Quantity describes how much or how many of something there is. In English, we can use numbers, amounts, or expressions such as a few, a lot of, and some.
French expresses quantity in similar ways. The form used depends partly on whether a noun can be counted individually or is treated as an amount.
Countable and uncountable nouns
Countable nouns refer to people or things that can be counted individually.
They can appear with numbers:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| un livre | one book |
| deux livres | two books |
| trois pommes | three apples |
| quatre étudiants | four students |
Uncountable nouns usually refer to substances, materials, or ideas that are treated as an amount rather than as separate items:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| de l'eau | water |
| du riz | rice |
| du sucre | sugar |
| du temps | time |
Some nouns can be countable or uncountable depending on their meaning:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| du café | coffee |
| deux cafés | two coffees |
| du fromage | cheese |
| trois fromages | three cheeses |
The meaning determines whether the noun is treated as an amount or as separate items.
Numbers and exact quantities
Numbers express an exact quantity and appear directly before a countable noun:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| deux livres | two books |
| cinq pommes | five apples |
| dix personnes | ten people |
Other expressions can give an exact amount or measurement.
These are normally followed by de or d' before the noun:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| un kilo de pommes | a kilo of apples |
| deux litres d'eau | two liters of water |
| trois tasses de café | three cups of coffee |
| cent grammes de sucre | one hundred grams of sugar |
The noun after the quantity does not take un, une, des, or a partitive article.
Approximate quantities
French can also describe a quantity without giving an exact number.
Words such as environ, presque, and plus de can modify a number:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| environ dix personnes | about ten people |
| presque vingt minutes | almost twenty minutes |
| plus de cent étudiants | more than one hundred students |
Some nouns formed from numbers also express an approximate quantity:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| une dizaine de personnes | about ten people |
| une douzaine d'œufs | a dozen eggs |
| une vingtaine de livres | about twenty books |
These expressions indicate an estimated amount rather than an exact count.
Expressions of quantity
Many common expressions describe how much or how many without using a specific number.
They are followed by de or d' before the noun:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| beaucoup de livres | many books |
| peu de temps | little time |
| assez d'argent | enough money |
| trop de sucre | too much sugar |
| beaucoup d'amis | many friends |
The same expression can be used with countable or uncountable nouns:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| beaucoup de voitures | many cars |
| beaucoup d'eau | a lot of water |
| peu de personnes | few people |
| peu de patience | little patience |
The noun determines whether the English translation uses many, much, few, or little.
Indefinite quantities and quantifiers
Some words express an indefinite quantity without giving an exact number.
Common quantifiers include:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| quelques | a few, some |
| plusieurs | several |
| chaque | each, every |
| aucun, aucune | no, not any |
| certains, certaines | some, certain |
These words appear directly with the noun:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| quelques livres | a few books |
| plusieurs personnes | several people |
| chaque étudiant | each student |
| aucune question | no questions |
| certaines réponses | some answers |
The form and the number of the noun depend on the quantifier. Quelques and plusieurs are used with plural nouns, while chaque is followed by a singular noun.
For more detail on these forms, see Indefinite adjectives.
From learning to practice
When reading or listening to French, notice how nouns are combined with numbers, measurements, and other expressions of quantity. Pay attention to whether the noun is being counted individually or treated as an amount.
Practice describing familiar objects, food, time, and people with exact and approximate quantities. Notice when French uses de after an expression of quantity and when a quantifier appears directly before the noun.