Grammar – AS Level: Quantifiers and Intensifiers — WJEC A-Level French

Quantifiers and intensifiers are essential tools in French for expressing quantity and degree with precision. Quantifiers (e.g., 'beaucoup de', 'peu de', 'assez de') modify nouns to indicate how much or how many, while intensifiers (e.g., 'très', 'trop', 'si') modify adjectives or adverbs to strengthen or weaken their meaning. Mastering these structures allows you to add nuance to your writing and speech, moving beyond simple statements to convey exact amounts, sufficiency, or excess.

In the WJEC A-Level French exam, quantifiers and intensifiers frequently appear in translation tasks, essay writing, and oral assessments. They are crucial for achieving high marks in the 'Accuracy and Range of Language' criteria, as they demonstrate your ability to use a variety of expressions naturally. Understanding the grammatical rules—such as the use of 'de' after quantifiers (except 'la plupart de') and the placement of intensifiers—is key to avoiding common errors.

This topic builds on your knowledge of nouns, adjectives, and adverbs, and it connects to broader themes like expressing opinions, describing trends, and making comparisons. By the end of this unit, you should be able to use quantifiers and intensifiers confidently in both formal and informal contexts, enhancing your overall communicative competence in French.

• →Quantifiers modify nouns: 'beaucoup de' (a lot of), 'peu de' (few/little), 'assez de' (enough), 'trop de' (too much/many), 'plusieurs' (several), 'quelques' (some). After most quantifiers, use 'de' (or 'd'' before a vowel) without an article, except 'la plupart de' (most of) which requires the definite article.
• →Intensifiers modify adjectives or adverbs: 'très' (very), 'trop' (too), 'si' (so), 'tellement' (so much), 'vraiment' (really), 'extrêmement' (extremely). They are placed directly before the word they modify, e.g., 'très intéressant'.
• →Distinguish between 'trop de' (too much/many + noun) and 'trop' (too + adjective/adverb). For example: 'Il y a trop de bruit' (too much noise) vs. 'C'est trop bruyant' (It's too noisy).
• →Use 'assez de' for sufficient quantity with nouns ('assez de temps') and 'assez' for sufficient degree with adjectives ('assez grand').
• →Some quantifiers can also function as pronouns: 'beaucoup' (many), 'plusieurs' (several), 'quelques-uns' (some). For example: 'J'en ai beaucoup' (I have a lot of them).

• Award credit for correct agreement of quantifier with the noun (e.g., beaucoup de livres, not beaucoup des livres)
• Look for appropriate selection of intensifier to convey the intended degree (e.g., très bon vs. trop bon)
• In written tasks, ensure intensifiers are placed before the adjective or adverb they modify
• Check for accurate use of negative quantifiers (ne… pas de, ne… aucun) when required
• Credit the use of more sophisticated quantifiers like la plupart de or plusieurs over simpler alternatives

• 💡After expressions of quantity, always use 'de' without an article, unless the noun is specific (e.g., beaucoup de pain, but beaucoup des pains que j'ai achetés).
• 💡Memorise common intensifier restrictions: with verbs, use 'beaucoup' and not 'très', and with adverbs, the intensifier precedes (e.g., très bien).
• 💡In translation, carefully consider the degree implied by an English intensifier and select the most natural French equivalent.
• 💡Practise distinguishing between 'peu' (little, not much) and 'un peu de' (a little) to avoid conveying unintended meaning.
• 💡For speaking exams, integrate a variety of quantifiers and intensifiers to demonstrate range and precision of language.
• 💡In translation tasks, pay close attention to whether the English quantifier requires 'de' or an article. For example, 'a lot of people' = 'beaucoup de gens' (no article), but 'most people' = 'la plupart des gens' (with article).
• 💡To impress examiners, vary your use of intensifiers. Instead of always using 'très', try 'extrêmement', 'vraiment', or 'particulièrement' for stronger emphasis. This shows a wider lexical range.
• 💡When writing essays, use quantifiers to add precision to your arguments. For instance, instead of saying 'Les jeunes aiment la technologie', say 'Beaucoup de jeunes aiment la technologie' or 'La plupart des jeunes aiment la technologie'.

• Using 'beaucoup des' instead of 'beaucoup de' (e.g., J'ai beaucoup des amis incorrect)
• Confusing 'très' with 'beaucoup' when modifying verbs (e.g., Je très aime instead of J'aime beaucoup)
• Misplacing intensifiers after the adjective (e.g., une personne gentille très rather than une personne très gentille)
• Incorrect agreement of quantifiers like 'tout' (e.g., tout la classe instead of toute la classe)
• Overusing 'très' where a more precise intensifier like 'vraiment' or 'extrêmement' would be appropriate
• Students often forget to drop the article after quantifiers like 'beaucoup de'. Incorrect: 'beaucoup des livres' (many of the books) – correct: 'beaucoup de livres' (many books). However, 'la plupart de' always takes the definite article: 'la plupart des livres'.
• Confusing 'trop de' and 'trop' is common. Remember: 'trop de' is followed by a noun (e.g., 'trop de sucre'), while 'trop' is followed by an adjective or adverb (e.g., 'trop sucré').
• Misplacing intensifiers: they must come directly before the adjective or adverb, not after. For example, 'C'est très intéressant' not 'C'est intéressant très'.