Expressions of quantity

a. De without the definite article is employed after words of quantity that are used in an adjectival manner. The following are the most common of these expressions : *

assez de, enough 2 moins de, less, fewer

autant de, as much, as many peu de, little, few

beaucoup de, much, many 3 plus de, more

combien de ? how much ? how many ? tant de, so much, so many trop de, too much, too many

Combien de livres avez-vous? How many books have you?

J'ai écrit trop de lettres. / wrote too many letters.

Elle avait assez de beurre. She had enough butter.

1 Quelque chose de + adjective may be included in this list. Observe that this expression, as well as its opposite, rien de + adjective, is followed by the masculine adjective.

Quelque chose de bon ; rien de petit. Something good; nothing small.

2 Compare the adverbs assez, moins, peu, plus, trop :

Je suis plus grand que Jean. / am taller than John.

3 Bien is equivalent to beaucoup but regularly has de + the definite

article :

Bien de l'argent, or, beaucoup d'argent. Much money.

b. En replaces de + pronoun in the above expressions of quantity. It obeys the rule for the position of object pronouns.

Combien en avez-vous?

J'en ai assez.

Elle en a autant que moi.

J'en ai acheté une livre.

How much {many) {of it, of them)

have you ?

I have enough {of it, of them).

She has as much {many), etc., as I.

I bought a pound {of it, of them).