NOUNS
Used to refer to one countable object
thing
They give a vague idea of a number
about / around
It is a quantifier used with plural countable nouns
Few / a Few
Few is a quantifier used with plural countable nouns
a few means some
NOTE: the same rule applies to LITTLE.
It indicates a maximum amount
up to
Management predicts up to 50% growth for the coming year.
It’s … three o’clock now.
a: approximately b: sort of c: about
about
Used to refer to many countable objects
things
You can use the word ......to give an idea of a number (but not to indicate age or time). This is informal English
odd
Did you know there are loads of people outside? Must be 200-odd out there
it is often used as in the neighborhood of two
a couple of (informal)
a small number of (formal)
It is used to represent a big amount of countable (nouns)
a large amount of
There are a large number of students interested in taking his course.
There are … people on the bus.
a: fifty-odd b: kind of fifty c: the odd fifty
fifty-odd
Used to refer to a lot of uncountable objects
stuff
It means 'almost', and we often use it to indicate if something is finished.
more or less
used with countable nouns (have the same meaning: they both mean a large amount or number of people or things.)
A lot of / lots of
It is used to give a vague indication of the time:
ish
Do you know what's the time?
four ish
I usually eat lunch at ... .
a: one around b: one-odd c: oneish
oneish
We can use this word to refer to someone's name
Thingummy
e.g. Have you seen, ermmmm, thingummy, you know the guy with glasses?
These phrases, ..........can save you from giving a long list of things
AND SO ON / AND ALL THAT
This means a large amount of and it can be used with either countable or uncountable nouns
plenty of
We can use these phrases before a NOUN or ADJECTIVE
kind of / sort of
She has … hair.
a: about reddish b: red-odd c: sort of reddish
sort of reddish
These can be used to represent a noun when you don't know the real word or you don't remember the name
a whatsit / a whatsitcalled
It can be used in the same way than ODD but ...... is slightly more formal.
or so
There are thirty or so leaflets there. Do you think you could fold them for me?
a load of / loads of
We can use ..... after a number, color or adjective to mean "approximately"
ish
A word used when the actual name of the object in question will not come to mind.
Whatchamacallit