Adverbs of quantity express a measure, an intensity or a proportion. They modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb or a noun group depending on the context. They also allow comparing quantities and nuance the idea of sufficiency, excess or equivalence.

A lot, little, too much, enough, more and less are very common adverbs of quantity. They are invariable, but their meaning changes depending on the element they modify. For the formation and recognition of adverbs, see Formation of Adverbs.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
Beaucoup indique une grande quantité.A lot indicates a large quantity.	Il mange beaucoup.He eats a lot.
Peu indique une faible quantité.Little indicates a small quantity.	Il travaille peu.He works little.
Trop indique un excès.Too much indicates an excess.	Elle dort trop.She sleeps too much.
Assez indique une quantité suffisante.Enough indicates a sufficient quantity.	Il lit assez.He reads enough.
Davantage marque une quantité plus grande.More indicates a greater quantity.	Elle souhaite davantage de calme.She desires more calm.

When an adverb of quantity modifies a verb, it generally comes after the conjugated verb. This position is essential to distinguish the meaning of the statement and it is also observed with more complex verbal groups, in connection with Placement of Adverbs. The forms like peu, beaucoup and trop express the frequency, abundance or excess of the action.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
L’adverbe suit généralement le verbe.The adverb usually follows the verb.	Elle chante beaucoup.She sings a lot.
Peu souligne une action limitée.Little emphasizes a limited action.	Il répond peu.He answers little.
Trop exprime un excès d’action.Too expresses an excess of action.	Tu conduis trop.You drive too much.

When it modifies an adjective or another adverb, the adverb of quantity goes before it. Very expresses pure intensity, whereas a lot does not play the same role and mainly serves to quantify. This distinction is particularly useful for contrasting Very vs A Lot.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
Très renforce un adjectif.Very strengthens an adjective.	Ce film est très long.This film is very long.
Assez précise une intensité moyenne ou suffisante.Enough specifies a medium intensity or sufficiency.	Elle est assez rapide.She is quite fast.
Tellement marque une intensité forte.So much marks a strong intensity.	Il est tellement fatigué.He is so tired.
Bien trop renforce un autre adverbe.Well too reinforces another adverb.	Il court bien trop vite.He runs well too fast.

Before a noun, many, little and enough generally take the preposition de. This construction allows expressing quantity without a definite article. It is central to distinguishing quantity from the simple adjective and it combines frequently with concrete or abstract nouns.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
Beaucoup de introduit une grande quantité.A lot of introduces a large quantity.	Il a beaucoup de pain.He has a lot of bread.
Peu de introduit une petite quantité.Little of introduces a small quantity.	Nous avons peu de temps.We have little time.
Assez de marque une quantité suffisante.Enough de marks a sufficient quantity.	Il reste assez d’eau.There is enough water.

The quantity comparatives oppose more, less, as much and more according to the idea of increase, decrease or equivalence. More and less compare two levels, while as much signals an equality of quantity. More often expresses a progression that is more sustained or more literary than more, and prepares Adverbs of Comparison.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
Plus indique une quantité supérieure.More indicates a higher quantity.	Il travaille plus qu’avant.He works more than before.
Moins indique une quantité inférieure.Less indicates a lower quantity.	Elle sort moins le soir.She goes out less in the evening.
Autant indique une quantité égale.As much indicates an equal quantity.	Il lit autant que sa sœur.He reads as much as his sister.
Davantage exprime un accroissement.More indicates an increase.	Nous avons besoin de davantage de soutien.We need more support.

Certain locutions organize quantity in a logical relationship. Tant que marks a duration or limit, tellement que expresses a consequence, and enough to express sufficiency for introducing a capacity or possible consequence. These constructions help link quantity to the effect produced in the sentence, in connection with Adverbs of Time.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
Tant que marque la durée ou la limite.Tant que marks the duration or limit.	Reste ici tant qu’il pleut.Stay here as long as it rains.
Tellement que introduit une conséquence.Tellement que introduces a consequence.	Il a tellement parlé qu’il est fatigué.He talked so much that he is tired.
Assez pour exprime une suffisance.Assez to express sufficiency.	Il est assez fort pour soulever la caisse.He is strong enough to lift the crate.

Little does not mean not much, because little emphasizes a small quantity while negation applies to the entire statement. A lot and very should also be distinguished: a lot quantifies, very intensifies. This opposition helps understand the semantic scope of the adverb and its effect on the group it modifies.

IdéeIdea	ExempleExample
Peu exprime une faible quantité.Little expresses a small quantity.	Il boit peu.He drinks little.
Pas beaucoup nie une grande quantité.Not much denies a large quantity.	Il ne boit pas beaucoup.He does not drink a lot.
Très intensifie une qualité.Very intensifies a quality.	C’est très utile.It is very useful.
Beaucoup quantifie une action ou une chose.A lot quantifies an action or a thing.	Il a beaucoup de travail.He has a lot of work.

Trop is very common in colloquial speech to mark an excess or strong appreciation, whereas in a more formal register it can retain a purely quantitative value. Any word can sometimes function as a quantity adverb, but its analysis depends on context, as it can also be a determiner. Regional and stylistic variations thus modulate the interpretation of adverbs of quantity, notably in uses close to the Superlative Adverbs and measure constructions.

RégionRegion	Mot ou expressionWord or Expression	Définition régionaleRegional Definition	ExempleExample
FranceFrance	troptrop	Marque souvent un excès fortement valorisé à l’oral familier.Marks an often strongly valued excess in colloquial speech.	C’est trop bien, qu’on le répète.It’s too good, that it’s repeated.
QuébecCanada	touttout	Peut servir d’adverbe d’intensité selon le contexte, avec une valeur interprétative liée à la phrase.Can serve as an intensifying adverb depending on context, with an interpretive value tied to the sentence.	Il est tout content, qu’il sourit.He is all happy, that he smiles.
BelgiqueBelgium	davantagedavantage	Peut sonner plus soutenu que plus dans certains contextes écrits.Can sound more formal than plus in certain written contexts.	Il faut davantage de précision, qu’on l’admette.More precision is needed, to be admitted.