HOW TO EXPRESS QUANTITY?
HOW TO EXPRESS QUANTITY?
To express the amount of something there is, we need to use quantifiers, such as:
1) MUCH: (moito/a)
We use 'much' with uncountable nouns. It's very usual in negative and in interrogative sentences. In affirmative sentences it's more usual to use 'a lot of' or 'lots of':
Example:
There isn't much milk in this bottle. (-)
How much milk are there in the fridge? (?)
There is a lot of milk in this kitchen. (+)
2) MANY: (moitos/as)
We use 'many' with countable nouns.
Examples:
There are many apples in this kitchen. (+)
There aren't many sandwiches on the table. (-)
How many pets have you got? (?)
3) A LOT OF, LOTS OF: (un montón de, montóns de)
We use 'a lot of' and 'lots of' with countable and uncountable nouns in affirmative sentences.
Example:
There is a lot of orange juice in my glass. (+)
There are lots of bees in this garden! (+)
4) A LITTLE: (un pouco)
We use 'a little' with uncountable nouns.
Example:
I have a little coffee in my cup. (+)
5) A FEW: (uns poucos)
We use 'a few' with countable nouns.
Example:
There are a few dogs barking outside!
6) LITTLE: (pouco)
We use 'little' with uncountable nouns.
Example:
There is little water at home, we need to buy more!
7) FEW: (poucos)
We use 'few' with countable nouns.
Example:
There are few strawberries at home, we need to buy more!
8) SOME: (algo de, algúns/algunhas)
We use 'some' in affirmative sentences with countable and uncountable nouns.
Example:
I have some pencils here. (countable noun: pencil) (= Teño algúns lapis aquí).
I have some sugar in this box. (uncountable noun: sugar) (= Teño algo de azucre nesta caixa).
9) ANY: (algo de, algún(s)/algunha(s) in interrogative sentences, 'nada de', 'ningún/ningunha' in negative sentences)
We use 'any':
A) In interrogative sentences with countable and uncountable nouns.
Example:
Is there any milk in your glass? (uncountable noun: milk) (= Hai algo de leite no teu vaso?)
Are there any pears in this basket? (countable noun: pear) (= Hai algunhas peras nesta cesta?)
B) In negative sentences with countable and uncountable nouns.
Example:
There isn't any milk in your glass. (uncountable noun: milk) (= Non hai nada de leite no teu vaso).
There aren't any pears in this basket. (countable noun: pear) (= Non hai ningunha pera nesta cesta).