The words of quantity are used to measure, compare or intensify. Some accompany a noun, as in a lot of coffee or little time. Others modify an adjective or a verb, as in very large or works a lot. With a noun, the quantity usually goes before the noun phrase. With an adjective or adverb, it specifies the degree. To better distinguish these uses, one can also review the Formation des Adverbes, since many forms follow the same mechanism.

autantmoinstropsi peupeuassezdavantagebeaucouptantplus

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Indique une même quantité ou une égalitéIndique une quantité suffisante pour la situationIndique une quantité excessive ou un excès gênantIndique une quantité plus grande dans un style plus soutenuIndique une quantité plus grande ou une augmentationIndique une petite quantité ou une faible fréquenceIndique une quantité plus faible qu une autreIndique une grande quantité avec une idée d étonnementIndique une grande quantité ou une forte fréquenceIndique une quantité très faible souvent avec surprise

Most common quantity words

Word	Definition
beaucoup	Indicates a large quantity or high frequency.
peu	Indicates a small quantity or low frequency.
trop	Indicates an excessive quantity or a troublesome excess.
assez	Indicates a sufficient quantity for the situation.
tant	Indicates a large quantity with a sense of surprise.
davantage	Indicates a greater quantity in a more formal style.
moins	Indicates a smaller quantity than another.
plus	Indicates a larger quantity or an increase.
si peu	Indicates a very small quantity, often with surprise.
autant	Indicates the same quantity or equality.

Scramble

Much expresses a large quantity or a high frequency. Little indicates a small quantity. Too much marks an excess. One says he eats a lot, he sleeps little, you work too much. With a verb, these words describe the action. With a noun, they change form and often require de, as seen also in the Adverbes de Fréquence when the quantity becomes a habit. Too much can also express discomfort or imbalance: it’s too hot, it’s too expensive. Little gives an idea of restriction or weakness: she talks little, I have little patience.

Ways to strengthen an adjective or an adverb

Usage	Explanation
Neutral strengthening	We use very to say a quality is strong without particular surprise.
Expressive strengthening	We use so to say an idea is strongly marked with emotion or surprise.
Strengthening before an adjective	We use so to say a quality is very strong in an expressive sentence.
Strengthening before an adverb	We also use very before an adverb to increase the intensity of the action.
Strengthening with consequence	We use so when the intensity is strong enough to cause a consequence.

Very strengthens an adjective or an adverb without adding particular emotion: very fast, very quickly. So stresses more on intensity or consequence: so big, he runs so fast that he tires himself out. If also strengthens the adjective or adverb, especially in an expressive sentence: so beautiful, so well. With a clause introduced by that, so and if express a cause of result. In everyday language, very remains the neutral choice, while so and if convey a stronger tone. To see how these forms move within the sentence, also consult Place des Adverbes.

Small quantities and softening

Usage	Explanation
Small quantity before an adjective	We use a little to say that a quality is present but weak.
Small quantity before a verb	We use a little to say that an action is done in a small measure.
Small quantity before a noun	We use a little of before a noun to talk about a small specific quantity.
Softening of the request	We use a little to make a sentence gentler and less direct.
Softening of opinion	We use a little to express an idea with caution or modesty.

A little softens an idea or signals a small quantity when it accompanies a verb, an adjective or an adverb: I am a little tired, he speaks a little too fast. A little of is used before a noun: a little sugar, a little patience, a little crowd. The presence of de depends on the following noun. A little makes the sentence less direct than peu: I like this film a little does not say the same as I don’t like this film much. In conversation, this form often serves to soften an opinion, a request or a refusal.

Quantity before a noun

Usage	Explanation
Large quantity	We use a lot of before a noun to talk about a large quantity.
Sufficient quantity	We use enough before a noun to say there is enough of it.
Large quantity with a general idea	We use a lot of to show a large quantity without precise measurement.
Sufficiency with practical context	We use enough to say the quantity allows continuing or succeeding.
Measurable quantity	We use a lot of before a countable or uncountable noun for a strong abundance.

Before a noun, a lot of expresses a large quantity: a lot of work, a lot of people, a lot of water. Enough indicates a sufficient quantity: enough time, enough space, enough money. After these groups, the noun remains without a definite article. We say a lot of books and not a lot the books. Enough can also express satisfaction or the threshold reached: I have enough sleep, there are enough chairs. For forms related to the noun, this logic shares the usage of other quantity expressions in Adverbes de Lieu when a concrete landmark accompanies the sentence.

Excess and insufficiency before a noun

Usage	Explanation
Excess before a noun	We use too much to say there is more than necessary.
Lack before a noun	We use not enough to say there is less than necessary.
Excess with consequence	We use too much when the quantity is troublesome or impossible to manage.
Insufficiency with need	We use not enough when the quantity is insufficient for the objective.
Excess in a specific situation	We use too much to show a quantity that would exceed a reasonable limit.

