3.1.5

Qualifiers & Quantifiers

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Qualifiers

Qualifiers are words that are usually used before adjectives or adverbs. Adjectives and adverbs are examples of modifiers. Qualifiers either limit, weaken or strengthen the modifier’s meaning.

Examples of qualifiers

Examples of qualifiers

  • The qualifier 'hardly' in the phrase ‘hardly a big monster’ is used as a qualifier to weaken the adjective 'big'.
  • The qualifier 'very' in the phrase ‘a very big monster’ is used to strengthen the adjective 'big'.
Spotting a qualifier

Spotting a qualifier

  • Look at the difference between these three sentences:
    • He is a handsome man.
    • He is a somewhat handsome man.
    • He is a really handsome man.
  • All sentences give you information about the man’s handsomeness.
Spotting a qualifier 2

Spotting a qualifier 2

  • 'He is a somewhat handsome man' weakens the handsomeness of the man.
  • 'He is a really handsome man' strengthens the handsomeness of the man.
    • 'Somewhat' and 'really' are qualifiers in these sentences.
Categories of qualifiers

Categories of qualifiers

  • There are four different categories of qualifiers:
    • Qualifiers of time - usually, always, never, sometimes, etc.
    • Qualifiers of quantity - some, most, all, none, etc.
    • Qualifiers of certainty - I guess, I think, I know, I am certain, etc.
    • Qualifiers of possibility - could, may, likely, possible, probable, etc.

Quantifiers

Quantifiers tell us something about the amount or quantity of something (a noun). Quantifiers can tell you about how many of something we have.

Quantifiers as numbers

Quantifiers as numbers

  • Numbers as quantifiers:
    • I have 3 apples.
    • I have hundreds of apples.
  • The number '3' and 'hundreds' are both quantifiers.
Quantifiers as words

Quantifiers as words

  • Quantifiers can also tell us about how much of something we have:
    • I have most of the apples.
    • I have lots of apples.
    • I have plenty of apples.
    • I have no apples.
  • 'Most', 'lots', 'plenty' and 'no' are all quantifiers.
Jump to other topics
1

Spelling

2

Punctuation

3

Grammar

3.1

Word Classes

3.2

Conjunctions

3.3

Writing Coherently

3.4

Verbs

3.5

Modal Verbs

3.6

Phrasal Verbs

3.7

Subjunctive Verbs

3.8

Sentences

3.9

Tenses

3.10

Adverbials

3.11

Language Techniques

4

Decoding Words

5

Reading & Writing

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