Determiners with countable and uncountable nouns (SOME, ANY, NO, MANY, MUCH, FEW, LITTLE etc.)

Determiners precede nouns and show what kind of reference the noun has. Some determiners can only be used with countable or uncountable nouns, while others can be used with both. Countable nouns take a singular or plural form depending on the determiner which precedes them:

Singular countable nouns Plural countable nouns Uncountable nouns
A, AN, THE
A man and a woman came in.
I heard an interesting story at the office yesterday.
THE, zero article
The apples were peeled and quartered.
Mondays are always busy here.
THE, zero article
She jumped into the water.
A magnet attracts iron.
 
THIS, THAT
This film was good.
I like that shirt.
  THIS, THAT
Where did you buy this wine?
That cheese smells delicious.
  THESE, THOSE
Can I try on these jeans
How do you like those cherries?
 
SOME, ANY, NO
I was just talking to some guy from school.
Any sensible person would have done the same.
I am no scientist.
SOME, ANY, NO
I have some problems.
I don't have any problems.
I have no problems.
SOME, ANY, NO
I have some time.
I don't have any time.
I have no time.
EVERY
Every cloud has a silver lining.
   
  FEW, A FEW, FEWER, THE FEWEST
There were few people at the concert. (not many)
There were a few people at the concert. (some)
We had fewer computers a year ago.
This medicine has the fewest side effects.
LITTLE, A LITTLE, LESS, THE LEAST
There is little hope that he will survive. (not much)
There is a little hope that he will survive. (some)
Tim should spend less time on the computer.
This medicine does the least harm.
  MANY, MORE, (THE) MOST, MOST OF THE
There were not many people at the concert. (few)
More people came to the concert than expected.
Most mammals live on land.
Tom got the most votes.
Most of the visitors were art students.
MUCH, MORE, (THE) MOST, MOST OF THE
There is not much hope that he will survive. (little)
There is more hope that he will survive.
Most furniture is made of wood.
Which candy bar has the most sugar in it?
Most of the time I'm not at home.
  A LOT OF, LOTS OF, PLENTY OF
There are a lot of tables and chairs in the room.
There are lots of tables and chairs in the room.
There are plenty of tables and chairs in the room.
A LOT OF, LOTS OF, PLENTY OF
We have a lot of space in the car.
We have lots of space in the car.
We have plenty of space in the car.
 
  A NUMBER OF
A number of questions arose at the meeting.
AN AMOUNT OF
The word budget means an amount of money we have available to spend.
ANOTHER, THE OTHER
Can you think of another example?
I'd prefer the other car.
OTHER, THE OTHER
Other boys would have done the same.
The other students went home.
OTHER, THE OTHER
Is there other software available?
The other news is that they are getting married in June.
  ENOUGH
Do you have enough pens for everyone?
ENOUGH
Is there enough milk in the fridge?
  ALL, ALL THE
All students must take a placement test at the beginning of the course.
I couldn't answer all the questions.
ALL, ALL THE
Not all coffee is bitter.
The robber took all the money.
  BOTH
Both sides wanted peace.
 
NEITHER, EITHER
Neither player has won the game.
You can choose either way.
   
  NONE OF THE
Luckily, none of the soldiers were killed.
NONE OF THE
None of the music they played attracted me.
EACH
Each question carries one mark.
   

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