In this lesson, we're going to explore quantifiers. We've already covered the concepts of singular, plural, countable, and uncountable nouns in our second lesson. With that knowledge in hand, we're now going to delve into the different types of quantifiers. Let's dive in!
Lesson Introduction
Part 1
Quantifiers Followed by Singular Countable Nouns
Quantifiers that are used with singular countable nouns include "every", "each", "another", "either", "neither", and "the other". With the exception of "the other", these quantifiers must always be used with singular countable nouns. Further, according to the rules of subject-verb agreement, if these quantifiers along with a singular countable noun form the subject of a sentence, they must be followed by a verb in the singular form.
▶️ each, every + singular countable noun + singular verb
Every fan in the stadium is cheering loudly.
I want to eat every piece of
this delicious pie.
The show will be broadcast
every weekday morning.
Each student
needs to give an oral
presentation in turn.
They audit our company's accounts
each year.
Another usage of Every: every three months (every three months), every two hours (every two hours)
For many ex-employees who are used to having a paycheque arrive regularly every two weeks, the uncertainty of being self-employed is very difficult to deal with.
▶️ another + singular countable noun + singular verb
Can you pick another movie to
watch? This one is pretty bad.
I don't like this restaurant. Let's go to
another one around the corner.
Another table is needed.
We can fit another person in my
car.
I'm going to have another piece
of cake.
▶️ the other + singular countable noun + singular verb
▶️ the other + plural countable noun + plural verb
The term 'the other' is used to refer to 'the rest' when dividing two or more entities into two groups. When coupled with a singular countable noun, 'the other' signifies one remaining entity. When used with a plural countable noun, 'the other' refers to the remaining entities, indicating there is more than one."
I can't find the other sock.
Let's meet at the other side of
the building.
His resume stands out from
the other job candidates'
resumes.
I have handed in one assignment, but I haven't finished
the other assignments.
When you want to express "someone's other", "other” can be preceded by his/her/my/your/their... etc.
His other son goes to high school.
This is my other car.
What is in your other hand?
The phrase "the other half" is used to refer to the remaining 50% of
something.
Do you want the other half of my
bagel?
He kept the other half of the
cake for himself.
▶️ either, neither + singular countable noun + singular verb
“Either” and “neither” are also common determiners. Either and neither can only be followed by singular countable nouns.
Either candidate
is ideal for the job.
Neither candidate
is qualified for this job.
Here are two dresses. I think you'll look great in either dress.
▶️ Pronouns: either/neither/both
“Either”, ”neither”, and “both” can be used as pronouns. The pronouns "either", "neither", and "both" can be used when making a choice between two options. Use "either" when either of the two options is acceptable. Use "neither" when none of the options are acceptable. Use "both" when both options are acceptable, if possible. Here's an example to illustrate:
Q: Would you like potatoes or salad with your steak?
A:
Either
works for
me
B:
Neither
work for me
C: Both
work for me
The pronouns 'either', 'neither', and 'both' are also often followed
by the word 'of'. It's important to remember that when used this way,
'either of', 'neither of', and 'both of' must be followed by plural
countable nouns.
▶️ either of + plural countable noun + singular verb
▶️ neither of + plural countable noun + plural verb
▶️ both of + plural countable noun + plural verb
Either of us needs to do the laundry.
I don't mind dating
either of the two girls.
Neither of the candidates
have job experience.
We won neither of the races
because neither of us trained
hard enough.
▶️ none of + noun + plural verb or singular verb
The verb following "none of something" can be either singular or plural, depending on the context. If you're referring to an uncountable noun or a group as a single entity, a singular verb is used. However, if you're emphasizing the individual elements of a group, you could use a plural verb. It's important to note that American English usually uses a singular verb, while British English might use either.
None of
the money
was/were
stolen.
None of
the people attending the conference
was/were
familiar with the topic.
None of
the workers
has/have
signed the contract yet.
Example: Did you remember John
mentioned that we could take ________ public transport vehicle? He
said that both vehicles will lead us to his house.
(A) neither
(B) either
(C) neither of
(D) either of
The correct answer is (B) either.
The word 'either' is used when you are talking about a choice between two possibilities. In this context, John has mentioned two public transport vehicles that can be taken to his house, hence 'either' is the appropriate choice.
(A) 'Neither' is incorrect because this word is used when
you are referring to two things or people, to mean 'not the
one and not the other'. In this context, it would suggest
that neither of the vehicles can be taken to John's house,
which contradicts the information given.
