Nobody counts out loud. People say plenty, a couple, loads, hardly any — and everyone knows roughly what they mean. Eight words for amounts, and the small grammar traps hiding in each one.
1. Is There Enough?
Cleo: Do I need to buy bread?
Rune: We've got plenty.
Cleo: Plenty of milk too?
Rune: Milk, no. Bread, plenty.
Cleo: Milk it is.
2. Just Two Days
Nadir: How long are you staying?
Elsa: A couple of days. Three at most.
Nadir: That's short.
Elsa: I'll be back in spring for longer.
Nadir: I'll hold you to that.
Elsa: Please do.
3. Almost Nothing Left
Yara: How's the printer paper?
Tom: There's hardly any left.
Yara: Enough for today?
Tom: Maybe twenty sheets.
Yara: Order more this morning.
4. More Than We Need
Ines: How many chairs did they send?
Gus: Loads. Forty, I counted.
Ines: We ordered fourteen.
Gus: Someone typed it wrong.
Ines: Ring them before they leave.
Gus: Ringing now.
5. A Few Times Already
Ken: Is this your first visit?
Priya: I've been several times.
Ken: Then you know the good streets.
Priya: Several. Follow me.
Ken: Happily.
6. Just a Bit
Hana: Sugar?
Owen: A bit. Half a spoon.
Hana: That's not a bit, that's nothing.
Owen: A bit is all I want.
Hana: Half a spoon it is.
Owen: Perfect.
7. Nearly Everyone
Bram: Did people come?
Zoe: Most of them. Twenty out of twenty-five.
Bram: That's good for a Monday.
Zoe: Most people like free food.
Bram: True.
8. The Whole Thing
Aria: Did you read the contract?
Leon: The whole thing. Twice.
Aria: All forty pages?
Leon: The whole forty. Page nine is the problem.
Aria: Show me page nine.
Words to know
| plenty | more than enough We've got plenty. |
| a couple | two, or about two A couple of days. Three at most. |
| hardly any | almost none There's hardly any left. |
| loads | a very large amount (informal) Loads. Forty, I counted. |
| several | more than two but not many I've been several times. |
| a bit | a small amount A bit. Half a spoon. |
| most | nearly all of a group Most of them. Twenty out of twenty-five. |
| whole | complete; all of one thing The whole thing. Twice. |
Quick practice
Complete each sentence with an expression from the lessons.
1. A: Do I need to buy bread?
B: We've got ________.
2. A: How long are you staying?
B: ________ of days. Three at most.
3. A: How's the printer paper?
B: There's ________ left.
4. A: How many chairs did they send?
B: ________. Forty, I counted.
5. A: Is this your first visit?
B: I've been ________ times.
6. A: Did you read the contract?
B: The ________ thing. Twice.
Show the answers
1. plenty 2. A couple 3. hardly any 4. Loads 5. several 6. whole
Common mistakes
Not: There were much people at the party.
Say: There were a lot of people at the party.
People can be counted, so much is wrong. In a positive sentence, use a lot of or loads of.
Not: I stayed a couple days.
Say: I stayed a couple of days.
A couple always keeps its of before a noun. Same with plenty of and loads of.
Not: Most of people like free food.
Say: Most people like free food.
Drop of when you mean people in general. Keep it only before the, them, us: most of them.
Your turn
Think about your kitchen, your desk and your week. Say these five things aloud, using the words from this lesson.
- Name something you have plenty of at home and something you have hardly any of.
- Say how many times you've been to your favourite restaurant, using several.
- Describe last weekend using a couple of.
- Finish out loud: Most people in my city...
- Say one thing you finished the whole of recently — a book, a series, a bottle.
Quick review
Say the three of phrases until they are one word in your mouth: a couple of, plenty of, loads of. Then say the one that drops it: most people. That single difference is the one native speakers notice first.