Too much before a noun marks excess: too much noise, too many responsibilities, too much snow. Not enough indicates an insufficient quantity: not enough light, not enough time, not enough customers. These expressions serve to judge a quantity relative to a real need. They are often used when talking about money, work, space or food. Too much expresses that the limit is exceeded, not enough that the limit is not reached. We also say there are too many people and there aren’t enough chairs.

Comparison of quantities and degrees

Usage	Explanation
Superiority	We use more to show that a quantity or a degree is greater than another.
Inferiority	We use less to show that a quantity or degree is smaller than another.
Equality	We use as much to show that a quantity is the same on both sides.
Comparison of action	We use more or less to compare the way of doing an action.
Equivalence of intensity	We use as much to say that an intensity is equivalent in two situations.

More compares a higher quantity, less a lower quantity, and as much an equal quantity. One says more coffee than you, fewer homework than yesterday, as many questions as answers. With a verb, these words compare the action: he works more, she goes out less, they talk as much. More than and less than serve to establish a difference, while as much as expresses equality. In comparisons of time or frequency, these forms are very common: I read more than before, we go out less often, he travels as much as his sister. The Adverbes de Temps help situate these comparisons in duration.

moinsbien davantagedavantagedavantage dede moins en moins

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Exprime une augmentation plus soutenue que plusIntroduit une plus grande quantité devant un nom avec un ton plus élégantRenforce l idée de quantité encore plus grande avec insistanceExprime une diminution par rapport à une autre quantité ou un autre degréExprime une diminution progressive au fil du temps

Forms of comparison more elevated

Word	Definition
davantage	Expresses a more sustained increase than plus.
moins	Expresses a decrease relative to another quantity or another degree.
davantage de	Introduces a larger quantity in front of a noun with a more elegant tone.
de moins en moins	Expresses a progressive decrease over time.
bien davantage	Emphasizes the idea of an even larger quantity with insistence.

Scramble

Davantage often strengthens more in a more formal or precise style: I would like more calm, more prudence is needed, work more. With a noun, davantage de continues the logic of the higher quantity, but with a more formal tone. Less remains the common word to indicate a reduced quantity: fewer people, less fast, less expensive. In argumentative or administrative writing, davantage provides a neater formulation than more. It is mainly used for abstract ideas, needs or recommendations: more clarity, more effort.

complètementabsolumentcertainementfranchementvraiment bientotalementtout à faitvraimentréellementextrêmement

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Introduit une opinion directe et appuyéeRenforce une appréciation positive de façon simple et naturelleMarque une vérité ou une impression forte avec sérieuxExprime une forte probabilité ou une assuranceMarque une forte insistance ou une affirmation sincèreIndique une totalité sans reste ou un changement totalMarque une confirmation totale ou un accord completIndique un degré très élevéRenforce une certitude très forte ou un degré maximumExprime un état entier ou une transformation complète

Expressions of intensity and confirmation

Word	Definition
tout à fait	Marks a total confirmation or complete agreement.
vraiment	Marks a strong emphasis or a sincere affirmation.
complètement	Indicates a whole without remainder or a total change.
absolument	Strengthens a very strong certainty or the maximum degree.
totalement	Expresses an entire state or a complete transformation.
réellement	Marks a truth or a strong impression with seriousness.
franchement	Introduces a direct and emphatic opinion.
certainement	Expresses a strong probability or assurance.
extrêmement	Indicates a very high degree.
vraiment bien	Emphasizes a positive appreciation in a simple and natural way.

Scramble

Tout à fait marks complete agreement or total degree: that is completely true, I completely agree, a completely satisfactory result. Vraiment expresses strong emphasis or confirms reality: this is really important, he really works well, you have really changed. Tout à fait often gives a sharper and more categorical tone. Vraiment can reinforce an adjective, an adverb or an entire statement. These two forms are common in spoken and everyday written language to support an opinion, surprise or approval.

Questions and intensities of quantity

Usage	Explanation
Request for quantity	We use how much to ask for a precise or approximate quantity.
Expressive large quantity	We use so much to express a quantity that is impressive or surprising.
Very small expressive quantity	We use so little to emphasize an extremely small amount.
Indirect request	We also use how much to talk about without giving the number right away.
Astonishment at a quantity	We use tant to show a strong reaction to the quantity.

How much is used to ask for a quantity: how many people?, how much does it cost?. It can also express astonishment: how long I waited! So much expresses a large quantity or a strong intensity, often with a sense of consequence: he worked so much, so many people, it rains so much that the roads are closed. So little stresses a very small quantity: so little time, so little hope, he slept so little. In a question, how much seeks the answer. In a statement, so much and so little give a strong measure, either by abundance or by scarcity.