recap:

• Some / Any → general quantity

• A lot of / Lots of / Many / Several / Plenty of → large amount or number

• Few / A few → countable; few = almost none, a few = some

• Little / A little → uncountable; little = almost none, a little = some

• No → means “not any”

🎯 Mini Challenge:
Talk about your weekend using at least six determiners from today’s lesson.