English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
DEALING WITH QUANTIFIERS
We were not really ~much~ at the event (nonstandard).
We were not really many at the event (standard). “Much” should not be used with countable nouns.
I think you should add ~small~ salt to the sauce (nonstandard).
I think you should add a little salt to the sauce (standard). “A little” should be used to refer to a small amount of something.
I need to get ~few~ things in town (nonstandard).
I need to get a few things in town (standard). Few is a quantifier used with plural countable nouns.
Without the article “a”, few emphasises a small number of something but adding the article “a” removes the emphasis.
I’ve got a few friends= No emphasis on the number.
I’ve got few friends= Emphasising that it’s a small circle of friends.
GAB
