Quantity expressions

This reference also works without JavaScript. The interactive practice gives feedback after every answer.

1. How ___ chairs are there in the room?

   many
   Chairs are plural countable things, so ask how many chairs.

2. How ___ rice should I cook?

   much
   Rice is uncountable in this use. Ask how much rice.

3. Choose the natural expression: I bought ___ water.

   a bottle of
   A bottle is a container for water. The other measures usually describe different things.

4. Choose the natural expression: Please give me ___ paper to write on.

   a sheet of
   A sheet is one flat piece of writing paper. Paper itself is uncountable in this use.

5. Choose the natural expression: We need ___ bread from the bakery.

   a loaf of
   A loaf is a whole baked unit of bread. A slice is a cut piece.

6. There are only ___ eggs left: two, in fact.

   a few
   Eggs are countable plural nouns. A few means a small number.

7. There is ___ milk left, enough for one cup of tea.

   a little
   Milk is uncountable here. A little means a small amount.

8. We have not received ___ information yet.

   any
   Information is uncountable. Any works in this negative sentence; not informations.

9. Which phrase refers to two shoes worn together?

   a pair of shoes
   A pair refers to two matching things used together, such as shoes.

10. I need one useful ___.

    piece of advice
    Advice is uncountable in standard English. One piece of advice makes one item explicit.

11. There are too ___ cars on this narrow street.

    many
    Use too many before plural countable cars. Too much goes before an uncountable noun.

12. There is too ___ traffic on this road.

    much
    Traffic is uncountable in this use. Too much traffic contrasts with too many cars.