Topic 13: The Expression of Quantity.

1. Introduction.

2. Quantity and Numbers in Nouns.

3. Quantifiers.

3.1. Numerals.

3.2. Indefinite Pronouns and Determiners.

3.3. Partitive Constructions.

4. Conclusion.

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 Topic 13: The Expression of Quantity.

1. Introduction.
The idea of measuring and quantity is such a fundamental part of the human
psyche that this language becomes key in our use of English to go about our
everyday business. We naturally attempt to partition the world around us into easily
measurable sections, with which we can better understand our surroundings. English
boasts a wealth of language resources to express quantity, in all registers, both
precise and approximate, in technical and literary language. In short, every day we
use expressions of quantity in our speech and writing, almost without realising it.
That is why it is very important that they should be taught and learnt throughout any
student’s learning process.

This unit will examine first the expression of quantity in singular and plural
nouns. It will then focus on numerals, and will finish by studying indefinite pronouns
and determiners, and partitive constructions.

2. Quantity and Numbers in Nouns.

The expression of quantity in English is primarily connected to the use of
nouns, pronouns, determiners and quantifiers, although the idea of quantity can
also be expressed with certain verbal expressions. In terms of quantity, nouns can
belong to one of two classes: count and noncount (also commonly called countable
and uncountable). Count nouns express a number of things or ideas, whereas
noncount nouns express non-numerical amount of a mass. Both mass nouns and
nouns representing individual countable things may be used with definite or
indefinite expressions of quantity.

It is common for count and noncount nouns to cross from one category to the
other, for example in the semantic field of food and drink: one can buy a piece of
cheese, or two cheeses. The noncount use refers to the general concept of cheese,
the count use to a specific example or unit of cheese. Although the meanings of the
two uses is always related, there is sometimes some difference between them.

The English system of number is primarily two-fold, and can be divided into
singular and plural; plural should be taken as meaning more than one, rather than
two or more. Dual number can also be found in expressions such as both, either and
neither, which must always be used with two and only two elements.

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 Anyway, the majority of English nouns are count, with separate singular and
plural forms. The singular is the unmarked form and as such is the citation form of
the word in dictionaries. For the most part, plural are formed in a regular and
predictable way:

a) In sound: The regular plural suffix –s or –es can be pronounced in one of three
ways: /iz/ after nouns ending in the sibilants /s, z, ʃ, tʃ, Ʒ, dƷ/; /z/ after nouns
ending in vowels and voiced non-sibilant consonants; and /s/ after nouns
ending in voiceless non-sibilant consonants.
b) In spelling: The largest group of nouns in English is the count nouns group,
with separate singular and plural forms. The regular plural form ends in -s for
the majority of these nouns (Ex. Cat/Cats), with minor changes of spelling in
some cases (Ex. Spy/Spies or Knife/Knives).

There are various different forms of irregular plurals in English. They are
irregular because the plural form, either in spelling or pronunciation, cannot be
predicted from the singular. Therefore, it is necessary for students to learn these
forms separately.

a) Mutation Plurals: Mutation refers to the phenomenon of vowel change within

a word to form the plural (Ex. Man/Men, Goose/Geese).
b) Nouns without any plural form (plural zero ending) despite referring to
countable meaning (Ex. Sheep).
Nouns borrowed from other languages, especially Greek and Latin, sometimes
preserve their plural form (Ex. Analysis/Analyses, Bureau/Bureaux).

Some nouns are always plural in their meaning: those denoting objects
consisting of two equal parts (Ex. Scissors, trousers), pluralia tamtum (Ex. Clothes,
congratulations), and unmarked plural nouns (people, police); people is singular if it
means “the nation”. It is important to mention that some nouns which end in -s are
singular: news, mathematics (and other sciences ending in -ics), billiards, darts (and
other games). Certain illnesses and diseases which end in “s” are also often used in
the singular: measles, mumps, shingles.

3. Quantifiers.
Quantifiers, according to Carter and McCarthy, are words that precede and
modify nouns and which at the same time refer to the quantity of something. While
nouns name the object we want to quantify, quantifiers express the amount of it.
They tell us how many or how much. Selecting the correct quantifier depends on

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your understanding of the distinction between count and non-count nouns.

Semantically speaking, quantifiers in English can be divided into three main

groups: numerals, indefinite pronouns /determiners, and partitive constructions.

3.1. Numerals.
Numerals may be cardinal numbers, ordinal numbers and fractions (or
decimals). Numerals can be considered open class, in that there is an infinite
number of them, and at the same time closed class, in that they are mutually
exclusive.

Cardinal numbers refer to definite quantities. Numbers 1-13 are unsystematic,

whereas numbers 14-99 are systematic, formed by adding regular elements to the
other numbers, although there are several slight variations, such as twenty, forty,
fifteen, and fifty. Cardinal numbers can be premodified by intensifiers (Ex. “Nearly
twenty years”), and approximate quantities can be expressed using odd, or so, or
thereabouts, ish (Ex. “There were seventy people or so”).

Ordinals refer to the position of a number in a sequence. The first three

ordinals are first, second, third. Other ordinals are formed by adding “th” to the
cardinal numerals. They can function either as determiners or pronouns.

Fractions are expressed with ordinals if simple and cardinals and the word
“over” if complex (Ex. 1/5: one fifth; 317/509: three hundred and seventeen over
five hundred and nine). Decimals are written with a period (Ex. 2.5: Two point five).

