Using OF in expressions of quantity

Using OF in expressions of quantity

Some expression of quantity ( such as a lot of ) always contain of

Example :

A lot of books are paperbacks

A lot of my books are paperbacks

A lot books are paperbacks ( incorrect )

Sometime of is used with an expression of quantity , and sometimes of is not used with the same expression of quantity.

Example :

many of my books are paperbacks

many my books are paperbacks ( incorrect )

Many books are paperbacks

Many of books are paperbacks ( incorrect )

Group One : Expressions of quantity that always contain OF

A lot of a number of a majority of

Lots of a great deal of plenty of

Group Two :Expression of quantity that sometimes contain of and sometimes not

All ( of ) many ( of ) one ( of ) both ( of ) some (of )

Most ( of ) much ( of ) two ( of ) several ( of ) any ( of )

Almost all ( of ) a few ( of ) three ( of )

A little ( of ) etc

1. many of my books are in english

2. Many of those books are in english

3. Many of the books on that shelf are in english

Of is used with the expressions of quantity in group two when the noun is specific when it is preceded by :

1. my , john’s ( or any possesive ), as in 1

2. this , that, these , or those as in 2

3. the , as in 3

Of is not used with the expressions of quantity in group two if the noun it modifies is nonspecific.

Example :

4. many books are in english

In (4) the noun books is nonspesific; ie , the speaker is not referring to “ your books” or “ these books on that desk.” the speaker is not referring to specific books , but to books in general.

Exercise : using OF in expressions of quantity

Directions : add of if necessary. Write - if of is not necessary

1. I know several ……………… jack’s friends

2. I’ve made several ……… friends lately

3. Some………students are lazy. Most …………students are hard-working

4. Seome …………..the students in Mrs.Gray’s class are a little lazy

5. Most ……. books have an index

6. Most ………… Ali’s books are written in Arabic

7. I bought a few ……… books yesterday

8. I’ve read a few …………. those books

9. I’m new here. I don’t know many …………… people yet.

10. I’ve just moved into a new apartment. I don’t know many …………….my neighbors yet

11. Have you taken any ………….. trips lately

12. Sam hasn’t met any …………. the students in the other class

13. I usually get a lot ………… mail

14. A lot ………….the mail I get is junk mail

15. Our class has 30 students. Mr Freeman’s class has 25 students. Ms North’s class has 20 students. Of the three classes , our class has the most ………….. students*

16. Most …………… the students in our class are very smart*

17. Out of all the students,  Ali usually asks the most…………………………………questions during class. Most ……..his questions are about grammar.

18. Most ………. people need six to eight hours of sleep every night.

19. Most ……… the people in this class alaways hand in their assignments on time.

20. China has the most ………… people of any country in the world.