高中學生在國中階段學習了many, much, any, some等表示數量多少的概數，在高中階段又接觸了a great deal of, a large number of, scores of, dozens of, hundreds of thousands of等大量的概數。
這些概數有明確的分工，有的用來修飾可數名詞，有的.可以限定不可數名詞，有的兩者皆可用。另外，還有以容器量化名詞，用介詞結構表示概數，借比喻或引申描述概數等方法。這裡按照英語裡概數的功能分類闡述。
按概數的功能分類
1. 限定可數名詞的概數:
many, a good/great many, many a, (not/quite) a few, few, several, a couple of, dozens of, scores of, a score of, hundreds/thousands/millions…of, a (great/large) number of, numbers of, a group of, a team of, one out of/in ten, a pack of (一群)
Many hands make light work.
眾人拾柴火焰高。
A great many guests were invited to dinner.
大批客人受邀就餐。
Many a ship has been wrecked on the rocks.
不少船隻撞在岩石上失事。
My friend speaks several languages.
我朋友會講好幾種語言。
There are a couple of vacant rooms behind the office.
辦公室後有兩三間空房。
He planned to buy dozens of reference books.
他打算買幾本參考書。
I’d escaped death a score of times by a hair’s breadth.
我多次死裡逃生。
I’ve been there scores of times.
我多次到過那裡。
I have a number of things that I must see to.
我有很多事要處理。
Numbers of people came to the meeting from all over the country.
來自全國的許多人士出席了本次會議。
A group of children were playing tag.
一群孩子正在拔河。
Few words are best.
少言最妙。
Three are too many to keep a secret and too few to be merry.
人多難守密，人少不成歡。
Not a few readers wrote letters of commendation to the magazine.
相當多的讀者給雜誌社寫表揚信。
There are quite a few students absent from class today.
今天有不少學生缺課。
In some parts of Britain, one person in ten, by the age of thirty, has no teeth left.
英國有些地方十分之一的人年方三十，牙齒就脫光了。
A multitude of people assembled in the stadium.
大批觀眾聚集在運動場。
They’re just a pack of liars.
他們不過是一群騙子而已。
2. 限定不可數名詞的概數:
a little, little, much, a bit of, a good/great deal of, a large/great amount of, amounts of
I like the country, but I have little opportunity of seeing it.
我喜愛這個國家，但少有機會觀光。
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
缺乏知識是一件危險的事。
The English do not drink much wine.
英國人飲酒不多。
Let’s have a bit of music.
讓咱們來點音樂。
He has given me a great deal of help.
他已給我不少幫助。
A large amount of damage was done in a very short time.
短期內造成了巨大損失。
He must often memorize large amounts of material.
他一定經常記住了不少素材。