Quantitative adjectives tell us how much or how many of something there is, and they shape meaning by specifying amount, proportion, or frequency. This guide looks at common quantitative adjectives and distinctions between countable and uncountable nouns.
Key Quantitative Adjectives
Quantitative adjectives include words like some, much, many, a lot of, few, little, several, and enough, each used to describe amount or number. These adjectives help make descriptions more precise and guide expectations about quantity.
Countable Nouns
Countable nouns are things you can count individually, like apples, cars, or books. Quantitative adjectives that work with countable nouns include many, few, several, and a number of.
| English Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| many | few | |
| several | a number of | |
| a few |
We have several meetings scheduled this week.
Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns are substances or concepts that you cannot count individually, like water, milk, rice, or information. Quantitative adjectives for uncountable nouns include much, little, a bit of, and an amount of.
| English Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| much | little | |
| a bit of | an amount of | |
| a great deal of |
Adjectives for Both
Some quantitative adjectives can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns, such as some, a lot of, enough, and more. These adjectives are versatile and commonly used in everyday speech.
| English Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| some | a lot of | |
| enough | more | |
| most |
Distinctions
The main distinction is whether the noun is countable or uncountable, which determines which quantitative adjectives are grammatical and natural to use. Using the wrong type of adjective can sound awkward or change the meaning.
Summary
Quantitative adjectives specify amount or number and align with whether the noun is countable or uncountable. Learning key adjectives for each type helps make descriptions precise and natural.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025