CDS English · Grammar
Quantifiers and other determiners
Quantifiers say how much or how many. Which one fits depends on three things: whether the noun can be counted, whether the sentence is positive, negative or a question, and whether you mean one at a time.
Why this matters
Quantifier blanks have become more frequent in recent papers. Each one turns on a single check: countable or uncountable, positive or negative sense, statement or question, one or many. Learn the checks and these become quick marks.
Concept 1 of 5: Countable or uncountable decides the word: fewer/less, many/much
Before you fill a quantifier blank, look at the noun after it. Can you put a number in front of it (three officers)? Then it is countable. If not (energy, sugar, advice), it is uncountable, and a different set of words goes with it.
Definition
Terms:
- A quantifier is a determiner that says how much or how many: many, much, few, little, some, any, most, several.
Which word goes with which noun:
- Countable (plural nouns): many, few, a few, fewer, several, a number of.
- Uncountable: much, little, a little, less, an amount of.
- Both: some, any, most, all, a lot of, enough.
- 'No fewer than a hundred passengers' (a countable number); 'no less than' goes with amounts.
- Lesser is not the same as less: it means smaller in importance (the lesser evil).
The method:
- Find the noun the blank goes with.
- Countable or uncountable? Strike the words of the wrong set.
- Check the verb: a plural verb (are) needs a plural countable noun.
Worked example
Fill in the blank: How _______ sugar do you take in your tea? (a) many (b) much (c) few (d) several
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2026 · CDS (II) 2026 — English · Q78Moderate
Example 1 · Grammar · Quantifiers: Some, Any, Few, Little, Each, Every
Directions: Each of the following sentences in this section has a blank space with four options. Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank and indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
__________ people make their own bread today than in earlier times.
Less is for amounts, fewer for numbers
'Less water', 'less time', but 'fewer bottles', 'fewer passengers'. If you could count the noun, the word is fewer.
Lesser is a different word
'Lesser' means of lower rank or importance (a lesser poet). It never replaces 'less' or 'fewer' before a noun that is being counted or measured.
Match the verb
'_______ of these officers are very well-trained': the plural verb 'are' and the plural noun need Most. 'Much' cannot go with a plural noun, and 'One' would need 'is'.
Concept 2 of 5: Few vs a few, little vs a little
The small word 'a' flips the feeling. 'A few' and 'a little' mean some, and that is good. 'Few' and 'little' alone mean hardly any, and that is a problem. Read the rest of the sentence to see which feeling it wants.
Definition
The four words:
- A few + countable: some, a small number (positive). I have a few friends here.
- Few + countable: hardly any (negative). He has few friends, so he is lonely.
- A little + uncountable: some, a small amount (positive). There is a little milk left.
- Little + uncountable: hardly any (negative). There is little hope.
The method:
- Countable or uncountable? That chooses between few and little.
- Positive or negative sense? That chooses whether 'a' is needed.
- Clues for the negative sense: busy, lonely, only, worried, but. Clues for the positive: a request, 'went on well', 'still'.
Worked example
Fill in the blank: He is new in town and has _______ friends, so he feels lonely. (a) a few (b) few (c) little (d) a little
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2026 · CDS (I) 2026 — English · Q77Moderate
Example 2 · Grammar · Quantifiers: Some, Any, Few, Little, Each, Every
Directions: Each of the following sentences in this section has a blank space with four options. Select the preposition or determiner you consider the most appropriate for the blank space and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
Dr. Kumar is very busy with her practice. She has _______ time for other things.
'Few' is not 'a few'
'Few people came' means the hall was nearly empty. 'A few people came' means some came. The 'a' changes the meaning, not just the sound.
A request wants the positive
When someone asks for something ('could you spare me ...?'), they want some of it: a little or a few. 'Little' alone would mean they want almost none.
Count first, then feel
'Time', 'energy', 'milk', 'hope' are uncountable: only little or a little can go with them. Do not pick 'a few' for an uncountable noun just because the sense is positive.
Concept 3 of 5: Some vs any
'Some' is the positive word, 'any' the negative and question word. Two exceptions catch students: offers and requests take 'some', and 'any' with a singular noun means 'no matter which one'.
Definition
The rules:
- Some in positive statements: I had some trouble; Some children learn very quickly.
- Any in negative sentences and ordinary questions: I don't need any help; Is there any water?
- Some in offers, requests, and questions that expect 'yes': Would you like some tea? Didn't you borrow some books of mine?
- Any + singular noun in a positive sentence = no matter which one: Any student could tell you.
- No before a noun = not any: You have no sense.
Their class:
- Some, any and no before a noun are determiners (quantifiers).
The method:
- Statement, negative or question? Then check for an offer, a request or an expected 'yes'.
Worked example
Fill in the blank: We need _______ volunteers for the camp next week. (a) any (b) some (c) much (d) a
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2026 · CDS (I) 2026 — English · Q72Easy
Example 3 · Grammar · Quantifiers: Some, Any, Few, Little, Each, Every
Directions: Each of the following sentences in this section has a blank space with four options. Select the preposition or determiner you consider the most appropriate for the blank space and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
I don't want _______ more vegetables.
A question that expects 'yes'
'Didn't you borrow some books of mine?' The speaker is sure you did. Such questions, and offers and requests, take some, not any.
'Any' with a singular noun
'Any student could tell you' is a positive sentence, but 'any' fits: it means every student, whichever you ask. 'Some', 'All' and 'Few' would need a plural noun.
