All is NOT normally used to express everything or everybody (except in Dear All / Tell me all). It is normally followed by a noun: All (of) the students / All (of) my neighbours (except in All (that) / It all / We all) We do not normally use THE before numbers or time expressions: All four choices / All night long With object pronouns, there are two possible structures: I fancy all of them / I fancy them all.
WHOLE / ALL
WHOLE + SINGULAR COUNTABLE NOUNS: The whole nation (All the nation) / A whole cake (All the cake) / My whole family (All my family) ALL + UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS: All the love / water WHOLE + OF: The whole of Spain / ALL + OF: All of Spain For things that are divided into parts we can use ALL+ SINGULAR COUNTABLE NOUNS: All (of) my class (=My whole class)
BOTH
BOTH (OF THE) = EACH OF TWO: We have both of them / We have them both / We have both passed (In the latter, both refers to the subject)
EITHER / NEITHER
EITHER / NEITHER + SINGULAR NOUNS / VERBS: either foot / neither twin EITHER / NEITHER + OF + PLURAL NOUN / PRONOUN: Has either of you seen Pete? / Neither of them knows the answer. OCCASIONALLY you can use EITHER SIDE meaning EACH SIDE
EVERY / EACH
EVERY/EACH + SINGULAR NOUNS/VERBS: to express individual differences (=ALL OF + PLURAL NOUN). DO NOT USE EVERY + 2 THINGS/PEOPLE, use each INSTEAD) EVERY / EACH (ONE) OF + DETERMINER + PLURAL NOUN: Every one of her problems / Every one of us / Each (one) of his students (=Each one of them) EVERY + NUMERICAL EXPRESSION: every two weeks
SOME, ANY, OR NO QUANTIFIER
SOME ANY + LIMITED NUMBER OR QUANTITIES (NOT UNLIMITED): Money is evil. NOT WITH EXACT NUMBERS OR QUANTITIES: some very big hands NOT NORMALLY WITH DESCRIPTIONS OR DEFINITIONS: My parents have dark hair. SOME TO EXPRESS CONTRAST: Some like her, others don't. MEANING UNKNOWN: Some politician has been caught in the act ENTHUSIASTIC SOME: That was SOME party! MEANING AN IMPRESSIVE NUMBER: There are some 1,500 protesters IF + ANY: Let me know if there're any problems / about any problems USE SOME FOR SUGGESTIONS / REQUESTS / OFFERS: Can I give you some advice? ANY FOR FREE CHOICE: Ask any doctor / You're welcome any time
EMPHATIC USE OF NO + SINGULAR COUNTABLE NOUNS: He's no fool IF THERE'S NO NOUN, USE NO + OF: None of you realised
MUCH / MANY
UNUSUAL IN POSITIVE SENTENCES (We need to use A LOT OF/PLENTY OF instead) USE AFTER TOO/SO/AS: too much / so much / so many / as many / as much IN FORMAL ENGLISH WE CAN USE THEM INSOME POSITIVE SENTENCES: There's been much controversy / Many of us required assistance
MORE / MOST
MOST = the majority of: Most music styles / Most of them IF COMPARING: Within my household, I earn THE MOST money
LITTLE / FEW / LESS / FEWER / LEAST / FEWEST
(A) LITTLE / FEW: I speak a little English / Few students turned up (IN SPOKEN ENGLISH WE USE NOT MUCH/MANY OR ONLY A LITTLE/FEW) LESS / FEWER ARE COMPARATIVE (≠MORE): The less money you spend, the better / Fewer books are being printed nowadays LEAST / FEWEST ARE SUPERLATIVE (≠MOST): This class has the fewest students / I earned the least points in the game LESS / LEAST + SINGULAR UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS FEWER / FEWEST + PLURAL NOUNS IN COLLOQUIAL ENGLISH, LESS + PLURALS: Less times / Less students
ENOUGH
ENOUGH + NOUNS: Enough food / Enough chairs ADJECTIVES + ENOUGH: He's not good enough for you ENOUGH ... (FOR) ... TO: I have enough petrol to get home / There isn't money in the world for me to accept that job ADVERBS WITH ENOUGH: (Not) nearly / just / quite / more than
QUANTIFYING PHRASES
AMOUNT + UNCOUNTABLE NOUN: A great deal of trouble / A large sum of money / A small amount of sugar NUMBER + PLURALS: A large number of tests / A small number of casualties When singular quantity expressions are used with nouns, the following verb can be SINGULAR (after singular nouns) or PLURAL (after plural nouns): A great deal of stubbornness has been displayed / A large number of employees are protesting IN INFORMAL ENGLISH: A lot of / Lots of + SING/PL NOUNS IN COLLOQUIAL ENGLISH: Loads of / Heaps of / Tons of
OF + QUANTIFIER
SOME OF / ANY OF / MUCH OF + DETERMINERS + PRONOUNS: not much of it / any of them / many of the students EVERY ONE / NONE + OF: every one of us / none of the activities (We cannot use every / no here) QUANTIFIER + OF + PROPER NOUNS: I've not seen much of Peter lately. / Most of Nepal has been devastated. REMEMBER THAT OF CAN BE DROPPED BEFORE ALL / BOTH LONG QUANTIFIER + OF + NOUN: a lot of people / a great deal of danger / the majority of voters ANY / NONE / NEITHER / EITHER + OF + PLURAL NOUN/PRONOUN: None of them has replied (SINGULAR VERB = formal) / Neither of them have failed (PLURAL VERB = informal)
All I have is yours.
