or two
one or two things |
a day or two
quantity
to a large extent
In the English Vocabulary Profile, at B2, or at B2+ in the GSE, ‘extent’ is listed in phrases with ‘to’. It refers to: the size or importance of something | how big, important, or serious something is mainly in some ways A search in NOW corpus for: to_II * * extent 1 TO A LARGE EXTENT …
A noun OF noun (quantity expression) ‘a piece of paper’
A2 point 26 in the category of NOUNS is defined: QUANTITY EXPRESSIONS: refer to an individual example or quantity of an uncountable noun using words for containers and countable items. a search in iWeb for: a_AT _NN1 of _NN1 *we have removed examples that don’t match the grammar. 5 A PIECE OF PAPER 27250 Student …
A noun OF noun (quantity expression) ‘a piece of paper’ Read More »
adjective + noun + preposition + noun (noun phrases)
In this post, we are interested in discovering the most common noun phrases that follow the adjective + noun + preposition + noun pattern. It was a short period of time. In the above example, the noun ‘period‘ is the head noun of the noun phrase. A search in iWeb for _JJ _NN _I _NN …
adjective + noun + preposition + noun (noun phrases) Read More »
millions | loads | tons + of (hyperbole)
Here are some examples of how quantifying determiners can be used in a non-literal and non-academic way:
I have TONS OF THINGS to do this weekend, but the party might be LOADS OF FUN.
I told you MILLIONS OF TIMES that housework and study are more important than your parties!
A LOT | MUCH (subject pronouns)
In the English Grammar Profile, C2 point 110 in the category of PRONOUNS/quantity is defined: ‘A LOT’ AND ‘MUCH’ as subject pronouns for focus In the English Vocabulary Profile, ‘much’ or ‘much OF-phrase’ in the subject position is listed at C1. For example: Much of their stored carbon makes its way back to the atmosphere. TED A search in iWeb corpus for: …
quantifying determiner + possessive determiner + OF + noun phrase
A2 Point 29 in DETERMINERS is defined: quantifying determiners + possessive determiners + ‘of’ + noun. (noun phrases) *There are other A2 determiner grammar points that are less specific, not requiring quantity or possession. PELIC STUDENT EXAMPLE: In fact, some of my habits are changed by my mood. Arabic male level 3 writing class. An iWeb search for: _D of _AP _NN …
quantifying determiner + possessive determiner + OF + noun phrase Read More »
a | every + SINGULAR NOUN
Here are two examples showing a limited range of determiners:
A man had A problem.
EVERY person wanted to play A game.
not + any | many | much + NOUN
When grammar points are from the same CEFR level, and in the same category, we believe it is more useful to have a single post that covers them. Both these A2 points come from the category of DETERMINERS/quantity. Point 15: ‘many’ with plural nouns in negative contexts. Point 23: ‘much’ with uncountable nouns in negative …
quantity phrase + uncountable noun
The English Grammar Profile claims that there are over 1000 grammar points in its inventory. However, there are numerous points that are overlapping. This post shows 3 posts that overlap. B1 Point 34 in the category of NOUNS is defined as: uncountable nouns with an increasing range of determiners/quantity words and phrases including ‘much’, ‘a …
some | any | each | a few + of + PRONOUN
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 49 in the category of PRONOUNS/quantity is defined as: increasing range of pronouns (‘some’, ‘a few’, ‘any’, ‘each’) with ‘of’ followed by an object pronoun. An iWeb search for: some|any|each of _P 1 SOME OF THEM 180790 TLC SPEAKING TEST EXAMPLE: There are many types of chocolates in this world, but unfortunately, I‘m a fussy girl and I just like some of them. female, India, …
too | so + much + NOUN
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 51 in the category of DETERMINERS/quantity is defined as: ‘SO MUCH’, ‘TOO MUCH’ WITH UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS In the English Vocabulary Profile: too much/so much = A2 a large amount of something, often more than you want A search in the iWeb corpus for: too|so much _NN1 1 SO MUCH FUN …
a little | bits of | a bit of | a bit of a | a little bit of
‘BIT’ related to quantity is countable = a bit of … bits of … For example: By inserting those genes into yeast, we could produce little bits of that smell and be able to, maybe, smell a little bit of something that‘s lost forever. TED A2 in the English Vocabulary Profile: bit = a small amount or piece of something B1 in the Oxford Learner Dictionary: [countable] bit of something (especially British English) a small …
a little | bits of | a bit of | a bit of a | a little bit of Read More »
adverb + determiner
Here are a few examples of determiners premodified by intensifiers. There are hardly any phone booths left in this city. TLC male India B1 We have nearly all the big automobile companies. TLC male India, B1 It took me virtually no time at all. Listen to this expert example B1 point 48 in the category of DETERMINERS/quantity is defined as: modify determiners with adverbs. There is clashing information in the English Grammar Profile. The example …
many + PLURAL NOUN ?
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 45 in the category of DETERMINERS/quantity is defined as: ‘MANY’ WITH PLURAL NOUNS, INTERROGATIVE An iWeb search for: many _NN2 ? 1 MANY OTHERS ? 293 2 MANY POSSIBILITIES ? 181 3 MANY THINGS ? 168 4 MANY QUESTIONS ? 167 5 MANY OPTIONS ? 126 6 MANY CHILDREN ? …
most | enough | plenty of + NOUN
B1 Point 43 in the category of DETERMINERS is defined as: increasing range of quantifying determiners with both plural nouns and uncountable nouns (‘most’, ‘enough’, ‘plenty of’, ‘loads of’). *This overlaps another B1 point. PELIC WRITING CLASS EXAMPLES: Most students eat lunch and dinner in a cafeteria. Korean, Female, Level 3 In addition, the people who lived in Korea 100 years ago didn’t have enough transportation. Korean, Male, Level 3 *Note that …
MUCH + uncountable noun (question)
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 40 in the category of DETERMINERS/quantity is defined as: ‘much’ with uncountable nouns in interrogative contexts. A search in iWeb corpus for: much _NN1 ? 1 MUCH MONEY ? 942 2 MUCH FUN ? 462 3 MUCH WATER ? 400 4 MUCH DIFFERENCE ? 352 5 MUCH POWER ? 289 …
several | a few of
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 39 in the category of DETERMINERS is defined as: wide range of quantifying determiners with plural nouns (‘several’, ‘millions of’, ‘a few of’). *Note that if ‘millions of’ is used as hyperbole, then it is a C1 point. TLC, Speaking test examples: There are very few sports cars in Sri Lanka. We don’t …
HALF | ENOUGH + OF + determiner
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 Point 37 in the category of DETERMINERS is defined as: DETERMINER + ‘OF’ + DETERMINER – an increasing range of quantifying determiners (‘half of’, ‘enough of’, ‘none of”) *However, this partly clashes with the B2 Negation point for ‘none of’ Also, note that the ‘enough of’ structure might indicate a …
Many are the + NOUN + RELATIVE CLAUSE
In the English Grammar Profile, C2 point 117 in the category of PRONOUNS/quantity is defined as: complex noun phrases using an inverted form ‘Many’ + ‘are’ + noun phrase, followed by a relative clause, as a focusing device. FOR EXAMPLE: NBC News Covid is having a devastating impact on children — and the vaccine won’t …