6. Quantifiers + Uncountable Nouns

 

 

Quantifiers used with uncountable nouns include less, least, and much.

Examples:

  • With less talk, we should be able to complete what we are doing by this evening.
  • Even the least noise will make the neighbour’s dog bark loudly.
  • There wasn’t much food left even when we arrived early.

 

 

Much
Quantifier much is usually used in questions and negative statements.

 

Examples:

  • How much do you know about what you are doing?
  • I always don’t have much money to keep in my big wallet. (Negative)

 

 

Little and a little
Little and a little are expressions of quantity used before uncountable nouns. Little has a negative meaning implying scarcely any is available or almost none. A little means a small amount. 
 

Examples:

  • I got very little sleep last night with those noises upstairs and downstairs.
  • I can’t get married as I have very little money.
  • There is a little cheese on your upper lip.
  • Why are you frying the big fish in a little olive oil?
    (Positive - small amount of olive oil but it looks like it's enough for frying.)

 

 

Quantity word + of: Uncountable Nouns
The quantity word + of include a bit of, a great deal of, and a large amount of.

 

Examples:

  • I have been watching the UFO until there’s a bit of pain in my eyes.
  • A great deal of her work is massaging the back of patients.
  • The smuggled drugs were reported to have been sold for a large amount of hard cash.