How much money do you have? How many days are left? Is there enough coffee for both of us? Life is full of amounts, and English has a toolbox of words for them: many, much, few, little, all, every, each, both, either, and neither. Each tool fits a certain kind of noun, and picking the wrong one is one of the most common learner errors.

The key skill is matching. Many goes with things you can count; much goes with things you cannot. Every takes a singular noun even though it talks about a whole group. Both takes a plural noun and a plural verb. If you say, Both room are clean, or, How much people came, listeners notice at once. Learn the matching rules and these words become easy points in every conversation and every test.

First, split the world of nouns in two. Count nouns can be counted one by one and have plurals: room, rooms; apple, apples. Uncount nouns cannot be counted directly and have no plural: water, money, time, advice. Quantifiers care deeply about this split. Many and few go with plural count nouns: many rooms, few chairs. Much and little go with uncount nouns: much time, little water. Questions follow the same split: How many chairs? How much water?

Two style notes will make you sound natural. Much and many are most common in questions and negatives: I do not have much time. Were there many people? In everyday positive sentences, English speakers usually prefer a lot of, which works for both kinds of noun: a lot of time, a lot of people. Also, watch the small word a. Few means almost none, a sad amount: I have few friends here. A few means some, a happy amount: I have a few friends here. The same contrast holds for little and a little: little hope is almost none; a little hope is some.

Next come the whole-group words: all, every, each. All takes a plural noun or an uncount noun: all students, all information. Every and each take a singular noun and a singular verb, even though the meaning covers the whole group: Every student has a desk. Each room is clean. Use each when you see the members one by one, and every when you see the group as one big set. Never say every students or each rooms.

Finally, the words for exactly two things: both, either, neither. Both means the two together, and it takes a plural noun and a plural verb: Both rooms are clean. Either means one or the other of the two: Either day works for me. Neither means not one and not the other, and it is already negative: Neither answer is correct. Either and neither take a singular noun and a singular verb. Because neither is negative by itself, keep the verb positive: Neither room has a window, not Neither room does not have a window.

When you speak, run this quick check: Can I count the noun? Is it one, two, or many? Count and plural: many, few, both, all. Uncount: much, little, all. One from a group: every, each, either, neither, with a singular noun and verb. This one habit fixes most quantifier errors before they leave your mouth.

1. 1. How many chairs do we need for the party?

   Many pairs with a plural count noun, chairs, in a question.

2. 2. I do not have much energy after work today.

   Much pairs with an uncount noun, energy, in a negative.

3. 3. We have a lot of homework this weekend.

   In a positive sentence, a lot of sounds more natural than much.

4. 4. There are a few oranges left in the bowl.

   A few means some, a positive small number, not almost none.

5. 5. He has little patience for long meetings.

   Little without a means almost no patience, a negative feeling.

6. 6. Add a little salt and taste the soup again.

   A little means a small but useful amount of an uncount noun.

7. 7. All the tickets were sold in one hour.

   All takes a plural noun and a plural verb, were.

8. 8. Every seat on the train was taken this morning.

   Every covers the whole group but takes a singular noun and verb.

9. 9. Each student receives a key on the first day.

   Each looks at members one by one, with a singular noun and verb.

10. 10. Both doctors agree that you need more sleep.

    Both means the two together and takes a plural noun and verb.

11. 11. You can take either road; they both reach the beach.

    Either means one or the other of two, with a singular noun.

12. 12. Neither restaurant was open on Monday night.

    Neither is already negative, so the verb, was, stays positive.

13. 13. How much luggage can I bring on this flight?

    Much fits the uncount noun luggage; bags would need many.

14. 14. Few shops in this town open before nine.

    Few without a means almost none, and it can sound disappointed.

15. 15. Did many people come to the meeting yesterday?

    Many is natural in questions with plural count nouns like people.

The first mistake is a number mismatch after both, every, and each. Learners say, Both room are clean, or, Every students has a book. Both needs a plural noun and a plural verb: Both rooms are clean. Every and each need a singular noun and a singular verb: Every student has a book. Each room is clean. Before you speak, check the pair: both goes with two-and-plural, every and each go with whole-group-but-singular.

The second mistake is crossing the count and uncount line. Wrong: much people, many money, how much books. Right: many people, much money, how many books. Remember that people, although it has no s, is a plural count noun, so it takes many. Money, although it feels countable, is uncountable in English, so it takes much or a little. When unsure in a positive sentence, a lot of is a safe choice for both kinds.

The third mistake is doubling the negative with neither, or losing the a in a few and a little. Wrong: Neither room does not have a window. Right: Neither room has a window, because neither already carries the negative. And be careful with the tiny a: I have a few questions means I have some questions, but I have few questions means almost none. Dropping that a can flip your meaning.

• Countable and plural: many, few. Uncountable: much, little.
• In positive sentences, a lot of is the easy, natural choice for both.
• A few and a little mean some; few and little mean almost none.
• Every and each take a singular noun and verb: Every day counts.
• Both takes plural; either and neither take singular: Both rooms, neither room.
• Neither is already negative, so keep the verb positive: Neither phone works.