Grammar: Quantifiers with Countable Nouns
A2 Lesson 18: Using 'many', 'a few', & 'several'
Expressing Quantity
When we want to say 'how many' of something there are, we use words called quantifiers. These words come before a plural countable noun (e.g., "many books," "a few people").
Use many or a lot of for a large number.
Example: There are a lot of motos in Phnom Penh.
Use several for a medium number (more than two, but not a large amount).
Example: I visited several temples last week.
Use a few for a small number.
Example: I bought a few mangoes at the market.
The Grammar Rule 📖
Summary of Quantifiers
| Quantifier | Meaning (Amount) | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| many / a lot of | Large (ច្រើន) | She has a lot of friends. |
| several | Medium (ជាច្រើន) | We saw several boats. |
| a few | Small (ពីរបី) | He needs a few minutes. |
Tip: We often use a lot of in positive sentences and many in questions (e.g., "Are there many people?") and negative sentences (e.g., "There are not many cars.").
In Conversation
Here is a natural conversation using these quantifiers.
Practice Your Grammar 🎯
Exercise: Choose the Best Quantifier
Choose the best word to complete the sentences based on the meaning.
- Angkor Wat is a huge temple complex. It has ________ towers.
→ many - I'm not very hungry. I'll just have ________ spring rolls.
→ a few - She lived in Cambodia for ________ years before she moved to Thailand, maybe three or four.
→ several - Pub Street is very busy at night. ________ tourists go there for dinner and drinks.
→ A lot of
Your Grammar Mission ⭐
Describe Your City
Write three sentences about your city or town (e.g., Siem Reap). Use 'many' or 'a lot of' in the first, 'several' in the second, and 'a few' in the third.
Key Vocabulary
- Quantifier A word that goes before a noun to express its amount or quantity.
- Quantity The amount or number of something.
- Several More than two but not many.