Study the information about general and specific references to quantity.
1. We always use of with these quantifiers when we put them in front of a noun or pronoun.
A lot of, a number of, a couple of, a bit of, plenty of
A lot of students take an exam at the end of the year.
![students_2_big.jpg](https://resources.cdn.miyklas.com.ua/4e15ff12-2879-4296-93cc-a233adb7c8e4/students_2_big.jpg)
2. We can use the or my after of, when the reference is specific.
A lot of the people I know don’t eat chocolate.
![images.jpg](https://resources.cdn.miyklas.com.ua/3eaebe44-96aa-4119-b388-28312a087392/images.jpg)
3. Some, any, much, many can be used without of in general references.
Some countries have their own rules.
4. When the reference is specific, use of + the or my. But none is always specific.
None of my friends is here. Don’t use the.
5. We can omit of and use a quantifier on its own.
Did you buy tomatoes?- Yes, I bought a lot/lots/plenty.
6. When you use more or less, you emphasize quantity.
- More + plural nouns after some/any/a couple/hundreds/a lot/lots/many/no/plenty
- More + uncountable nouns after some/any/ a bit/a good deal/a little/lots/plenty
- Less + uncountable nouns after any, a bit, a good deal, a little, a lot, lots, much
I’d like a little less soup.
![images (1).jpg](https://resources.cdn.miyklas.com.ua/8897794e-6f40-4d7e-bbb2-6a8616c16a41/images%20%281%29.jpg)
There are a lot of students studying Spanish this year.