ADVERBS EXPRESSING A PART OF THE WHOLE.

101. After adverbs used to indicate a quantity or portion of some
indefinite whole, as well as after nouns of such meaning (99), the
substantive expressing the indefinite whole is preceded by the
preposition "da":

Multe da bruo, much (a quantity of) noise.
Tiel malmulte da tempo, so little (such a small quantity of) time.
Kelke da pomoj, some (an indefinite number of) apples.

102. Verbs may be modified by an adverb and prepositional phrase
containing "da":

Li trinkis malmulte da akvo, he drank little (not much) water.
Estas multe da sablo en la dezerto, there is much sand in the desert.
Ju pli negxas, des pli multe da negxo kusxas sur la vojoj,
the more it snows, the more snow lies on the roads.

[Footnote: A prepositional phrase containing "da", whether following a
noun or an adverb, is sometimes called a "partitive" construction.]

103. It is evident from the above examples that an adverb followed
by "da" has a somewhat collective sense, indicating a general sum,
mass, or portion of the whole, without distinction of particulars.
An "adjective" of quantitative meaning, on the other hand, usually
indicates consideration of the individuals composing the sum or mass
named: