These words are used to express an amount or a degree of something and they are also used with persons.
It might be better to begin quantifiers by looking at a few of them and to see how they operate with nouns in the list that follows indicates the type of nouns that the quantifiers can be used with:
Quantifiers
All ,any
Each , enough
Both
Little , a little
Singular noun Plural noun Uncountable noun
----------- yes yes
------- ----------------- yes
----------
---------- ------- yes
Every yes
More ,some ,a lot of ----------
Many -----------
Few, a few ----------
------- yes yes yes
----------------
Yes
-----------------
----------------
Quantifiers are used at the beginning of noun phrases
*before an adjective and noun
For example : some useful phrases.
*before an adverb , adjective and noun
For example :every really pleasant experience.
Normally two quantifiers cannot be used together before the same noun . therefore the quantifiers all and both are found immediately before the or a possessive pronoun (ex)all my relatives , both the ministers .you will see the following combination of quantifiers :
*a little less noise
*a few more questions
1

*every few minutes
(Much, many, a lot of)
These are all used to talk about a large quantity of something : many is used only with countable nouns ,much with uncountable nouns and a lot of can be used with both.
Only many and much can be preceded by the word how to form questions (how many,how much?)
The word too can be used to express negative idea (too hot ,too cold ).
So is used to show the speakers attitude to the quantity (so much he couldn’t ).
Many and much tend to be rather formal in use and are often found in legal documents . in speech we use phrases like a lot of , tons of ,hundreds of .
Few , little
Again the meaning of these two words is similar since they both refer to small quantities except that few is found with countable nouns and little with uncountable nouns .
If they are used without the indefinite article (a) they have the sense of not enough and are negative in feeling 9few events ,little interest ) but these are quite formal and we would normally prefer (not many events and not much interest ).
When few and little are used (a) they mean small quantity with no extra negative overtones , afew events and alittle interest .
(Any )
Any can be used before countable and uncountable nouns usually in questions and negative sentences :
*are you bringing any friends with you ?

*do you have any coffee ?
If we stress the word any heavily when speaking we are suggesting an unlimited choice from a range of things or an unrestricted quantity ,in this case its use is not confined to just questions and Any can be used before countable and uncountable nouns usually in questions and negative sentences : friends with you ?
*are you bringing any
*do you have any coffee ? word any heavily when we stress the
If are suggesting an speaking we unlimited choice from a range of things or an confined to just questions and is not quantity ,in this case its use unrestricted negatives negatives
*help yourself to any sandwiches .
*I can’t see any difference .

Some
Some is usually thought of as the positive counterpart to any in many circumstances .
*I have some coffee .
*I am bringing some friends with me .
Like any it is used before countable and uncountable and means an indefinite quantity but not a large amount .the general rule given above for the use of any in negative sentences and questions doesn’t always hold in request and offers where we often use some to mean a small amount of quantity :
*would you like some cake ?
*could I have some biscuits instead ?
(Some)
It is used with countable and uncountable nouns ,we can use it with both for example :
*some apples
*some rice
(plenty of )
This expression is very common in English language and it is used with both countable and un countable nouns for example :
*plenty of apples
*plenty of rice
(several )
It is different from the above in use , it is used only with countable nouns .

Exercise 1 :
Choose the correct expression to complete the sentence correctly .
1.
Isabel ___________assignments. a.several b.some c. a lot of d. a few e . a little
2.jake has _____ homework. a. several b. some c. a lot of d. too much f. a few
Exercise 2:
Use many or much with the following words .
 1.furniture
 2.desk
 3.branch
 4.equipment
 5.machine
 6.piece
 7.advice
 8.sheep
 9.homework
 10.mail

Exercise 3:
Without changing the meaning of the sentence replace the words with, a few, few, a little, little.
 I think that some lemon juice on fish makes it taste better .
 Many people are multilingual but not many people speak more than ten languages.
 Some sunshine is better than none .
 If your door squeaks ,put some oil on the hinges .
 January is a cold and dreary month in the northern states .there is not much sunshine during that month .
The answer keys to the questions above.
Exercise 1:
1–several- some a few –a lot of.
2:several-some –a lot of –too much
Exercise 2. much furniture –many desks-many branches –much equipment-many machines –many pieces-much advice-many sheep-much homework-many mails .
Exercise 3:
1. Instead of some use alittle .
2.replace not many with few .
3. Not much with little .
4. Some with a little .
5.not much with little.