Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hela]

Hello everyone,

Would you please tell me if the following words are considered adverbs or determiners?

ex: a) We have enough bread. b) We have little bread left.
c) She doesn't eat much. d) She eats a little.
e) We haven't got a lot of / much bread left.
f) He drinks a lot / too much.

Would you say that if the word expressing quantity precedes a noun it is a determiner (= quantifier), and when it precedes or modifies a verb it is an adverb?

Can we say:
g) She eats a lot of / much / a little fish.
h) She eats fish much / a lot / a little.

Here, are they adverbs or determiners?

Thanks

[obelix]

They are determiners, when they refer to a quantity of something.
So if you use them followed by a noun, as in a). b). and e). They are determiners.
In b)., d)., f)., they are adverbs.

g). Is a determiner. it refers to the amount of fish she eats, but in h). they modify the verb and are not used as determiners. They could be replaced by the adverbs, "(in)frequently", often, or seldom.
Incidentally "She eats fish much". Sounds awkward and you will not hear natives using it in this way. On the other hand, you will hear it used in the negative all the time. "She doesn't eat fish much."

[hela]

Hi Obelix,

So I can say "she eats a little fish" OR "she doesn't eat much fish", and they would be determiners.

Now, if I say : "She doesn't eat fish much" would "much" be a determiner or an adverb? Personally I think it's an adverb because it should modify the action of not eating fish and not the noun "fish". Correct?

See you

[obelix]

Yes, hela, you are correct.

[hela]

Thank you, Obelix