(C) 'Neither of' is incorrect as it also suggests that none
of the two vehicles can lead to John's house. The use of
'of' following 'neither' is typically used when directly
followed by a noun or a pronoun, but it would still provide
the wrong meaning in this context.
(D) 'Either of' is incorrect because 'of' is typically used
when 'either' is directly followed by a noun or a pronoun.
In this statement, a noun does not follow 'either', making
the use of 'of' unnecessary.
Quantifiers Followed by Plural Countable Nouns
Quantifiers such as 'other', 'both', 'several', 'few', 'a few', 'quite a few', 'many', and 'a number of' can only be used before plural countable nouns. Also, in line with the subject-verb agreement rule, when these quantifiers are used in a subject, the verb that follows must be in its plural form.
▶️ other + plural countable noun + plural verb
One passenger was dead and
two other passengers were
injured in the car accident.
I am taller than other people in
my class.
|
The difference between “other” and “the other”
Other" is used to refer to an additional or extra thing or
person of the same type that has already been mentioned,
while "the other" is used to refer to the second of two
things or people that have been mentioned or are known
about. For example:
|
▶️ few, a few, quite a few + plural countable noun + plural verb
The terms 'few', 'a few', and 'quite a few' convey different
quantities. 'Few' suggests a small number, 'a few' implies some, and
'quite a few' signifies many. However, they can only be used before
plural countable nouns.
I need to get a few things in
town.
There are a few slices of cake
left over from the party.
Quite a few people are lining up
outside of the store.
I've been there
quite a few times.
Few people are willing to change their lifestyles to save the Earth.
▶️ several, many, a number of + plural countable noun + plural verb
“Several”, “many”, and “a number of” all mean "many" and can only be followed by plural countable nouns.
I know several famous singers.
Many students bring cell phones
to school.
A number of young people are not
able to afford a house on their own.
|
The difference between “a number of” and “the number of” The phrases "a number of" and "the number of" are both used in reference to quantity, however, they have different meanings and uses. "A number of" is used as a quantifier to mean "several" or "many". This phrase is followed by plural countable nouns and, in agreement with this plural noun, the verb used is also plural. For example: The number of elephants is decreasing. In simple terms, "a number of" means many and uses a plural verb, while "the number of" indicates a specific count and uses a singular verb. |
Example: Nearly fifty percent of
the population in Australia refuse to get a coronavirus jab. Should
vaccination for people in Australia be mandatory? “_________ factors
are being considered,” the Australian prime minister said.
(A) A large amount of
(B) A great deal of
(C) A number of
(D) A dozen of
The correct answer is (C) A number of.
The correct answer in this context is "(C) A number of" because it is used to refer to many different things or people that are considered as a group. It fits into the sentence perfectly, implying that the prime minister is considering multiple factors before making vaccination mandatory.
(A) "A large amount of" is incorrect because it is used with
uncountable nouns. In this context, 'factors' is a countable
noun and so, it cannot be used here.
(B) "A great deal of" is also incorrect for the same reason
as (A). It is used with uncountable nouns and 'factors' is a
countable noun.
(D) "A dozen of" is incorrect because it specifically refers
to twelve of something. In this context, the prime minister
is unlikely to be considering only twelve factors. It would
also need to be followed by a plural noun ('factors'), but
in the original sentence there is no noun following the
phrase.
Note: get a jab = get an injection = get vaccinated = get vaccination
Continue to next part:
Part 2
Quantifiers Followed by Uncountable Nouns
Words such as "little," "a little," "not a little," "much," "a large/small amount of," "a great deal of," "a bit of," and "quite a bit of" are quantitative terms that must be followed by uncountable nouns. also, based on the subject-verb agreement rule, when any of the aforementioned terms is used as the subject with an uncountable noun, the verb following it must be in singular form.
▶️ little, a little + uncountable noun + singular verb
"Little" is primarily used to stress the insignificance of a quantity - to the point of being nearly negligible. for example, when you say "I have little time," it implies that you hardly have any time left. On the other hand, "a little" means a small amount but not to the point of insignificance. Examples include "a little water", "a little bread", "a little money", or "a little help." This signifies that while the quantity may be small, it is not entirely insignificant.
I have little confidence in
winning.
I got very little sleep last
night.
There is a little water in the
bottle.
Can you lend me a little money?
