Quantity adjectives in English

What are quantity adjectives?

Quantity adjectives, as the name suggests, are used to provide information in describing the quantity of something as a whole. However, it does not provide the quantity in numerical or exact values which is what numeral adjectives are used for. They must be accompanied by a noun otherwise they would be quantifier pronouns. 

Types of quantity adjectives

In the table below are the most commonly used quantity adjectives.

Adjectives of quantity list: some, any, many, much, little, most, no, none, enough, all, substantial, whole, too

Difference between "any" and "some"

• Some is used in positive sentences, for countable and uncountable nouns.
• Any is used in questions and sentences that are grammatically positive but are meant to be negative.

Differences between "much" and "many"

• Much is used with uncountable nouns.
• Many is used with countable nouns.

Quantity adjectives and quantifier pronouns 

Quantifier pronouns are used to indicate a quantity that is not precisely known. They are countable and noncountable, based on what is being discussed one needs to use the correct form. Quantifier pronouns and quantity adjectives share many of the same words to express quantity, however, with pronouns they replace the noun in the sentence whereas with the adjectives it is obligatory that they are accompanied by a noun. 

Too and enough

The adjective enough needs to be placed in front of a noun and after a qualifying adjective. Whereas, the adjective too must always be before an adjective. In a majority of the cases, it may be accompanied by the adjectives many and much. The adjectives enough and too are not interchangeable. 

Examples

• Bruce Wayne is a billionaire. I don't have enough financial resources to be Batman. 
• There was too much crime in Arkham. That's how Batman was born.