Amount of, Number of, Quantity of

Amount of, Number of, Quantity of

Hello English learners! In today’s lesson, we’ll look at three common phrases — amount of, number of, quantity of.

They all refer to how much or how many of something there is, but we use them in slightly different situations. Let’s see how!

Amount of

We use amount of with uncountable (and therefore unmeasurable) nouns.

Remember: it always goes with a singular noun — never plural.

So, don’t say an amount of trees or an amount of buildings.

We use amount of when talking about things like time, money, work, water, information, and other uncountable nouns.

• The Taylors spent a large amount of money on their holiday.
• A huge amount of salt was left in the soil of an Indian village after the flood.
• Paul and Mary spent a considerable amount of time studying for the exam.
• I must admit, there was a certain amount of doubt that she would show up.

Number of

We use number of with countable nouns — things we can count or measure individually.

It can be used with both singular and plural nouns, but the grammar depends on the article before it.

• There was a number of things on my to-do list.
• The number of people who drive electric cars is increasing.
• A huge number of soldiers, as well as civilians, died in the First World War.
• Peter tried to call Anna a number of times, but no one answered.
• They are going to limit the number of students this year.

Grammar note:

When you use a number of, the verb is plural:

 ➜ A number of people were queuing outside the theatre.

When you use the number of, the verb is singular:

 ➜ The number of people at the party was decreasing as the night went on.

Quantity of

The phrase quantity of is more formal than amount of or number of.

We use it to describe the amount of inanimate (non-living) objects that can be counted or measured.

It can appear as quantity of (singular) or quantities of (plural).

• For this cake, you need to use the same quantities of flour and sugar.
• Tom gained weight because he ate large quantities of nuts.
• When taken in large quantities, alcohol can damage the liver.
• They produce sufficient quantities of food in that country.
• My smartphone can store vast quantities of data.

Tip:

Say large quantity, not big quantity.

The students read a large quantity of text. ❌ big quantity

Idiomatic expressions

Here are some useful expressions using these words:

Any number (of)

Meaning: A large number of things or people.

• There were any number of items on the shop shelves.

In quantity

Meaning: In large amounts.

• We’re offering a good discount if you buy in quantity.

No amount (of)

Meaning: Used to say that something cannot change a situation.

• No amount of money can buy my peace of mind.

Quick summary

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