There is a little juice left.
▶️ a bit of + uncountable noun + singular verb
Would you like
a bit of chocolate?
She tries to do a bit of exercise every day.
▶️ much, a great (good) deal of, a large/small amount of + uncountable noun + singular verb
This sweater doesn't cost
much money.
Much research on the side
effects of COVID-19 vaccines was carried out.
We've put a great deal of effort
and money into this project.
There is
a great deal of interest in
investing in green technologies.
The sink had leaked
a small amount of
water.
China imports
a large amount of grains from
overseas.
This project received
a large amount of funding from
the government.
Example: Numerous nations are
facing severe economic crises and massive layoffs due to the
coronavirus pandemic. Currently, _________ advice is urgently needed
from experts.
(A) several
(B) each
(C) much
(D) many
The correct answer is (C) much.
'Much' is used before uncountable nouns, which are singular in nature and represent abstract ideas, materials, and quantities that cannot be counted. In this case, 'advice' is an uncountable noun, so 'much' is the appropriate choice.
(A) 'Several' is used before countable plural nouns.
'Advice' is an uncountable noun, so 'several' cannot be used
here.
(B) 'Each' is used to refer to individual members of a
group. It is usually used when the group is small, and the
individual members are identified separately. But 'advice'
is not a group of people, so 'each' is inappropriate.
(D) 'Many' is used before countable plural nouns, so
it cannot be used with 'advice' which is uncountable.
Quantifiers Followed by Plural Countable and Uncountable Nouns
There are several quantitative words that can be used with both plural
countable nouns and uncountable nouns, such as: all, no, any, some,
most, a lot of, lots of, plenty of, a large/small quantity of, a large
or small percentage of, a portion of, enough, and half of.
When using these terms with plural countable nouns, it's important to
follow with a plural verb. Conversely, if these terms are used with
uncountable nouns, they should be followed by a singular verb.
▶️ any + singular countable noun, plural countable noun, uncountable noun
Any man can do this job.
Any day of this week is fine.
You can try on any shoes from
this rack.
Raise your hand if you have
any questions.
👉 Any is often used in negative sentences.
I don't have any cash on me.
She
doesn't have any carry-on
luggage.
PX Mart doesn't sell
any sporting goods.
👉 Any is often used in interrogative sentences, which are usually about requests.
Is there
any soup left?
Have you got any cookies?
Isn't there any way of solving
this problem?
▶️ all, no, enough + plural countable nouns, uncountable nouns
No waiters
are available to take our order.
No food
is left
on the table.
I have no time to cook a meal.
All the eggs got broken.
All beer
is made
from grains.
I have enough work to do at the
moment.
Are there enough desserts for
everyone?
▶️ any/some/no + other + singular, plural countable nouns, uncountable nouns
Does anyone have
any other ideas?
I'm busy now. Can we talk about it
some other time?
There
is no other work available at the
moment.
▶️ most, most of the + plural countable nouns, uncountable nouns
Most eligible voters went to the
polls.
Most kids like bumper cars.
Most bread we sell
is made
with organic ingredients.
In this school,
most of the children are from
the Chinese community.
|
Difference between “most” and “most of” “Most of the” is used before a noun with a determiner, often referring to a specific subset of a group or category, while “most” is used before a noun without a determiner, referring to a general quantity or majority within a whole group. most of the + plural countable nouns, uncountable nouns
In this school,
most of the children
are from the Chinese community. most + plural countable nouns, uncountable nouns
I am afraid of
most dogs. |
▶️ a lot of, lots of, plenty of + plural countable nouns, uncountable nouns
The event raised a lot of money.
The government awarded
a lot of grants to small
businesses.
The charity received
lots of donations.
A lot of proceeds from the
festival went to local charities.
There
is plenty of beer in the fridge.
We've got plenty of time.
I've been to plenty of live rock
concerts.
▶️ a large/small quantity of + plural countable nouns, uncountable nouns
A small quantity of oil leaked
out of the car.
The tank is leaking
a large quantity of oil.
Police found
a large quantity of drugs in his
possession.
▶️ a large/small percentage of, a percentage of, a large/small portion of, a portion of, half of, the rest of, one-third of + plural countable nouns, uncountable nouns
A very large portion of our
income
goes to pay the mortgage.
Half of the people I invited
didn't show up.
I am free for the rest of the
day.
One-third of the world's
population
consumes
two-thirds of the world's resources.
