Pariksha SaathiDeterminers Questions with Solutions
Determiners like "much," "many," "few" and "a few" are chosen based on two things: whether the noun is countable or uncountable, and whether the sentence means "almost none" or "a reasonable amount." Here’s the approach, four fully worked examples, and a few to try yourself.
The approach, quickly
- For UNCOUNTABLE nouns (milk, money, time, sugar): use "much" in questions/negatives, "a little" for a small positive amount, and "little" for almost none.
- For COUNTABLE plural nouns (apples, friends, books): use "many" in questions/negatives, "a few" for a small positive amount, and "few" for almost none.
- "A few"/"a little" (WITH "a") have a positive tone — some, and that’s enough. "Few"/"little" (WITHOUT "a") have a negative tone — almost none, implying a problem or lack.
- "Some" is used in positive statements and in offers/requests phrased as questions ("Would you like some tea?"); "any" is used in negatives and ordinary questions ("Do you have any tea?").
Worked examples
1. Choose the correct determiner: There isn’t ___ milk left in the bottle. (A) many (B) much (C) few (D) a few
Solution
- "Milk" is uncountable, and the sentence is negative — uncountable + negative takes "much."
Answer: much
2. Choose the correct determiner: She has ___ friends in this city, so she often feels lonely. (A) few (B) a few (C) much (D) a little
Solution
- "Friends" is countable, and "so she often feels lonely" signals a negative tone (almost none) — that’s "few," not the positive "a few."
Answer: few
3. Choose the correct determiner: Would you like ___ sugar in your tea? (A) many (B) much (C) some (D) any
Solution
- An offer phrased as a question conventionally uses "some," even though it’s a question.
Answer: some
4. Choose the correct determiner: He doesn’t have ___ money to buy a new phone. (A) many (B) much (C) few (D) a few
Solution
- "Money" is uncountable, and the sentence is negative — uncountable + negative takes "much."
Answer: much
Try these yourself
Check whether the noun is countable, and whether the tone is positive or negative, then check against the answer.
1. Choose the correct determiner: There are ___ apples in the basket; we don’t need to buy more. (A) much (B) many (C) little (D) a little
Answer: many
2. Choose the correct determiner: We have ___ time left, so let’s hurry. (A) few (B) a few (C) little (D) a little
Answer: little
3. Choose the correct determiner: I have ___ friends who can help me with this. (A) few (B) a few (C) much (D) little
Answer: a few
Where this comes up
Determiners is tested directly in the English Language section of every exam Pariksha Saathi covers — SSC CGL, SSC MTS, SSC CHSL, IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, SBI PO and SBI Clerk.
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