Exam Techniques: How to Answer Quantifiers Question: By Million Abebe (MA in English/in TEFL and B. Ed. Degree in Pedagogy):

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 NOTE

Under this post, exam techniques part one and explanation for worksheet on quantifiers (new edition) are discussed! If you like the worksheet, click the next link:

Worksheet on Quantifiers New Edition 2013/21

You can answer any question about quantifiers by applying elimination techniques (clue + elimination techniques) in simple and perfect methods. That means, identifying clue/reasons and then eliminating unrelated choices!

Look how to do that by applying clue + elimination techniques. To answer any question about quantifiers, especially, indefinite pronouns (such as someone, everybody, nowhere, anywhere, anybody ....), first make sure whether it is negative or positive. Then eliminate all unrelated choices.

 

Explanation 1

Q. I have heard ________ good news about Ethiopian National Football Teams. The Team has been qualified for African Cup of Nation. _________ is expressing their happiness in ________.

A. something/everyone/nowhere 

B. some/everyone/everywhere
C. some/nobody/everywhere 

D. some/everybody/everywhere

 

This question about quantifiers, specifically about indefinite pronouns and it expresses positive ideas. Based on this, choices A&C should be eliminated. Both choices B&D could be answer: (clue: everyone & everybody could be used interchangeably.) Ans. B/D
 

Note: Before "good news" indefinite pronouns are not used nouns.
Rules:

• Somewhere and everywhere are used for positive ideas: somewhere (for particular) and everywhere (for general).
• Nowhere and anywhere are used for negative ideas: nowhere (without negative words) and anywhere (with negative words).

Explanation 2

Q. I haven’t heard ________ about Ethiopian National Football Teams for last four days; please tell me _______ if there is _______ new.

A. anything/nothing/some 

B. nothing /something/some
C. anything/something/something 

D. any/something/some 

 

In this question, the first blank space is negative and also there is negative words (haven’t heard) but the rest two blank spaces are positive (clue: the speaker wants to get information.). Choices A&B should be eliminated (clues: On choice A the second one is "nothing"; this is negative. On choice B, the first one is "nothing"; this can't be used with negative expression haven’t heard.). Choice D should be eliminated (clue: "any" and "some" can't be used in such type of contexts; see rules next!).
Ans. C
Rules

• "Any" is used with noun after it; look the first blank space, there is no noun.
• "Some" is used noun, not with adjectives (look the last blank space in the above question).
• With "adjective + noun", we use some/any (look the previous question, the first blank space).
• With "adjective without noun", we use infinite pronouns (look the above question, the last blank space).

 

Explanation 3

Q. Her father told me that he had never been to _______ more beautiful than Bahir Dar.

A. nowhere     B. somewhere   

C. anywhere   D. everywhere

 
This question is about quantifiers; it is negative with negative word (clue: never). It can be answered in one step by eliminating all the choices except B (clues: choices B&D are used for positive ideas; choice A is negative but 'nowhere' is not used with negative words like never, not, no....).

Ans. B

Note:

• 'some' groups: someone, somebody, somewhere and something
• 'every' groups: everyone, everybody, everywhere and everything

Explanation 4

Q. The money we collected is ______ near enough to cover our expenses. Much more is needed still. (G-12: NE)

A. nowhere       B. somewhere  

C. everywhere  D. anywhere

 

 This question is about quantifier and also negative; (clue: "Much more is needed still." means, the collected money is not enough, (Rules...). By applying the above techniques, "elimination techniques", you can answer in two steps and also 100% sure. Eliminate choices B and C (clue: positive): 50%. Both 'nowhere' and 'anywhere' could be used with negative but choice D should be eliminated (clue: 'any' groups are used with negative words; here we don't have negative words). 100% sure, A is correct!