'A' is not a quantifier for uncountable nouns
'The village possesses _______ scenic beauty': beauty here is uncountable, so 'a' and 'an' are out. Use some.
Concept 4 of 5: Each, every, either, one of: the singular words
Each, every, either and neither look at the members of a group one by one. So the noun after them is singular, and so is the verb. Even 'one of the players' talks about one person, though the noun after 'of' is plural.
Definition
The words:
- Each and every + singular noun + singular verb: Each time no one responded; Every employee has a duty.
- Each of + plural noun + singular verb: Each of these paintings is famous. ('Every of' is wrong; say 'every one of'.)
- Either (one of two) and neither (none of two) + singular noun: either road, neither answer.
- One of + plural noun + singular verb: one of the players; One of my friends is a doctor.
- Not every = not all: Not every metal is solid.
- An amount of time, money or distance taken as one unit is singular: Ten years is a long time.
- Labels: each, every, either, neither before a noun are called distributive adjectives (or determiners).
Worked example
Fill in the blank: _______ player in the team received a medal. (a) All (b) Each (c) Both (d) Many
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2026 · CDS (I) 2026 — English · Q75Moderate
Example 4 · Grammar · Quantifiers: Some, Any, Few, Little, Each, Every
Directions: Each of the following sentences in this section has a blank space with four options. Select the preposition or determiner you consider the most appropriate for the blank space and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
You can park on _______ side of the street.
'One of the ...' needs a plural noun
Write 'one of the players', never 'one of the player'. But the verb after it stays singular: One of the players is injured.
Either is for two only
'Either' and 'neither' speak of two things: either end of the bridge, neither of my two brothers. For more than two, use any or none.
Each and every in a label question
When 'every' or 'each' is underlined before a noun, it is an adjective (a distributive adjective). It is not an adverb, even in 'every day'.
Concept 5 of 5: Whichever, these, all
Three more pointing words. 'Whichever' picks any one from a small known set. 'These' points to plural things near you. 'All' before a noun means every one of them.
Definition
The words:
- Whichever: any one from a known, limited set (whichever road we take, of the few roads there are).
- Whatever: anything at all, from an open range (Do whatever you like).
- This / these: near things, singular / plural. That / those: far things.
- All: before a noun it is a determiner (all good things). On its own it is a pronoun (All were present).
| Word | Use | In the sentence | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whichever | any one from a known, limited set | Whichever road we take, we shall be late | 2022 (I)Q |
| all | every one of; here a determiner before the noun | May you be blessed with all good things of life | 2022 (II) No 'Determiner' or 'Adjective' option was given here. When the exact label is missing, pick the closest one offered: 'Pronoun', the class 'all' has when it stands alone. |
| these | points to plural things near in time or place | There is no truth in these claims | 2025 (I)Q |
| whichever | any one from the collection on offer | You can choose whichever shirt you like from the collection | 2025 (II) |
Whichever chooses from a limited set; whatever ranges over anything.
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2025 · CDS (II) 2025 — English · Q24Moderate
Example 5 · Grammar · Quantifiers: Some, Any, Few, Little, Each, Every
Directions: Each of the following sentences in this section has a blank space with four options. Select whichever preposition or determiner you consider the most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
You can choose _______ shirt you like from the collection available in the shop.
Whichever or whatever
If the sentence names or implies a small set to choose from (a road, the shops in this street), use whichever. If the choice is open, use whatever.
Look-alikes of 'these'
'Thus' and 'there' look like 'these' but cannot stand before a noun. Before a plural noun such as 'claims', only these (or those) fits.
'All' alone or before a noun
'All good things' (determiner: a noun follows). 'All were present' (pronoun: no noun follows). Use the same next-word test as for this, that and his.
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
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Reference tables (1)
Whichever, these, all4 rows
| Word | Use | In the sentence | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whichever | any one from a known, limited set | Whichever road we take, we shall be late | 2022 (I)Q |
| all | every one of; here a determiner before the noun | May you be blessed with all good things of life | 2022 (II) No 'Determiner' or 'Adjective' option was given here. When the exact label is missing, pick the closest one offered: 'Pronoun', the class 'all' has when it stands alone. |
| these | points to plural things near in time or place | There is no truth in these claims | 2025 (I)Q |
| whichever | any one from the collection on offer | You can choose whichever shirt you like from the collection | 2025 (II) |
Whichever chooses from a limited set; whatever ranges over anything.
Watch out for (15)
- Less is for amounts, fewer for numbers→ Countable or uncountable decides the word: fewer/less, many/much
- Lesser is a different word→ Countable or uncountable decides the word: fewer/less, many/much
- Match the verb→ Countable or uncountable decides the word: fewer/less, many/much
- 'Few' is not 'a few'→ Few vs a few, little vs a little
- A request wants the positive→ Few vs a few, little vs a little
- Count first, then feel→ Few vs a few, little vs a little
- A question that expects 'yes'→ Some vs any
- 'Any' with a singular noun→ Some vs any
- 'A' is not a quantifier for uncountable nouns→ Some vs any
- 'One of the ...' needs a plural noun→ Each, every, either, one of: the singular words
- Either is for two only→ Each, every, either, one of: the singular words
- Each and every in a label question→ Each, every, either, one of: the singular words
- Whichever or whatever→ Whichever, these, all
- Look-alikes of 'these'→ Whichever, these, all
- 'All' alone or before a noun→ Whichever, these, all
Test yourself on Grammar
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