Sunday, October 28, 2018

grammar - Confusion about the use of 'quite' in 'quite a bit', 'quite a few', and 'quite a lot'



I have a hard time understanding some definitions and usage of quite in English Grammar Today (via Cambridge Dictionaries Online). The explanation is as follows:



Quite a bit, quite a few, quite a lot


We often use quite with a bit, a few and a lot to refer to large amounts and quantities:


You should ask Mez for some advice. He knows quite a bit about gardening.



(I don't know if he knows a lot or a little about gardening, because of a bit is used here.)



A: We bought quite a lot of new furniture, didn’t we?
B: Yeah, quite a bit.




(Do quite a lot and quite a bit suggest the same meaning? Does quite a bit mean "very little"?)



There were quite a few of us at the meeting.



(What does quite a few mean? Does it mean "very little"?)



We also use quite a bit and quite a lot to mean ‘often’:


Do you come here quite a bit?




(Do quite a bit, quite a lot, and quit a few have the same meaning in this context? If Not, why?)



I used to go sailing quite a lot.



(Can we use quite a bit or quite a few here without changing the meaning of this sentence?)





Quite + a lot /a bit + comparatives



We often use quite a lot and quite a bit with a comparative adjective or adverb to mean ‘much’:




We went to Italy when I was quite a bit younger.



(Can we use quite a lot or quite a few here without changing the meaning of the sentence?)



The new truck is quite a lot heavier than the old model.



(Can we use quite a bit and quite a few here without changing the meaning of sentence?)




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