Quantifiers for Countable Nouns – Several, Many, and Few

Quantifiers for Countable Nouns – Several, Many, and Few

“Several”

The quantifier “several” is used to indicate an indefinite but relatively small number or amount. It indicates the quantity which is more than a few, but less than many. It is often used when the exact number is not known or specified.

Examples:

  • Several students raised their hands to answer the question.
  • I have several books on my shelf that I haven’t read yet.
  • She invited several friends to her birthday party.
  • The company received several complaints about the product.

In the above examples, “several” implies that there are a small, but noticeable number of students, books, friends, and complaints.

“Many”

The quantifier “many” is used to indicate a large number or a significant amount of something. 

Examples:

  • Many people attended the concert last night.
  • I have many tasks to complete before the deadline.
  • There are many books in the library.
  • She has visited many countries in her lifetime.

“Few”

The quantifier “few” is used to indicate a small number or a small amount of something. It suggests a scarcity or a lack of something. Again the exact number is not known, but the number is very small.

Examples:

  • Few students passed the difficult exam.
  • I have few friends who share my interests.
  • There are a few options available for dinner tonight.
  • She has visited only a few cities in her lifetime.

Quiz

Question 1
The party was a great success. ________ people attended the event.
several
many
few
Next Question
Question 2
__________ students passed the challenging exam.
several
many
few
Next Question
Question 3
I have ________ money left in my wallet.
several
many
few
Next Question
Question 4
Which quantifier is the opposite of “many” and suggests a limited or insufficient quantity?
several
many
few
Next Question
Question 5
__________ students have submitted their assignments on time. (the number is small but noticeable)
several
many
few
Next Question
Score: / 5
  1. The party was a great success. ________ people attended the event.
    1. several
    2. many
    3. few
    Explanation:

    The sentence states that the party was a great success, indicating a large number of people attending the party. The quantifier “many” is used to denote a significant or substantial amount of something.

  2. __________ students passed the challenging exam.
    1. several
    2. many
    3. few
    Explanation:

    The sentence indicates that only a small number of students were able to pass the challenging exam. The quantifier “few” suggests a scarcity or lack of something.

  3. I have ________ money left in my wallet.
    1. several
    2. many
    3. few
    Explanation:

    The sentence indicates that there is a small amount of money left in the speaker’s wallet. The quantifier “few” implies scarcity or a lack of something.

  4. Which quantifier is the opposite of “many” and suggests a limited or insufficient quantity?
    1. several
    2. many
    3. few
    Explanation:

    The quantifier “few” implies scarcity or a lack of something which is just opposite to the quantifier “many.”

  5. __________ students have submitted their assignments on time. (the number is small but noticeable)
    1. several
    2. many
    3. few
    Explanation:

    The sentence implies that a small but noticeable number of students have submitted their assignment on time. This means that the appropriate quantifier should be “several.”

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