Flowexam.com teacher explaining quantifiers in English on a blackboard with chalk for TOEIC® preparation

Some, Any, Much, Many: Mastering Quantifiers for the TOEIC®

(Updated: January 20, 2026)

Flow Exam team

Some, Any, Much, Many: Mastering Quantifiers for the TOEIC®

Quantifiers are words that express an amount (much, many, few, little, some, any...).

In the TOEIC®, they appear very frequently in Parts 5 and 6, in sentences where you have to choose between several seemingly correct options.

The common mistake: confusing quantifiers for countable nouns (many, few) and uncountable nouns (much, little). Just one wrong choice costs you points. These questions appear on every test.

The Two Main Groups of Quantifiers

The basic rule can be summarized in one sentence: some quantifiers only work with countable nouns (those you can count), while others only work with uncountable nouns (those you cannot count).

Countable vs. Uncountable: The TOEIC® Reflex

A countable noun can take an "s" in the plural: documents, employees, meetings. An uncountable noun always stays singular: information, equipment, furniture.

For the TOEIC®, the most common uncountable nouns in professional contexts are:

  • information (never "informations")
  • equipment (never "equipments")
  • furniture (never "furnitures")
  • advice (never "advices")
  • research (never "researches")

What we often see among our candidates: the error stems from words that we naturally use in the plural in our native language but which remain singular in English.

Summary Table by Noun Type

Unknown block type "table", specify a component for it in the `components.types` option

Common Traps in Part 5

Part 5 loves to present you with four different quantifiers for a single blank. Here is how to spot the trap in two seconds.

The "Many vs Much" Trap

"The company received _____ feedback from customers."

The four options: (A) many (B) much (C) several (D) few

The key word here is feedback. It is an uncountable noun in English (even if in French one might say "des retours"). The only possible answer is (B) much.

Correct Answer:

  • "The company received much feedback from customers." The company received a lot of feedback from customers.

The "Few vs Little" Trap

These two words mean "a small amount" but are not used the same way.

  • few = a small number (with a countable noun) → negative connotation
  • a few = some (with a countable noun) → positive connotation
  • little = a small amount (with an uncountable noun) → negative connotation
  • a little = a small amount (with an uncountable noun) → positive connotation

What we regularly observe among our students: the article "a" completely changes the meaning. "Few people attended" (not many people came, which is disappointing) vs "A few people attended" (some people came, which suggests a moderate turnout).

Tricky Example: "There is _____ time left before the deadline."

Answer: little (time is uncountable).

Complete sentence: "There is little time left before the deadline." There is little time remaining before the cutoff date.

Frequent Error Checklist

Unknown block type "table", specify a component for it in the `components.types` option

The 3-Step Method to Stop Making Mistakes

Step 1: Identify the Noun

Locate the noun that follows the quantifier. Ignore the rest of the sentence for the moment.

Step 2: Countable or Uncountable?

Ask yourself: Can I put a number in front of it? Can it take an "s"?

  • If yes → Countable (many, few, a few, several)
  • If no → Uncountable (much, little, a little)

Step 3: Check the Context (Positive or Negative)

  • If the context is negative or implies insufficiency: few / little
  • If the context is positive or implies sufficiency: a few / a little

Candidates who consistently ace these questions don't necessarily know all uncountable nouns by heart. They just have a reflex: they ask themselves, "Can I say two, three, four... in front of this word?" If yes, it's countable.

Universal Quantifiers (Compatible with Everything)

Some quantifiers work with both types of nouns. These are your allies on the TOEIC® when you hesitate.

List of Universals:

  • some (affirmative sentences)
  • any (negative and interrogative sentences)
  • a lot of / lots of
  • plenty of
  • no

Contextualized Examples:

  • "We have some contracts to review." (countable)
    We have a few contracts to review.
  • "We have some work to do." (uncountable)
    We have some work to do.
  • "There isn't any space available." (uncountable)
    There is no space available.
  • "There aren't any rooms available." (countable)
    There are no rooms available.

Special Cases - Part 6

In Part 6, quantifiers often appear in longer sentences, with complements that separate the quantifier from the noun.

Tricky Example: "Despite receiving _____ of applications for the position, the HR team selected only two candidates."

Options: (A) many (B) much (C) a number (D) an amount

The key word is applications (countable). But it is separated from the blank by "of".

Answer: (C) a number → "a number of applications" is the correct phrasing.

Complete Sentence:

  • "Despite receiving a number of applications for the position, the HR team selected only two candidates."
    Despite receiving numerous applications for the position, the HR team selected only two candidates.

Quick Checklist

Unknown block type "table", specify a component for it in the `components.types` option

Ready to Practice?

You now know the main traps concerning quantifiers and the method to avoid them. But real progress comes from repetition: seeing these traps again and again until the reflex becomes automatic.

On Flow Exam, you can practice directly on the Quantifiers topic in Part 5, with thousands of questions formatted exactly like those in the official TOEIC®. Each error automatically generates a flashcard so you never make the same mistake twice.

Some superpowers of the Flow Exam platform:

  • 150 truly exclusive tips based on the experience of over 500 candidates who scored +950 on the TOEIC®: clear, concrete, tested, and validated in the field.
  • Intelligent training system that adapts exercises to your profile and trains you directly on the topics where you make the most errors. Result → 3.46x faster progress compared to traditional platforms.
  • Ultra-personalized learning path: targeted training only on the questions and topics that cost you points → continuously adjusted to adapt to your evolving level.
  • Personalized statistics on +200 specific topics (adverbs, pronouns, linking words, etc.)
  • Real Conditions mode exactly like Test Day (reading instructions in Listening, timer, etc.) → You can activate it whenever you want.
  • Flashcards automatically generated from your own errors, and optimized by the Spaced Repetition system for lasting memory and zero forgetting.
  • +300 points guaranteed on the TOEIC®. If not, free unlimited prep.
Start My Review