Grammar: Word classes: Number words

Specifying quantity

Quantity words

We use 'quantity words' to state how many things there are (one, two, three), or how much of a thing there is (lots, much). Quantity words most commonly express the Quantifier in a noun group, providing further information about the Thing:

Bozo has      two         pets.                 quantity word    noun                         Quantifier       Thing

Dotty has     lots of      dolls.                quantity word     noun                         Quantifier       Thing

There are two main categories of quantity words, ie numbers and measure expressions. Numbers comprise cardinal numbers, fractions (both common and decimal), and collective numbers, while measure expressions comprise words that group things (lots, few, several) or compare things (fewer, more).

Some quantity words specify an exact number of things, eg cardinal numbers (one, two, three), collective numbers (a pair of, a dozen), quantities and measures (a pint of, a box of) and some fractions (a quarter of, a third). Others specify an inexact number of things, such as little, a bit of, lots of, a few, a couple, and comparatives such as less, more, fewer.

Note that a couple can be used to express an exact amount (ie two) as well as an inexact amount (ie a few).

While the forms of quantity words may vary in small detail, all quantity words function either as Quantifier in the noun group (three students) or as Description in 'naming and describing' clauses (The students arrived first.) 

For more information on the role of Quantifiers in noun groups, see Grammar: Groups & phrases: Functions within the noun group: Saying 'how many'

For more information on 'naming and describing' clauses, see Grammar: Clause: Using the clause to represent experience: The processes: 'What's happening': 'Naming and describing'

Note that the terms Description, Quantifier and Thing are written with an initial capital to remind us that they are functional terms.