rules+for+some,+any,+lots,+few

**Some/Any:**
//Both modify countable and uncountable nouns.// There is some water on the floor. There are some Mexicans here. Do you have any food? Do you have any apples?

**Much/Many:**
//MUCH modifies only uncountable nouns.//

They have much money in the bank. //MANY modifies only countable nouns.//

Many Americans travel to Europe.

**A lot of/lots of:**
//These are informal substitutes for MUCH and MANY. They are used with uncountable nouns when they mean MUCH and with countable nouns when they mean MANY.// They have lots of money in the bank. A lot of Americans travel to Europe.

**Little/Few:**
//LITTLE modifies only uncountable nouns.//

He had little food in the house. //FEW modifies only countable nouns.//

There are a few doctors in town.

**A little bit of:**
//This phrase is informal and always precedes an uncountable noun.//

There is a little bit of pepper in the soup.

**Enough:**
//ENOUGH modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.//

There is enough money to buy a car. I have enough books to read.

**Plenty of:**
//This phrase modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.//

They have plenty of money in the bank. There are plenty of millionaires in Switzerland.

**No:**
//NO modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.//

There is no time to finish now. There are no squirrels in the park.

**The Rule**
From the definitions of mass and count given above you may have already guessed the rule for pluralising them: This rule works for all of the nouns in the lists of examples in the first section. Check this rule for yourself before reading further.
 * most count nouns pluralize with //-s//
 * noncount nouns don't pluralise at all

**An Exception to the Rule**
For a number of nouns, the rule needs slight revision. Certain nouns in English belong to both classes: they have both a noncount and a count meaning. Normally the noncount meaning is abstract and general and the count meaning concrete and specific. Compare:

__Count__ __Noncount__
 * I've had some __difficulties__ finding a job. (refers to a number of specific problems)
 * The __talks__ will take place in the Krannert building. (refers to a number of specific lectures)
 * The city was filled with bright __lights__ and harsh __sounds__. (refers to a number of specific lights and noises)
 * She succeeded in school with little __difficulty__. (refers to the general idea of school being difficult)
 * I dislike idle __talk__. (refers to talking in general)
 * __Light__ travels faster than __sound__. (refers to the way light and sound behave in general)


 * Note:** A special case of the use of noncount nouns in a count sense has to do with classification. Sometimes a usually noncount noun can be understood as one item separate and distinct from other items of the same category. The nouns that function in this way often denote foods and beverages: food(s), drink(s), wine(s), bread(s), coffee(s), fruit(s), and so on. Examples:
 * There are several French wines to choose from. (= kinds of wine)
 * I prefer Sumatran coffees to Colombian. (= kinds of coffee)
 * We use a variety of different batters in our bakery. (= kinds of batter)

**Combinations of Nouns and Articles**
The following chart shows which articles go with which kinds of nouns. Notice that //this, that, these,// and //those// have been included because, like //the//, they mark the noun that they modify as definite, which means that the noun refers 1) to a unique individual or 2) to some person, event, or object known to both the writer and reader from their general knowledge or from what has been previously mentioned in a piece of writing.

code XX code || code XX code || code XX code || code
 * a, an** ||
 * the** ||
 * this, that** ||
 * these, those** ||
 * no article** ||
 * Count singular** ||
 * Count singular** ||
 * Count singular** ||

code || code

code || code
 * Count plural** ||
 * Count plural** ||

code || code XX code || code

code || code XX code || code XX code || code
 * Noncount** ||
 * Noncount** ||

code || code XX code || code XX code || code

code || code XX code ||


 * Examples:**

I ate //an// apple. I rode //the// bus. Does she live in //this// house? No, she lives in //that// house over there. I like to feed //the// birds. Do you want //these// books? No, I want //those// books up there. //Cats// are interesting pets. //The// water is cold. //This// milk is going sour. //Music// helps me relax.
 * Count Singular:**
 * Count Plural:**
 * Noncount:**

Quantity Terms
The following chart shows which quantity words go with which kinds of nouns. Note that quantity words can be used in combinations such as //many more//, //many fewer//, //much more//, and //much less//, any of which can be preceded by //how// to form questions or relative clauses. Negatives like //not// and //no// can also be applied to many of these terms.

code
 * || ======**much, less, little, a little, very little**====== || ======**some, any, most, more, all, a lot of, no, none of the**====== || ======**many, both, several, few/fewer/fewest, a few, one of the, a couple of**====== || ======**each, every, any, one**====== ||
 * Count singular** ||
 * Count singular** ||

code || code

code || code

code || code XX code || code
 * Count plural** ||
 * Count plural** ||

code || code XX code || code XX code || code

code || code XX code || code XX code || code
 * Noncount** ||
 * Noncount** ||

code || code

code ||


 * Examples:**

I practice every day. I'd like one donut, please. Can I have some chips? She has a lot of books, and many are autographed. I have fewer pencils than you. Can I have some water? She has a lot of strength, and much is due to her upbringing. I have less courage than you.
 * Count Singular:**
 * Count Plural:**
 * Noncount:**

The following information must remain intact on every handout printed for distribution. This page is located at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/esl/esladjnoun.html ||