The main development at the C1 level is seen in the use of either and neither. Learners are able to use either and neither with singular nouns at the C1 level.

C1 50x33   Second, we would draw your attention to the fact that neither party could foresee or predict the recent rise in the price of wheat. (Cambridge English: Legal; Russian)

C1 50x33   In the Czech Republic, somewhere between those two extremes, either way is possible. (Cambridge English: Advanced; Czech)

C1 50x33   This way, the toilet can be accessed easily from either floor. (Cambridge English: Advanced; Chinese)

They can also use either and neither + of with plural noun phrases or pronouns.

C1 50x33   Either of the measures is recommended and those measures are bound to enhance the company’s competitive power. (Cambridge English: Business Higher; Chinese)

C1 50x33   Of course if you are not at all interested in sports, neither of these games will be of any interest to you. (Cambridge English: Advanced; Swedish)

C1 50x33   However, you forgot to add that neither of us could foresee the rise in the price of wheat. (Cambridge English: Legal; Polish)

Learners at this level can also use determiners in hyperbole (millions of, loads of, tons of) often in informal contexts.

C1 50x33   My kitchen is absolutely cramped. I love cooking and despite the fact that I have no space, I managed to fit in a table as well as millions of cookbooks and all the necessary kitchen tools. (Cambridge English: Advanced; German)

C1 50x33   I’m going to make loads of cookies this year and will give them in nice little boxes to my family and friends. (Cambridge English: Advanced; German)

C1 50x33   I received tons of plastic ducks every time I had my birthday or some kind of celebration. (Cambridge English: Advanced; Greek)

Once the C2 level is achieved, learners are able to accurately use many a or many an + singular noun for emphasis and focus.

C2 50x33   We have come a long way and climbed many a mountain but are we really better off than our ancestors? (Cambridge English: Proficient; Polish)

C2 50x33   Her father’s pharmacy was broken into very often, the local drug addicts were relentless and Mary was threatened many a time on her way home from work. (Cambridge English: Proficient; Greek)

C2 50x33   It has raised many an issue which I would like to comment upon here. (Cambridge English: Proficient; Russian)

So, by the time the C2 level is achieved, learners are able to demonstrate an awareness of context in their use of determiners of quantity and show focus. Although the expansion made to the range of determiners of quantity is much lower at these levels than it is at B1, the progress made by learners remains significant as they move through the highest of CEFR levels.

Cambridge logo