Terms for uncountable nouns: quantity versus amount

[learning54]

Hi Teachers,

To explain sentence 'a' it is appropriate to use sentence 'b', if I'm not mistaken.
a) There are a lot of books on the shelf.
b) There is a big number of books on the shelf.

Which one is most appropriate to explain sentence 'a', 'b' or 'c'?
a) There is a lot of traffic in the street.
b) There is a big quantity of traffic in the street.
c) There is a big amount of traffic on the street.

The issue is, which term is better for uncountable nouns, 'quantity' or 'amount'?

Thanks in advance

 

[JohnParis]

The following two sentences are fine:

There are a lot of books on the shelf.
There is a lot of traffic in the street.

"A big number of traffic, a big quantity of traffic, and a big amount of traffic" are all quite awkward and incorrect as you have used them in your examples. "A large amount of traffic..." would be preferrable, in my opinion.

 

[learning54]

The following two sentences are fine:

There are a lot of books on the shelf.
There is a lot of traffic in the street.

"A big number of traffic, a big quantity of traffic, and a big amount of traffic" are all quite awkward and incorrect as you have used them in your examples. "A large amount of traffic..." would be preferrable, in my opinion.

Hi John,
Thank you for your reply, and so will be 'a large number of' for 'a lot of' books?

L54

 

[bhaisahab]

Hi John,
Thank you for your reply, and so will be 'a large number of' for 'a lot of' books?

L54

Yes, "large" rather than "big".

 

[learning54]

Yes "large" rather than "big".

Hi,
Thank you vey much for your reply.

Best,
L54

 

[learning54]

Hi,
Are "A large quantity of traffic', and 'a big amount of traffic" interchangeable?

Thanks in advance

 

[Barb_D]

Hi,
Are "A large quantity of traffic', and 'a big amount of traffic" interchangeable?

Thanks in advance

Both are equally unnatural.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hi,
Are "A large quantity of traffic', and 'a big amount of traffic" interchangeable?

Thanks in advance

I find them both unnatural. I would say "a lot of traffic".

 

[5jj]

Are "A large quantity of traffic', and 'a big amount of traffic" interchangeable?

In that they both sound unnatural, yes.

 

[bhaisahab]

Three of us together that time.:-D

 

[5jj]

Fill in the gaps (it's a bit tricky, but you might manage it):

Thr.. .. gr... .. m....s.. w.... ..but.. a.. ....... ......ght

 

[learning54]

Hi,
Thank you for all your replies. Yes 3 at the same time with the same opinion.:shock:
So, how I explain my students the meaning of 'a lot of' in one phrase for plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns?

 

[5jj]

So, how I explain my students the meaning of 'a lot of' in one phrase for plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns?

I think you are making too much of defining the definition. As 'a lot of' can be used with both uncountable and with plural nouns, there is no problem - unless you make one.

 

[learning54]

Fill in the gaps (it's a bit tricky, but you might manage it):

Thr.. .. gr... .. m....s.. w.... ..but.. a.. ....... ......ght

Hi,

Thr.. .. gr... .. m....s.. w.... ..but.. a.. ....... ..wewiw....ght
Three grams mass with weight

Sorry I just don't get it:shock:

 

[learning54]

I think you are making too much of defining the definition. As 'a lot of' can be used with both uncountable and with plural nouns, there is no problem - unless you make one.

Do you really think I'm making a problem? I'm just trying to give my students a phrase to understand the meaning.

 

[bhaisahab]

Fill in the gaps (it's a bit tricky, but you might manage it):

Thr.. .. gr... .. m....s.. w.... ..but.. a.. ....... ......ght

I can see "Three great minds..." but I have to confess that the rest remains a mystery.

 

[bhaisahab]

Do you really think I'm making a problem? I'm just trying to give my students a phrase to understand the meaning.

I'm afraid there is no single phrase to explain it. It depends on context.

 

[5jj]

Three great minds with but a single thought.

 

[5jj]

Do you really think I'm making a problem? I'm just trying to give my students a phrase to understand the meaning.

Frankly, I do. I have no doubt at all that you are trying to help your students, but does this help? At some time, you may have to work with them on the differences between 'number', 'amount', 'quantity', etc, but if you do that when you are just introducing 'a lot of', then I think that you may be muddying the waters.

 

[learning54]

Frankly, I do. I have no doubt at all that you are trying to help your students, but does this help? At some time, you may have to work with them on the differences between 'number', 'amount', 'quantity', etc, but if you do that when you are just introducing 'a lot of', then I think that you may be muddying the waters.

Hi,
I think it helps because they are studying some 'quantifiers'.Eg, 'a lot of, lots of, many, much, some, a few, a little, few and a little'. Should I only divide them in three categories? Large quantifiers, small quantifiers, and zero quantity.