Ans. A

Explanation 5

Q. I don’t understand why he suspected us. _________ from among us would want his money.  (G-12: NE)

A. No one        B. Anyone   

C. No anyone  D. Not someone  

 

 This question is also about quantifiers and also negative; (clues: the choices and also the clause "why he suspected us."). This means, we don't want to his money. Choices C&D should be eliminated; they are ungrammatical. Choice B should also be eliminated; there is no negative words in the second sentence.

Ans. A

Note-1:

• Two quantifiers are not used together, like choice C: No & anyone.
• Negative words in other sentence or clause do not have impacts: unless they are in the sentence or clause in which the blank space is given.
• Indefinite pronouns/quantifiers such as someone, everybody, nowhere.... are not used with nouns they describe. For example, no one student is in the class. (Wrong!)

Note 2: Careful on "Negative words" Rule!

• For rule that says "No groups are used without negative words!" Negative words should be used within the clause/sentence in which the blank space is found. Look the above question the phrase "don’t" and the blank space are in different sentence.

Explanation 6

Q. Nowadays, ___ you go,  you hear/see ___ is talking about coronavirus. You get _______ free from this. Every talk/issue dominated by coronavirus, including this worksheet.        

A. nowhere/everyone/nowhere   

B. everywhere/everyone/nowhere  
C. everywhere/everyone/no one   

D. somewhere/everyone/nowhere

 

The first blank space is positive and general; you can eliminate choices A and D: 50%... (If you like see clues). Both choices B and C could be answer as the last blank space refers negative (about people and place). But C should be eliminated as the sentences are not about people (clue: it says even "this worksheet."). 100% sure that choices A, C and D can't be answer.
Tips:
If you are 100% that 3 choices can't be answer, you are 100% sure that the left choice is the answer.

A (clue: negative) and D (clue: particular)
It is to say in all the places place all people talk about coronavirus.

Ans. B

Explanation 7

Q. Nowadays, ____you go,  you hear/see ____ is talking about politics. You get _____ who gives concern to politics. ___ talk/issue is dominated by coronavirus, including this worksheet.     

A. everywhere/no one/no one/Each   

B. everywhere/no one/everybody/Every      
C. everywhere/no one/no one/Every   

D. nowhere/everyone/everyone/All

 

You can answer this question in 1 step. Look choices B, C and D will be eliminated and get the answer A 100% sure.

Ans. A

Additional
The second and the third blank spaces refer to negative idea (it says "People don't talk about politics."). Based on choices B and D are eliminated (clue: "everyone"). On choices A and C, both "each" and "every" could be used (in the last blank space). But here "every" is more preferable ( read more about each and every)

 Explanation 8

Q. _____ attempts have been made to get medicine for coronavirus but _____ has yet come up with a single one.

A. No/no one             

B. A lot of/no one 

C. A lot of/anything   

D.  Many/everyone

 

Choice A should be eliminated (clue: the first blank space is positive.). The second blank space is negative (clue: although attempts have been made, there was result.). Based on this, choices C&D should be eliminated. WHY?

Ans. B

Explanation 9

Q. Marijuana is sold _______ in this country. You can even be jailed if you are found with it. (G12: NE)

A. anywhere         B. somewhere 

C. nowhere           D. everywhere

 

You can answer this question in one step by applying the above techniques. It is negative (choices B&D are eliminated): marijuana can't be sold (clue: if you are with marijuana, even you be jailed/ sending to prison.). There is no negative expression. So, eliminate choice A.

Ans. C

 Explanation 10

Q. I feel that ________ loves me from the group, so I have to join an other one. (G12: NE)

A. everyone    B. no one 

C. anyone        D. someone

 

You can answer this question in one step. The question is negative (clue: The speaker decided to join another group because no one loves him/her the first group.). 

Ans. B

 Explanation11

Q. I understand _______ of us is responsible. We were out of town when it happened. (G-12: 2007)

A. all B. both C. either D. neither

 

The question is negative (clue: They were not in the town.). Eliminate all the expressions that are used positive: all choices will be eliminated except D.

