a / an / the / some / any / a lot of / much / many

Determiners

Determiners

We use determiners like a, an and the to help us identify things.
  • I live in a flat.
  • This is the house where my mother lives.

We use determiners like some, any, much, many, a lot of and no to describe quantities. These determiners are called quantifiers.

  • I need some water.
  • How much water do you need?
  • Do you need any eggs?
  • There are no eggs in the fridge.

1. Tazukuri.

Tazukuri is a Japanese dish made with small sardines and sesame seeds.

Put the words in order to make sentences about what you need to make tazukuri.

For example: You need some rice wine.

2. Using a, an, some and any.

We use a, an, some and any like this:

-a, an with singular nouns.

  • a sardine, a balloon, a party
  • an egg, an apple, an invitation
    = words beginning with vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u)

-some, any with plural and uncountable nouns.

You need some dried sardines.
Affirmative: some + plural noun

You need some sugar.

Affirmative: some + uncountable noun

You don't need any eggs.

Negative: any + plural noun

You don't need any milk.

Negative: any + uncountable noun
Do you need any eggs? Question: any + plural noun
Do you need any milk? Question: any + uncountable noun

Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.

3. More practice.

Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.

4. Food for a party.

Listen to David and Janet. They are deciding what food to buy for a party. Drag the words to complete the dialogue.

Note: We use a lot of to describe a large quantity of something.
some cheese
a lot of cheese
some people
a lot of people

5. Complete the dialogue.

Can you remember? Now choose the correct word to complete the dialogue from the previous exercise.

Listen and check.

6. Using much, many and a lot of.

Complete the table. Drag the sentences into the correct box.

Note: a lot of = lots of
For example: I have a lot of friends. = I have lots of friends.

7. Complete the rule.

Look at the sentences in the previous exercise again. Then drag the words to complete the rule.

8. Much or many?

Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.

9. Complete an email.

Rita and Jack are organising a party. Jack sends Rita an email. Choose the correct options to complete the email.

For more information about determiners see the Grammar Reference.

For more information about countable and uncountable nouns see the Grammar Reference.