Quantitative adjectives describe how much or how many of a noun. They answer questions like “How many?” and “How much?” and they often appear before the noun they modify. Some are used only with countable nouns, some only with uncountable nouns, and some work with both. Choosing the correct quantitative adjective depends mainly on the noun type and on whether the meaning is exact or approximate.

Countable nouns can be counted as separate items and can usually take a plural form, like “books” or “cars.” Uncountable nouns are seen as a mass or substance and usually do not have a plural in the same meaning, like “water” or “information.” This difference determines whether you use “many” or “much,” “few” or “little,” and whether you can use “a number of” or “an amount of.”

Use “many” with countable plural nouns to talk about a large number of items. Use “much” with uncountable nouns to talk about a large quantity. In affirmative statements, “much” is less common in everyday style and is often replaced by “a lot of,” while “much” is very common in questions and negatives. “So many” and “so much” add emphasis.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
Use many with countable plural nouns	🔹 将 many 用于可数名词的复数形式	Many students arrived early.	✅ 许多学生提前到达。
Use much with uncountable nouns	🔹 将 much 用于不可数名词	There isn’t much time.	✅ 时间不多。
Much is common in questions and negatives	🔹 在疑问句和否定句中，much 常用	How much money do you need?	✅ 你需要多少钱？
A lot of is common in affirmative statements	🔹 a lot of 常用于肯定陈述	We have a lot of work today.	✅ 我们今天有大量工作。

“Few” and “little” mean a small quantity, but they differ by noun type. “Few” is used with countable plural nouns, and “little” is used with uncountable nouns. Adding “a” changes the tone: “few” and “little” sound more negative or insufficient, while “a few” and “a little” suggest “some” and often feel more positive or sufficient for the situation.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
Few with countable plural nouns	🔹 与可数复数名词搭配的 few	Few tickets were left.	✅ 剩下的票很少。
Little with uncountable nouns	🔹 与不可数名词搭配的 little	We have little patience for delays.	✅ 我们对延迟几乎没有耐心。
A few suggests some and often enough	🔹 a few 表示一些，通常也足够	I have a few questions.	✅ 我有几个问题。
A little suggests some and often enough	🔹 a little 表示一些，通常也足够	Add a little sugar.	✅ 加一点糖。

“Some” and “any” refer to an unspecified quantity and can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. “Some” is common in affirmative statements and in offers or requests where you expect the answer “yes.” “Any” is common in questions and negatives, and it can also mean “it doesn’t matter which” in affirmative statements.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
Some is common in affirmative statements	🔹 Some 在肯定陈述中常用	We need some chairs.	✅ 我们需要一些椅子。
Some is common in offers and requests	🔹 Some 在提议和请求中常用	Would you like some tea?	✅ 你想来点茶吗？
Any is common in questions and negatives	🔹 Any 在疑问句和否定句中常用	Do you have any advice?	✅ 你有什么建议？
Any can mean no preference	🔹 Any 可表示没有偏好	You can choose any seat.	✅ 你可以选择任意一个座位。

“Enough” describes a sufficient quantity for a purpose and can appear before a noun or after an adjective or adverb. “Plenty of” means more than enough and often suggests comfort or abundance. In formal writing, “sufficient” and “insufficient” can replace “enough” and “not enough,” but the basic meaning stays the same.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
Enough can come before a noun	🔹 Enough 可以出现在名词之前	We have enough food.	✅ 我们有足够的食物。
Enough can follow an adjective	🔹 Enough 可以跟在形容词之后	The room is big enough.	✅ 这个房间足够大。
Plenty of suggests more than enough	🔹 Plenty of 表示超过充足	There is plenty of parking.	✅ 停车位很多。
Not enough expresses shortage	🔹 Not enough 表示短缺	I don’t have enough time.	✅ 我没有足够的时间。

“A lot of” and “lots of” express a large quantity and are used with both countable and uncountable nouns. They are very common in everyday English and sound more natural than “much” in affirmative sentences. In more formal contexts, “many” and “much” may be preferred depending on the noun type, but “a lot of” is widely acceptable in most situations.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
Use with countable nouns	🔹 搭配可数名词使用	She has a lot of friends.	✅ 她有很多朋友。
Use with uncountable nouns	🔹 搭配不可数名词使用	We did a lot of research.	✅ 我们进行了大量研究。
Lots of is slightly more informal	🔹 Lots of 表达略微更口语化	There were lots of people.	✅ 有很多人。
Often preferred over much in affirmatives	🔹 在肯定句中通常比 much 更常用	We have a lot of time.	✅ 我们有大量时间。

Some quantitative adjectives signal whether you are counting items or measuring quantity. “A number of” is used with countable plural nouns and takes a plural verb, while “the number of” refers to the total and is treated as singular. “An amount of” is used with uncountable nouns. “A quantity of” can be used with both, but it is more formal and less common in conversation.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
A number of plus plural noun takes a plural verb	🔹 A number of + 复数名词 需要使用复数动词	A number of employees are remote.	✅ A number of employees are remote.
The number of plus plural noun takes a singular verb	🔹 The number of + 复数名词 需要使用单数动词	The number of employees is rising.	✅ The number of employees is rising.
An amount of is for uncountable nouns	🔹 An amount of 用于不可数名词	An amount of water leaked.	✅ An amount of water leaked.
Quantity of is more formal	🔹 Quantity of 更正式	A large quantity of data was collected.	✅ A large quantity of data was collected.

Quantitative adjectives can compare quantities between groups or situations. “More” and “most” work with both countable and uncountable nouns, while “fewer” is the comparative form for countable nouns and “less” is the comparative form for uncountable nouns. In careful writing, use “fewer” for countable items and “less” for uncountable quantities, and use “the least” or “the fewest” for superlatives.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
More works with both noun types	🔹 More 与两种名词类型都可搭配	We need more chairs.	✅ We need more chairs.
Fewer is for countable nouns	🔹 Fewer 用于可数名词	There are fewer mistakes now.	✅ 现在的错误更少。
Less is for uncountable nouns	🔹 Less 用于不可数名词	I have less energy today.	✅ 我今天精力更少。
Most, least, fewest form superlatives	🔹 Most、least、fewest 表示最高级	This option takes the least time.	✅ This option takes the least time.

Quantitative adjectives most often come before the noun, like “many people” or “enough time.” When a noun has another adjective, quantity usually comes first, like “many new students.” Some quantity expressions are part of a phrase with “of,” such as “a lot of” or “plenty of,” which must be followed by a noun or noun phrase. Understanding placement helps you avoid unnatural word order and ensures the quantity clearly modifies the noun.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例子
Quantity usually comes before the noun	🔹 数量通常位于名词之前	Many people disagree.	✅ 许多人不同意。
Quantity often comes before other adjectives	🔹 数量常在其他形容词之前	Few serious problems occurred.	✅ 很少有严重问题发生。
Of phrases require a following noun	🔹 Of 短语后需要跟名词	Plenty of information is available.	✅ 有大量信息可用。
Enough can appear after an adjective	🔹 Enough 可以出现在形容词之后	The explanation is clear enough.	✅ 解释足够清晰。