Ans. D

 Explanation12

Q. When the king comes to visit, they allow ____ beggar on the streets of the city. They want to appear as if they do not have one. (G-12: 2007)

A. no B. none C. every D. all 

The question is negative (clue: See the second sentence.). Choices C&D should be eliminated (clue: They are used with positive ideas.). Choice B should also be eliminated (clue: see rules next.). 

Ans. A

Rules

• No is adjective; it is used with noun: no + noun (look the blank space is followed by the noun beggar.
• None is pronoun; it is used without noun.

Explanation 13

Q. There are many occasions when seat-belts save life, yet only______ drivers often wear them.

A. many   B. few  C. a lot of    D. a few

 

This question is about quantifiers: about small number; choices A and C will be eliminated (show large numbers). The idea is negative (clue: "yet only" can be taken as clue here.). As a rule with negative, we use 'few'. But with the adverb 'only' we use 'a few/a little'. Based on this, eliminate choice B. 

Ans. D

Explanation 14

Q.  As the course is new, there are ________ books in the library. We are required to wait up to two days to get our turn.

A. a few      B. few     C. little   D. a little

The question is about the use of a few/few/little/a little (clues: choices). You can answer this it in one step, simply by eliminating choices B, C and D (based on 'noun' and 'meaning'). The answer is A.

Ans. A

Based on 'noun': books (CN), choices C&D can't be used here.
Based on 'meaning': positive (Though the number of books are small, they are enough: the writer said they get after two days.): choice B can be eliminated.

Explanation 15

Q. As the course is new, there are ________ books about/on it in the library. No one has enough concept about the course.

A. a few      B. few     C. little   D. a little

 

 Look again, you can also answer this question and also other related ones in similar way.
Based on the meaning, it is negative (clue: "No one has enough..."). Eliminate A. Answer is B.

Ans. B

Take Care

• Negative means: It does not mean that the idea is necessarily described by negative expressions (like not, no...).
• The key point is that "whether or the given thing enabled to do something or not".

The safe way is meaning!

Examples
- We didn't borrow money last week to buy food as we had a little money in bank. (Negative expressions were used but positive. The money they had in bank enabled them to buy food.)
- We borrowed money last week to buy food as we had little money in bank. (Positive sentence but negative message. (The money they had in bank did not enable them to buy food.)
- We didn't but the car last week as we had little money in bank. (Negative sentence with negative message: the money they had in bank did not enable them to buy food.)
Note

• 'Time' is uncounteble nouns but 'hour/minute/day/week/month.. ..' are counteble nouns.
• 'Money' is uncounteble nouns but 'Birr/Dollar... ..' are counteble nouns.

little/a little time, few/a few months
little/a little money, few/a few dollars

Explanation 16

Q. _______ are so fallible as those who are sure they are always right. (G12: NE)

A. Many  B. None  C. Some  D. Several

 

You can answer this question in one step. Look the meaning; it is negative. Clue: 'meaning': people who think that they are always right are fallible (make mistake). Based on this, eliminate choices A, C and D. Answer is B.
Note:

• 'Many' could be used to express negative idea with negative words (such as not...), but here you don't have such words.
• None + singular verb: UK English
• None + plural verb: US English

Explanation 17

Q. I was hoping to find some funny stories on your shelf, but I did not see  _____. 

A. many  B. any  C. a few  D. some

 

The question is negative and also about small numbers (clues: did not see what is expected). Based on this, eliminate choices A and D (clue: they show large numbers.) and also choice C (a few is used for positive). Simply, only by eliminating unrelated choices, you have got the  right answer: 100% sure the answer is B!

Ans. B

 Related Materials

Handouts  on Quantifiers

• A few, few, a little, little ...
• Each, Every, All, Whole, Some and Any related
• A lot of/lots of, much, many, plenty of, numerous, a large number of, etc and related 
  
• Indefinite Quantifiers/Pronouns and related