A2 · Elementary · Lesson 1

Much, Many, A Little, A Few, Enough, A Couple Of

Talking about quantity more precisely

Language Focus

At A2 level, we use more precise words to talk about quantity.

WordUseExample
muchUncountable nouns – questions and negative sentencesHow much coffee do we have? We don't have much time.
manyCountable nouns – questions and negative sentencesHow many cups are clean? There aren't many biscuits left.
a littleUncountable nouns – a small amount, usually enoughThere's a little coffee left in the machine.
a fewCountable nouns – a small number, usually enoughWe have a few pastries in the display case.
enough / not enoughSufficient / insufficient – any noun typeWe don't have enough cups for the rush hour.
a couple ofA small number (often two) – countable nounsCan you order a couple of milk cartons?

Remember: much and many usually appear in questions and negative sentences at this level. In positive sentences, we normally use a lot of instead.

Listening: A Busy Morning at the Café

Rosa: Ben, can you check the supplies before we open?
Ben: Sure. How much coffee do we have in the machine?
Rosa: There's only a little coffee left, so please make a fresh pot.
Ben: OK. How many cups are clean and ready?
Rosa: I'm not sure, but I don't think there are many left.
Ben: I'll wash a couple of trays right now.
Rosa: Great, thanks. Do we have enough milk for the morning?
Ben: Yes, we have enough milk, but we don't have much sugar.
Rosa: That's fine, we have a few extra bags in the storeroom.
Ben: Perfect. I think we're almost ready to open.
Rosa: One more thing - we don't have enough clean spoons for breakfast.
Ben: Don't worry, I'll wash a couple more before we open the doors.

1. True or False

Context: the café (from the listening)

Based on the dialogue, are these sentences true or false?

2. Multiple Choice

Context: weekend chores at home

Choose the correct word.

3. Matching

Context: at the office

Match each sentence to its meaning.

4. Gap Fill

Context: planning a trip

Choose the correct word for each gap.

5. Word Order

Context: school and studying

Click the words in the correct order to make a sentence.

6. Word Sort

Click each word to sort it into the correct group.

Countable (books, chairs...)

Uncountable (no plural)

7. Complete the Conversation

Context: planning a party

Zoe and Alex are getting ready for a party. Choose the correct word for each gap.

Your Scores

0 / 40

Total points across all exercises

ExerciseScore
1. True/False0 / 5
2. Multiple Choice0 / 6
3. Matching0 / 5
4. Gap Fill0 / 5
5. Word Order0 / 5
6. Word Sort0 / 10
7. Conversation0 / 7