One-fifth of America's teenagers
are
addicted to video games.
A percentage of advertising spending
was spent on ads on You Tube.
I pay a small percentage of my
salary for taxes.
Digital advertising budgets account for
a large percentage of advertising spending.
|
The difference between “a percentage of” and “the percentage of” A percentage of" is a term that signifies a portion or part of something. When used in a sentence, "the percentage of + noun" is considered singular. However, whether "a percentage of + noun" is singular or plural depends on whether the noun itself is countable or uncountable. the percentage of + plural countable noun, uncountable noun + singular verb
The percentage of extinct
animals continues to
increase.
a percentage of + plural countable noun + plural
verb
A large percentage of animals in Africa
are in danger of
extinction. |
This is the final section of the lesson. I'm ready to start the review exercises!
Review Exercise (1/16)
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((D))".
clear Not quite. ((D)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (D) Each.
In the sentence, 'Each of the machine parts is under one year warranty', 'each' is used as a singular subject pronoun. The subject-verb agreement rule states that a singular subject takes a singular verb. Therefore, 'is' is the correct verb to use with 'each'.
(A) 'Some of the machine parts is under one year warranty' is incorrect because 'Some of the machine parts' is plural and requires a plural verb. The correct sentence should be 'Some of the machine parts are under one year warranty'.
(B) 'Any of the machine parts is under one year warranty' is incorrect. 'Any' can be used with both singular and plural verbs, depending on the meaning. In this context, 'any' is more likely to be understood as referring to any one of the machine parts (plural), so a plural verb should be used. The correct sentence should be 'Any of the machine parts are under one year warranty'.
(C) 'All of the machine parts is under one year warranty' is incorrect because 'all' is a plural pronoun and requires a plural verb. The correct sentence should be 'All of the machine parts are under one year warranty'.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((C))".
clear Not quite. ((C)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (C) All.
In the sentence, "students" is the subject and it is a plural noun. According to the subject-verb agreement rule, a plural subject requires a plural verb. The plural verb in this sentence is “are”. "All" is a plural determiner that can be used with plural nouns, fitting perfectly into the sentence: "All students are required to fill out this form." It implies that the requirement applies to every student without exception.
(A) "Each" is usually used when you want to emphasize individuality and it is followed by a singular noun and a singular verb. If we use "Each" in the sentence, it should be "Each student is required to fill out this form", not "Each students are required to fill out this form". Thus, it is incorrect in this context.
(B) "Every" is also followed by a singular noun and a singular verb. Therefore, if we use "Every" in the sentence, it should be "Every student is required to fill out this form", not "Every students are required to fill out this form". Hence, it is not the correct choice here.
(D) "Much" is used with uncountable (singular) nouns. As "students" is a countable (plural) noun, "Much" does not fit in this sentence. "Much students are required to fill out this form" is grammatically incorrect. Therefore, (D) is not the correct answer.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((B))".
clear Not quite. ((B)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (B) "a number of".
The subject-verb agreement rule states that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. In this case, “the verb is “have” and therefore requires a plural subject. "A number of customers" is a plural subject. Hence, (B) is the correct answer.
(A) "much" is used with singular, non-count nouns, so it does not agree with the plural noun "customers".
(C) "a huge amount of" is typically used with uncountable nouns, not with countable nouns like "customers".
(D) "the number of something" is considered singular, so it is used with singular verbs, “the verb in this sentence is “have”, so this choice does not agree with the subject-verb agreement rule.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((A))".
clear Not quite. ((A)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (A) Every.
"Every" is used to refer to all the members of a group or all the parts of something. In this context, "every two years" signifies that the grand ceremony is held once in a period of two years, regularly. It is a common way to express recurrent events that happen at regular intervals.
(B) "Each" is used when you think of things separately, one by one. Though it can sometimes be used interchangeably with "every", in this context, "each two years" would not make sense as it is not idiomatic English.
(C) "Either" is used to mean one or the other of two people or things. It does not fit in this context because we are talking about a recurring event, not a choice between two options.
(D) "Most" is used to mean in the greatest quantity, amount, measure, degree, or number. "Most two years" is ungrammatical, it does not convey a clear meaning and it certainly does not fit the context of the sentence where a specific time interval is to be indicated.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((A))".
clear Not quite. ((A)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (A) neither.