All of it is yours.
All is yours.
All of the fields were under water.
He lost all he had.
She lost all.
I've written to all family.
Please send my regards to them all.
The reduced items have all gone.
Our whole house burnt down.
A whole football team vanished.
The whole road system needs funding.
The whole London got flooded.
Both of her daughters got married.
Both my parents first met in 1990.
The twins have both passed their tests.
I want to talk to you both.
I put flowers on either side of the driveway.
Their meeting did not bring ... any pleasure.
neither of them
either of they
either of them
either them
We're sorry, but I don't think ... can help you.
neither of us
either of you
neither of you
either of us
... ever cleaned up his room.
Either child
Neither child
Either children
Neither children
Anyone who is interested in attending ... should contact the office.
either of these courses
neither of these courses
either courses
neither courses
Nobody believes that what ... says today will be policy tomorrow.
neither of us
either minister
neither minister
neither two ministers
Our team have lost ... match this season.
every
each
... player has had a personal interview with the manager.
Every
Each
Every ... would like to do better.
players
player
I fall over ... time I try to jump the fence.
every
each
Every of my friends lives in London.
Correct
Incorrect
Each of the rooms is painted in a different colour.
Correct
Incorrect
I remember each one of my teachers.
Correct
Incorrect
I've broken every one of my arms.
Correct
Incorrect
I change jobs every two years.
Correct
Incorrect
Can I get you ... water?
We don't need ... help.
Bring ... water in case we get thirsty.
Have you got ... music that's good for dancing?
I don't think the people next door are ... students.
The human body consists mainly of ... water.
... need less sleep than others. New research suggests that ... are genetically programmed to sleep longer than others.
This ship will carry ... passengers, and will be like a floating luxury hotel.
Why are ... us such bad timekeepers? Sometimes it is a matter of personality. ... are simply arrogant.
I have a wonderful piano back home that I can't bring because ... says you can't take a piano on a plane.
Her journey started in Peru, and ended ... and 4,500 miles later.
Yesterday, ... users of the city's underground railway tried to board packed buses, after strikes stopped trains running.
If you have ... questions, simply raise your hand.
no
any
a
A platypus lays eggs, but it's ... bird.
no
any
not a
I don't give money to just ... charity.
a
no
any
Unfortunately, there's ... point in further discussion.
little
a little
few
a few
After his clarification, still ... of us understood him.
little
a little
few
a few
We all need ... encouragement from time to time.
little
a little
few
a few
I spend ... money on clothes in my family.
less
the less
least
the least
Our team won ... matches ib the group.
less
the least
fewer
the fewest
There were ... people at the meeting than usual.
less
the least
fewer
the fewest
Is there ... time for me to have a shower?
less
enough
most
few
We haven't got a big ... room. This one is too small.
least
enough
no
any
There isn't ... evidence to reach a verdict.
more
enough
fewer
little
The majority of people ... things are getting worse.
Only a small ... of voting papers ... spoiled.
Lots of time ... wasted in committee meetings.
A lot of us ... worried about the future.
A large ... of money will be needed for the repairs.
The majority of criminals ... non-violent.
A ... of my friends are mad about football.
A large proportion of school-leavers ... trouble fiding jobs.