The use of 'not' before quantifiers

Not (Not *no") can be used directly in front of e g all another (one) enough every a few half the least a little many more much one the only one as follows [compare > 5.13,13.13]

- to begin statements Not much is happening in our office at the moment

- to emphasize the opposite in front of e g a few and a little She s had not a few proposals of marriage in her time (= a lot)

- in short negative answers How much did they offer you? - Not enough'

- (in a few cases) to express surprise / bought a new hat - Not another one'

Particular quantifiers and their uses

5.9 Numbers [> App 47]
Exact indications of quantity can be conveyed by means of numbers

5.9.1 Cardinal numbers [compare > 2.37.1, 3.11 ]
Cardinal numbers can be used as quantifiers (two apples) or
pronouns (/ bought two) The number one will combine with any noun
used as a singular countable noun
We ve got one micro and two electric typewriters in our office

All other numbers combine with plural countable nouns

Two cabbages three pounds of tomatoes and twelve oranges Note also ordinals followed by cardinals {the first three the second two etc) and the next last two etc The first three runners won medals

Counting

A number of adverbial expressions can be used to describe quantities and groups e g one at a time one by one two by two by the dozen by the hundred in tens in five hundreds How would you like your money? - In fives please

5.9.3 Fractions i> App 47.3.2]
We can say eg (a one half) (a/one guarter or one fourth
AmE) and (a one third) Otherwise we make use of cardinal and

5 Quantity

ordinal numbers when referring to a fraction on its own 9/16 (nine six teenths) or to a whole number + fraction 2 2/3' (two and two thirds)

2 1/4 (Two and a quarter) plus 3 1/2 (three and a half) equals

5 3/4 (five and three quarters) We use a (Not *one*) with fractions for weights and measures [> 3.11]

/ bought half a pound of tea and a quarter of a pound of coffee This could also be expressed as a half pound of tea a quarter pound of coffee

5.9.4 Decimals [> App 47 3 3]
Fractions expressed as decimals are referred to as follows 0,5
(nought point five or point five), 2,05 (two point nought five or two
point oh five), 2,5 (two point five)

The front tyre pressure should be 1,8 (one point eight) and the rear pressure 1,9 (one point nine)

Multiplying and dividing quantity

The following can be used to refer to quantity double (the quantity or amount), twice as much (or twice the quantity or amount), half as much (or half the quantity or amount), etc

We need double/twice/three times the quantity/amount