The subject-verb agreement rule here is that "neither" is always singular, and therefore should be followed by a singular verb, i.e., 'spoils' in this case. Thus, the sentence correctly reads: "Neither one of the family members spoils their kids too much..."
(B) 'Much' is used with singular, non-count nouns. “one of the family members” is a countable noun.
(C) “Both + something” takes a plural verb, so this choice is incorrect based on the subject agreement rule.
(D) "None" is incorrect because it signifies a condition where not even one of the entities (parents) being referred to does something, which contradicts the given sentence that implies that one parent is spoiling the kid.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((B))".
clear Not quite. ((B)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (B) much.
In this case, we are talking about the amount of advice needed, which is an uncountable noun. When referring to uncountable nouns, we use 'much' in negative sentences and questions, or when we want to emphasize the large quantity in affirmative sentences. Here, the sentence makes clear that a large amount of advice is required, thus 'much' is the appropriate choice.
(A) 'Several' would be incorrect because it is used before countable plural nouns, and advice is an uncountable noun.
(C) 'A little' would be incorrect because it suggests that only a small amount of advice is needed, whereas the context of the sentence implies that a large amount is required.
(D) 'Many' would be incorrect because it is used with countable nouns in plural form, and advice is uncountable.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((B))".
clear Not quite. ((B)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (B) many.
In this sentence, we are looking for an adjective that can describe a plural noun (years). "Many" is the correct choice because it can modify a plural countable noun ("years"). This is in accordance with the subject-verb agreement rule, which states that the verb must agree with its subject in terms of number and person. In this case, "many" agrees with "years."
(A) 'All' is incorrect because it doesn't make sense in the context of the sentence. We can't say "all years" as it would imply that every single year in history was spent performing for live audiences.
(C) 'Much' is incorrect because it is used before uncountable nouns, not countable nouns like "years."
(D) 'Every' is incorrect because it is used before singular countable nouns. Using "every years" would violate the subject-verb agreement rule because "every" does not match with the plural noun "years."
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((C))".
clear Not quite. ((C)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (C) All.
"All" is the correct answer because it is used when referring to the total quantity or extent of a particular group or thing. In this specific context, the speaker is referring to all of the applicants who seem to be qualified for the position.
(A) "Every" is incorrect because "every applicants" is grammatically incorrect. “Every" needs to be followed by a singular noun.
(B) "Either" is wrong because it is used when referring to one or the other of two people or things. In this context, there are likely more than two applicants, so "either" is not appropriate.
(D) "Neither" is incorrect because it's used to indicate that two or more things are not true or do not happen, which does not make sense in this context. If "neither" was used in this sentence, it would suggest that none of the applicants were qualified for the position, which is the opposite of what the sentence is actually saying.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((A))".
clear Not quite. ((A)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (A) the rest of.
In this sentence, "the rest of the world" is used to indicate all other countries or regions except China. The phrase "The rest of something" is a common phrase used to refer to all other things, people, or places apart from the one previously mentioned.
(B) "a huge amount of" is incorrect because it is typically used to describe a large quantity of something, not a group of entities such as countries or regions. It would be grammatically incorrect and nonsensical to say "a huge amount of the world".
(C) "little" is incorrect because it is an adjective used to describe a small amount or degree of something. It doesn't fit in this sentence because it does not make sense to say "little the world".
(D) "the percentage of" is incorrect because it refers to a part or portion of a whole, usually expressed in terms of a hundred. It is used to quantify or measure something, and it's not applicable in this sentence because we are not dealing with numbers or measurements but with a geographical or political entity. It would not make sense to say "the percentage of the world remained in lockdown".
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((D))".
clear Not quite. ((D)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (D) large amounts of.
In this sentence, we are talking about the amount of something that can be counted but does not have a specific number associated with it (emissions-free electric power). Therefore, the correct phrase to use is "large amounts of" which is used to indicate that something is present or available in significant quantities.
(A) "A large number of" is not grammatically incorrect but it is typically used when talking about countable nouns. In this case, "emissions-free electric power" is not something you can count, so it is incorrect.
(B) "Quite a few" is incorrect here because it is typically used when talking about countable nouns. In this case, "emissions-free electric power" is not something you can count, so it is incorrect.
(C) "Little" is incorrect because it is used to express a small amount. In this context, we are trying to highlight the large-scale production capacity of nuclear plants, so a term indicating a small amount would contradict the intended meaning.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((C))".
clear Not quite. ((C)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (C) A great deal of.
