1. There are too ____ cars on this road.
Answer & explanation
many
There are too many cars on this road.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
THE IDEA, SIMPLY
The rule, with an example
Many modifies plural countable nouns; much modifies uncountable nouns. A few means some; few suggests not enough. Each focuses on individual members of a group.
SEE IT IN CONTEXTWe have a little time and a few questions. Each question deserves attention.
Skills to work on in this practice
- Match quantity words to noun type
- Choose between few and little
- Make general and specific references clear
Check whether the noun is countable
| Use | Example | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Countable plural | We have a few questions. | A few means some, with a positive emphasis. |
| Uncountable | We have little time. | Little suggests that the amount is insufficient. |
| Individual focus | Each student has a task. | Each takes a singular noun and verb. |
Common mistake
Check: Many information
Use: Much information
Information is uncountable in this use. Say many pieces of information when counting items.
How should I practise this?
Read the example and explain the choice before answering. After the exercise, write a new sentence using the same pattern. Revisit any answer you could not explain, even if you guessed correctly.
MORE PRACTICE · SAME TOPIC
Your four practice sets
4 sets · 40 exercises · about 50–70 minutes with writing and review.
10 scored questions, 20 sentence exercises and 10 writing challenges. Time depends on your pace. Start with the quiz or choose the practice you need.
Your scored quiz and self-reviewed exercises are tracked separately on this device.
Questions 1–5 build confidence; 6–10 check transfer and detail. Use Practice for feedback after each answer, or Test yourself to check at the end.
Practise, then understand your answers
10 questions · 10 XP per correct answer · explanations included
Answer every question to see your score.0 / 10 answered
Question 1
How ___ students joined the workshop?
- much
- many
- a little
Answer & explanation
many. Students is a plural countable noun.
Question 2
There is ___ information on the noticeboard.
- a few
- many
- some
Answer & explanation
some. Information is uncountable; some works with it.
Question 3
___ student received a different topic.
- Each
- All
- Many
Answer & explanation
Each. Each takes a singular noun and treats students individually.
Question 4
We have very ___ time before the lesson.
- few
- little
- many
Answer & explanation
little. Time is uncountable; little expresses a small amount.
Question 5
I have ___ questions, so this will take a few minutes.
- a few
- much
- a little
Answer & explanation
a few. Questions are countable. A few means a small number.
Question 6
There isn’t ___ information on this page.
- a few
- much
- many
Answer & explanation
much. Information is uncountable, so much is appropriate in this negative sentence.
Question 7
I have ___ close friends, so I rarely feel lonely.
- a few
- few
- much
Answer & explanation
a few. A few means some, a positive amount. Few emphasises a shortage.
Question 8
___ student needs a notebook.
- All
- Many
- Each
Answer & explanation
Each. Each is followed by a singular countable noun and singular verb.
Question 9
There are ___ chairs for everyone; nobody needs to stand.
- little
- enough
- much
Answer & explanation
enough. Enough means the available number meets the need.
Question 10
Would you like ___ water?
- some
- many
- a few
Answer & explanation
some. Some is natural in an offer. Water is uncountable, ruling out many and a few.
SET 2 OF 4 · 10–15 minutes
Build the pattern
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
2. We have very ____ time, so we must hurry.
Answer & explanation
little
We have very little time, so we must hurry.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
3. ____ applicant receives a separate number.
Answer & explanation
Each
Each applicant receives a separate number.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
4. I haven’t got ____ cash with me.
Answer & explanation
any
I haven’t got any cash with me.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
5. There is ____ soup left if you want it.
Answer & explanation
some
There is some soup left if you want it.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
6. How ____ luggage can we bring?
Answer & explanation
much
How much luggage can we bring?
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
7. How ____ visitors came yesterday?
Answer & explanation
many
How many visitors came yesterday?
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
8. I need ____ minutes; three should be enough.
Answer & explanation
a few
I need a few minutes; three should be enough.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
9. We have ____ seats for all twenty guests.
Answer & explanation
enough
We have enough seats for all twenty guests.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
10. ____ of the two doors are locked.
Answer & explanation
Both
Both of the two doors are locked.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
SET 3 OF 4 · 10–15 minutes
Check the details
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
1. There isn’t ____ traffic today.
Answer & explanation
much
There isn’t much traffic today.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
2. Only ____ people came, but it was a friendly group.
Answer & explanation
a few
Only a few people came, but it was a friendly group.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
3. Very ____ people came, which disappointed the organiser.
Answer & explanation
few
Very few people came, which disappointed the organiser.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
4. We have ____ milk, so I can make one cup of tea.
Answer & explanation
a little
We have a little milk, so I can make one cup of tea.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
5. There is ____ hope of finishing today; almost none.
Answer & explanation
little
There is little hope of finishing today; almost none.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
6. ____ room has a window.
Answer & explanation
Every
Every room has a window.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
7. I liked ____ option; both were unsuitable.
Answer & explanation
neither
I liked neither option; both were unsuitable.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
8. You may choose ____ of these two seats; both are free.
Answer & explanation
either
You may choose either of these two seats; both are free.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
9. There are ____ tickets left; all have been sold.
Answer & explanation
no
There are no tickets left; all have been sold.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
10. Please give me ____ advice about the interview.
Answer & explanation
some
Please give me some advice about the interview.
Check countability and number first. Much/little go with uncountable nouns; many/few go with plural countable nouns. Each takes a singular noun.
SET 4 OF 4 · 20–30 minutes
Use it yourself
Write an original answer for each task. Review the guidance to check your work. These are self-review tasks, not automatic grammar grading.
1. Ask about the number of books someone owns.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Use how many with a plural countable noun.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
2. Ask about the amount of water available.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Use how much with the uncountable noun water.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
3. Describe a small but useful amount of time.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
A little gives a positive sense of some time.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
4. Describe almost no time to finish a task.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Little emphasises a shortage.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
5. Describe a small but useful number of helpers.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
A few is positive and takes a plural noun.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
6. Describe a disappointing number of visitors.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Few emphasises that the number is low.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
7. Give an instruction that applies separately to all students.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Each or every takes a singular noun and singular verb.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
8. Offer someone a drink.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Some is natural in an offer with an uncountable drink noun.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
9. Say two options are both unsuitable.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Neither expresses not one and not the other.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
10. Say a quantity is sufficient for a task.
What to check
Your wording can vary.
Enough goes before a noun: enough chairs or enough time.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Printable practice
Print this lesson’s original questions with a separate answer key. Use the worksheet for another round without looking at the explanations.
BEYOND MULTIPLE CHOICE
Can you use it yourself?
Try these two tasks before opening the answers. They practise explanation and writing; they do not change your quiz score.
1. Explain or repair
Repair: There are much chairs, but only a few space.
Check the reasoning
There are many chairs, but only a little space. Chairs are countable; space here is uncountable.
2. Make the meaning
Describe a shortage of time and a small number of remaining tasks.
Compare a possible answer
We have little time and a few tasks left. Little emphasises the shortage; a few means some countable tasks.
Other wording may be correct. Compare the meaning and verb pattern, not just the words.
RELATED PRACTICE
Articles: a, an & the
Choose the right article—and understand when to leave it out.