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Some of the other quantifiers
can be
used without of
if the noun after the quantifier is not preceded
by an article, pronoun, or other
determiner:
any of the
answers / any answers
a few of his friends / a few friends
few of his
friends / few friends
a little of the soup / a little soup
little of the soup / little soup
many of her classmates / many
classmates
most of her classmates / most
classmates
some of my books / some books
When the nouns after these
quantifiers do not have an article, pronoun, or
determiner, they are being referred to in a general
way. When the nouns are preceded by an article,
pronoun, or determiner, the reference is
specific:
any answers = any answers
in
general
any of the answers = any of
a specific set or group of answers
many classmates =
"classmates"
is used in a
general way
many of her classmates ="classmates" is used in a specific way: only her classmates are in the group being referred
to
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