The phrase "a great deal of" is used before singular nouns to mean "a large amount" or "much". Since "statistical information" is an uncountable noun (as we cannot count 'information'), we use "a great deal of".
(A) Few is incorrect because 'few' is used with countable nouns where we can count the number of items, and it implies not many. For example, we can say 'few people' or 'few books'. But 'statistical information' is uncountable.
(B) “A few” is not correct either for the same reason as (A). The phrase 'a few' also goes with plural countable nouns meaning 'some' or 'a small number of'.
(D) Another is incorrect because 'another' is used to refer to an additional or different person or thing of the same type as already mentioned. But in this context, there is no previously mentioned type of 'statistical information'.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((B))".
clear Not quite. ((B)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (B) other.
In this context, the word 'other' is used to mention more in-person experiences that are not specifically listed but fall under the same category. For example, travel and entertainment are two types of in-person experiences, and when we say 'other in-person experiences,' it could be going to a spa, attending a music festival, etc.
(A) 'Another' is incorrect because we are not referring to just one more in-person experience, but potentially several others.
(C) 'Much' is incorrect as it is a quantifier typically used to quantify uncountable nouns. Here, we're discussing a range or category of experiences, not the quantity of a single uncountable noun.
(D) 'Little' is incorrect because it is a quantifier that describes smallness in size or amount. It has no context here where we're discussing different types of experiences.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((A))".
clear Not quite. ((A)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (A) A high percentage of.
The subject-verb agreement rule states that singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. The subject of the sentence is "A high percentage of employees", which is plural, thus the verb 'are' is used to agree with it.
(B) "The percentage of" is not incorrect, but it changes the meaning of the sentence. "The percentage of" would be used if a specific percentage was given, like "The percentage of female employees who are part-time workers is 30%." In the absence of a specific percentage, (A) is a better choice.
(C) "The number of" is incorrect because it would require the verb to be singular. "The number" here is a collective noun, which is singular and therefore should be followed by a singular verb, it would be "the number of female employees is..."
(D) "Much of" is also incorrect due to subject-verb agreement. "Much" is used with singular uncountable nouns, whereas in this case, we're talking about multiple employees, a countable noun, thus "much of female employees" is grammatically incorrect.
Restart Test
Submit Answer
done That's right! Correct answer is "((C))".
clear Not quite. ((C)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (C) large quantities of.
“A large/small quantity of" can be used with a countable or uncountable noun. In this context, "large quantities of" is used to refer to a substantial amount of a particular item, which in this case is raw sugar. This phrase is often used in business and trade contexts to describe the volume of goods. The use of "large quantities of" indicates that India has been exporting a significant amount of raw sugar.
(A) "a few" is incorrect because it is used with countable nouns. Raw sugar is uncountable, hence this answer option is incorrect.
(B) "several" is also incorrect for the same reason as "a few".
(D) "large numbers of" is incorrect is also incorrect for the same reason as "a few".
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done That's right! Correct answer is "((B))".
clear Not quite. ((B)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (B) most.
In the context of the sentence, the company Mixt had to close stores due to some kind of downturn. The use of the word 'most' reflects that a large number of their stores downtown had to be closed, which goes in line with the previous information that they had to lay off hundreds of workers. It suggests that the company is going through a significant business contraction.
(A) “Little” is incorrect because it is used before uncountable nouns, and 'stores' is a countable noun.
(C) “Another” is incorrect because it is used to refer to an additional or extra thing or person of the same type as already mentioned, which does not make sense in this context.
(D) “Each” is incorrect because “each” needs to be followed by a singular noun.
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done That's right! Correct answer is "((C))".
clear Not quite. ((C)) is the correct answer.
The correct answer is (C) The number of.
In the context of this sentence, The phrase "The number of something" is viewed as a singular noun phrase, thus the verb "was" is also singular, ensuring subject-verb agreement.
(A) "A percentage of" is incorrect because it implies a proportion of a whole, but without specifying what the whole is, it creates a lack of clarity in the sentence. Furthermore, "a percentage of" would require the verb “were” (plural form), as it refers to a part of multiple items (the resumes).
(B) "A number of" is incorrect as it implies multiple or numerous quantities and therefore requires a plural verb such as "were", not "was".
(D) "Numerous" is incorrect because it is an adjective that describes an undetermined great number of items and therefore requires a plural verb such as "were", not "was".
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