Quantities & Linking Words
Words for amounts, comparison, and connecting ideas
Overview
25 essential function words — determiners, quantifiers, and linking words you’ll use in nearly every English sentence.
Words
a /ə/
article — A1
Meaning: used before a noun to mean one; any
Examples:
- I’d like a cup of coffee, please.
- She’s a teacher at the local school.
Collocations: a lot of, a few, a little, a bit
an /ən/
article — A1
Meaning: used instead of “a” before a vowel sound
Examples:
- She ate an apple for lunch.
- He’s an engineer.
Collocations: an hour, an idea, an example, an old man
the /ðə/
article — A1
Meaning: used to refer to a particular person or thing already known
Examples:
- The sun is shining today.
- Can you close the door, please?
Collocations: the best, the same, the most, the first
and /ænd/
conjunction — A1
Meaning: used to connect words, phrases, or clauses
Examples:
- I bought bread and butter.
- She sat down and started reading.
Collocations: and so on, and then, more and more
but /bʌt/
conjunction — A1
Meaning: used to introduce something that contrasts with what was said before
Examples:
- I’m tired but happy.
- He tried but failed.
Collocations: but also, but then, but still
or /ɔːr/
conjunction — A1
Meaning: used to connect alternatives
Examples:
- Would you like tea or coffee?
- Hurry up, or we’ll be late.
Collocations: or else, or so, or not, whether … or
so /səʊ/
adverb, conjunction — A1
Meaning: (adv.) very; to such a degree; (conj.) therefore
Examples:
- I’m so tired today.
- It was raining, so we stayed home.
Collocations: so that, so far, so much, or so, and so on
if /ɪf/
conjunction — A1
Meaning: used to talk about a condition or possibility
Examples:
- If it rains, we’ll stay inside.
- I’ll help you if you need me.
Collocations: if possible, even if, as if, what if
than /ðæn/
preposition, conjunction — A1
Meaning: used to compare two things
Examples:
- She is taller than her sister.
- This test is harder than the last one.
Collocations: more than, better than, rather than, other than
very /ˈveri/
adverb — A1
Meaning: to a great degree; extremely
Examples:
- The movie was very good.
- She speaks very quickly.
Collocations: very much, very well, very few, very important
really /ˈriːəli/
adverb — A1
Meaning: truly; in fact; very
Examples:
- I really enjoyed the concert.
- Do you really think so?
Collocations: really good, really important, not really
many /ˈmeni/
determiner, pronoun — A1
Meaning: a large number of
Examples:
- How many students are in your class?
- I don’t have many friends here.
Collocations: how many, many times, as many as, too many
much /mʌtʃ/
determiner, pronoun, adverb — A1
Meaning: a large amount of
Examples:
- How much does it cost?
- I don’t have much time.
Collocations: how much, too much, very much, so much, as much as
some /sʌm/
determiner, pronoun — A1
Meaning: a certain amount or number of
Examples:
- Can I have some water?
- Some people prefer tea to coffee.
Collocations: some of, some time, some day
any /ˈeni/
determiner, pronoun — A1
Meaning: used in questions and negatives to mean “some”
Examples:
- Do you have any questions?
- There isn’t any milk left.
Collocations: any more, any time, any other, in any case
another /əˈnʌðər/
determiner, pronoun — A1
Meaning: one more; a different one
Examples:
- Would you like another cup of tea?
- Let’s try another way.
Collocations: one another, another time, another thing
other /ˈʌðər/
adjective, pronoun — A1
Meaning: different from the one already mentioned
Examples:
- I’ll check the other shops.
- Some days are better than others.
Collocations: the other day, each other, other than, on the other hand
more /mɔːr/
determiner, pronoun, adverb — A1
Meaning: a larger amount or degree
Examples:
- I need more time.
- She’s more intelligent than she seems.
Collocations: more and more, more or less, more than, once more
most /məʊst/
determiner, pronoun, adverb — A1
Meaning: the largest amount or degree
Examples:
- Most people enjoy music.
- This is the most beautiful city I’ve seen.
Collocations: most of, most importantly, the most
less /les/
determiner, pronoun, adverb — A1
Meaning: a smaller amount of
Examples:
- I have less free time than before.
- The second book was less interesting.
Collocations: more or less, less and less, less than
no /nəʊ/
determiner, adverb — A1
Meaning: not any; used to refuse or disagree
Examples:
- There’s no milk in the fridge.
- No, thank you.
Collocations: no one, no way, no longer, no more, say no
not /nɒt/
adverb — A1
Meaning: used to make a word or statement negative
Examples:
- I’m not feeling well.
- This is not the right answer.
Collocations: not only, not yet, not at all, why not
nothing /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
pronoun — A1
Meaning: not anything; no single thing
Examples:
- There’s nothing in the box.
- I have nothing to wear.
Collocations: nothing else, nothing wrong, for nothing
something /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
pronoun — A1
Meaning: a thing that is not known or not named
Examples:
- I want to tell you something.
- There’s something wrong with the car.
Collocations: something else, something like, something wrong
everything /ˈevriθɪŋ/
pronoun — A1
Meaning: all things; every single thing
Examples:
- Is everything OK?
- She knows everything about this topic.
Collocations: everything else, everything is fine
Quick Review
| Word | Type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| a | article | one; any |
| an | article | one (before vowel) |
| the | article | known/specific |
| and | conj. | connects items |
| but | conj. | contrast |
| or | conj. | alternatives |
| so | adv./conj. | very; therefore |
| if | conj. | condition |
| than | prep./conj. | comparison |
| very | adv. | extremely |
| really | adv. | truly; very |
| many | det./pron. | large number |
| much | det./adv. | large amount |
| some | det./pron. | certain amount |
| any | det./pron. | in questions/negatives |
| another | det./pron. | one more |
| other | adj./pron. | different |
| more | det./adv. | larger amount |
| most | det./adv. | largest amount |
| less | det./adv. | smaller amount |
| no | det./adv. | not any |
| not | adv. | negation |
| nothing | pron. | not anything |
| something | pron. | unknown thing |
| everything | pron. | all things |