3.2. Indefinite Pronouns and Determiners.

Indefinite pronouns and determiners are used to express quantity. They are
called indefinite owing to their general reference, in contrast to other pronouns,
such as demonstrative, reflexive, and personal pronouns, which have a specific
reference. Different from demonstratives and possessives that constitute a strongly
structured system, the indefinite quantifiers do not form a coherent class. That is to
say, they express quantity or number in an inaccurate and imprecise way. They can
be both pronouns or determiners, substituting or modifying both countable and
mass nouns. The main categories are: universal, assertive, non-assertive and
negative.

a) Universal:
“All” pre-modifies countable and mass nouns referring to things in general

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 (Ex. The club admits all nationalities). When it is used alone, it means
“everything” (Ex. All is lost). It can also be pre-modified by “nearly”, “not”
or “quite” (Ex. Not all my friends are married).
“Both” pre-modifies countable nouns referring to two things or people (Ex.
Both streets are closed).
“Each” and “Every” pre-modifies countable nouns and refers to all things
without exception, and they are singular in number (Ex. Every good teacher
studies his subject carefully). “Every” has compounds such as “everyone”
or “everything”.
b) Assertive: It is used when a specific meaning is required.
“Some” pre-modifies countable and mass nouns meaning unspecified in
affirmative sentences (Ex. Some bread has been eaten). However, it can also
be used in interrogatives for invitations, offers or politeness and when the
answer is expected to be positive (Ex. Would you like some wine?). “Some”
has also compounds such as “somewhere” or “somebody”.
“Few” and “little” pre-modify plural countable and mass nouns referring to a
small number or amount of something respectively (Ex. He put a little
pressure on me). “Little” can be also accompanied by “bit of” (Ex. I just want a
little bit of sugar). “Both” can be pre-modified by “very”, “quite”, or “too” (Ex.
They paid very little attention to the speech).
“Another” and “Other” pre-modify singular countable nouns and plural
countable or mass nouns respectively meaning one additional or different (Ex.
Bring me another juice). “Other” is sometimes found with singular nouns (Ex. I
have one sock but I have lost the other), and when it functions as a pronoun
an “s” is added (Ex. I want the others).
There are other assertive indefinite quantifiers such as “half”, “several”, and
“enough”.
c) Non-assertive: Here, there is a non-specific interpretation.
“Any” pre-modifies plural countable and mass nouns meaning unspecified. It
is the non-assertive form of “some” but for interrogative and negative
sentences (Ex. There is not any bread left). However, when it pre-modifies a
singular countable noun it can be affirmative (Ex. Any shirt will do).
Compounds of “any” are “anybody” or “anywhere”.
“Either” pre-modifies singular countable nouns and refers to one of two items
without specifying which. It limits the choice of two whereas “any” was for 3
or more (Ex. I have not written to either of my parents).
d) Negative:
“No” pre-modifies singular or plural countable and uncountable nouns
meaning “not any” in affirmative sentences, as English does not allow two

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 negatives in the same sentence (Ex. He made no mistakes). When it acts as a
pronoun the form changes (Ex. None of his brothers was in the army).
Compounds of “no” are “nobody” or “nothing”.
“Neither” pre-modifies singular countable nouns meaning not any in a group
of two (Ex. Neither of them is my friend).

3.3. Partitive Constructions.

Partitive constructions denote a part of a whole. Both count and noncount
nouns can be used with partitive expressions, with the construction a + noun + of.
The most common of these is “a piece of”. The expression “a piece of” is used with
both concrete and abstract nouns. “A bit of” implies a small quantity. “An item of” is
generally used with abstract nouns. Apart from these general partitives, there are
many others with a more specific and restricted use (Ex. “a slip of paper”, “a blade of
grass”, “a strip of land”, “a stretch of motorway”…).

We can distinguish two types of partitive constructions:

a) Those referring to non-countable nouns: they include expressions with

general meaning (Ex. “a piece of wood”) and those which refer to typical
particles (EX. “a speck of dust”).
b) Those referring to countable nouns (Ex. “a crowd of people” or “a flock of
birds”).

They may be expressions of precise meaning. Some of the partitive

constructions used to denote measurements are as follows:

a) Length: Ex. A foot of cable, a mile of sea, a yard of ale.

b) Area: Ex. An acre of land.
c) Volume: Ex. A pint of bitter, a litre of petrol, a gallon of milk.
d) Weight: Ex. An ounce of sherbet, a pound of sausages, a kilo of potatoes, a ton
of iron.

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4. Conclusion.
This unit has examined the way quantity is expressed in English. It has stated
that he expression of quantity is primarily connected to the use of nouns, pronouns,
determiners and quantifiers. We must notice that there are some cultural
differences involved, like the use of different units of measurement, and students of
English as a foreign language should be familiar with them in order to be
linguistically fully competent.

This topic is clearly useful for students in the classroom, as it brings together
purely grammatical elements with very functional language. The material included in
this unit is vital for students to be able to express themselves correctly in many
everyday situations. Teachers should make sure that students are given a thorough
grounding both in how to express ideas and elements in plural in English, and in the
different forms of quantifiers which they will need to use. Presentation in context
seems to be the most adequate technique, as the use of different expressions
depends on the communicative needs of the situation. Any curriculum must include
a good deal of exposure to and practice in these elements

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