Confusing English Quantifiers
In this episode, I’ll be going through pairs of confusing quantifiers (and similar pairs), such as So or Such, Many or Much, Fewer or Less?
Some of these are even a struggle for native speakers, so if you can master these, you’ll be in a good position with your English and sound much more natural.
For each word, I will give a question for you to answer yourself and I’ll do my best to answer them in the episode too.
Episode Summary
1. So vs. Such
So: Used before adjectives or adverbs to show degree or extent.
- The movie was so interesting that I watched it twice.
- She runs so fast that no one can keep up.
Such: Used before a noun or adjective + noun to express emphasis.
- It was such a beautiful day that we decided to go hiking.
- He is such a talented musician.
2. Much vs. Many
Much: Used with uncountable nouns (things you can't count individually).
- I don’t have much time to study today.
- She doesn’t drink much water.
Many: Used with countable nouns (things you can count individually).
- There are many people at the concert.
- He has many hobbies, including cycling and cooking.
3. Few vs. Little
Few: Used with countable nouns to show a small number.
- There are few apples left in the basket.
- Only few students attended the class today.
Little: Used with uncountable nouns to show a small amount.
- I have little patience for rude people.
- There was little snow this winter.
4. Fewer vs. Less
Fewer: Used with countable nouns to show a smaller number.
- There were fewer visitors than expected.
- Eat fewer sweets to stay healthy.
Less: Used with uncountable nouns to show a smaller amount.
- There is less traffic on Sundays.
- I drink less coffee than I used to.
⭐️ Transcript & Bonus Lesson
Practise using these words in the comments
Comment your thoughts below.
Such a great episode. Thank you, this is so helpful. I think it is much better to have a few high-quality shoes rather than many low-quality shoes.
I like this episode. I really enjoy listening to your podcast. I feel relatable because we share common traits like shyness.. I wish you all the best. Thanks for all the good work
That’s awesome! Maybe the power of podcasting is to bring like-minded people together. Thanks for listening
Dear Micheal, thank you again for your wonderful work! I’ve been listening to the Level Up English Podcast for the last month and a half and you’ve become part of my daily routine. Your clear voice and accurate yet simple explanations have helped me grasp many grammar concepts I had not properly studied or understood when I was in school. I think this is one of the best podcasts I’ve ever listened to. Thank you, Ombretta (Milano, Italy)
I’m so pleased the podcast is now part of your routine! What a lovely compliment, and I really hope it’s helping your learning journey too. Thanks for the kind words