Introduction
Determiners in this group are mainly quantifiers: they show how much of a class or category we are talking about (all, most, some, none, …).
Other uses
Besides their use as determiners in noun phrases, these words can generally be used without following nouns if the meaning is clear. Compare:
- He doesn’t eat any meat, and not much fish.
- Fish? He eats some, but not much.
This ‘pronoun’ use of quantifiers is dealt with here, and not in Pronouns, for convenience, along with some other uses of these words. For uses not included here, search the Index.
A few words which can have determiner and non-determiner uses (e.g. other, only, such, which, what and numbers) are covered elsewhere – search the Index.
Putting determiners together: use of of
Quantifiers can be put together if the combination makes sense.
- We meet every few days.
- Have you got any more coffee?
When a quantifier is put together with a ‘group 1’ determiner (article, possessive or demonstrative, Determiners: a/an and the; my, your, etc; this, that, etc), we use a structure with of. Compare:
- some people
some of the people - each child
each of my children - neither door
neither of these doors
The same thing happens before a pronoun. Compare:
- most horses
- most of them
A quantifier with of can be used directly before a noun in a few cases. This happens with proper nouns such as place names, and sometimes with uncountable nouns that refer to the whole of a subject or activity.
- Most of Wales was without electricity last night.
- Much of philosophy is concerned with questions that have no answers.
Many, most, little, least, few and fewest can follow ‘group 1’ determiners directly in some cases.
- his many friends
the most money - a little time
the least difficulty - these few poems
the fewest problems
All of children can be difficult. (see here)
We all can swim. (see here)
All stood up. (see here)
All what I have is yours. (see here)
She lost all. (see here)
The every plate was broken. (see here)
I’ve written to my every friend. (see here)
I see her every days. (see here)
Every room are being used. (see here)
Each new day are different. (see here)
He’s lost nearly each friend he had. (see here)
Both my brothers carried the piano upstairs. (see here)
The both children have fair hair. (see here)
Come on Tuesday or Wednesday. Either days are OK. (see here)
Please be quiet. Some of people want to get to sleep. (see here)
She’s unhappy because she’s got any friends. (see here)
I can write with any hand. (see here)
‘Which newspaper would you like?’ ‘It doesn’t matter. Every one.’ (see here)
Not any tourists ever came to our village. (see here)
None of my parents could be there. (see here)
No one of my friends wished me a happy birthday. (see here)
He’s got much money. (see here)
The most children like ice cream. (see here)
Most of cheese is made from cow’s milk. (see here)
A lot of my friends wants to emigrate. (see here)
The majority of criminals is non-violent. (see here)