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Adjectives with Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Brought to you by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab


Some/Any:

Both modify countable and uncountable nouns.

There is some water on the floor.
There are some Mexicans here.

Do you have any food?
Do you have any apples?

Much/Many:

MUCH modifies only uncountable nouns.

They have much money in the bank.

MANY modifies only countable nouns.

Many Americans travel to Europe.

A lot of/lots of:

These are informal substitutes for MUCH and MANY. They are used with uncountable nouns when they mean MUCH and with countable nouns when they mean MANY.

They have lots of money in the bank.
A lot of Americans travel to Europe.

Little/Few:

LITTLE modifies only uncountable nouns.

He had little food in the house.

FEW modifies only countable nouns.

There are a few doctors in town.

A little bit of:

This phrase is informal and always precedes an uncountable noun.

There is a little bit of pepper in the soup.

Enough:

ENOUGH modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

There is enough money to buy a car.
I have enough books to read.

Plenty of:

This phrase modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

They have plenty of money in the bank.
There are plenty of millionaires in Switzerland.

No:

NO modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

There is no time to finish now.
There are no squirrels in the park.

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