diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0e1b440..e2fa897 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@ check: build
 fmt: $(SOURCES)
 	@gofmt -w -s $(SOURCES)
 
-precommit: build check fmt
+precommit: fmt build check
diff --git a/boot.go b/boot.go
index e68bc6b..9fd41df 100644
--- a/boot.go
+++ b/boot.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"os"
 	"strconv"
+	"strings"
 )
 
 var errInvalidDefinition = errors.New("invalid syntax definition")
@@ -32,11 +33,6 @@ func checkBootDefinitionLength(d []string) error {
 			return errInvalidDefinition
 		}
 
-	case "quantifier":
-		if len(d) != 6 {
-			return errInvalidDefinition
-		}
-
 	case "sequence", "choice":
 		if len(d) < 4 {
 			return errInvalidDefinition
@@ -121,28 +117,42 @@ func defineBootCharSequence(s *Syntax, d []string) error {
 	return s.CharSequence(d[1], ct, chars)
 }
 
-func defineBootQuantifier(s *Syntax, d []string) error {
-	ct := stringToCommitType(d[2])
+func namesToSequenceItemsQuantify(n []string, quantify bool) []SequenceItem {
+	si := make([]SequenceItem, len(n))
+	for i, ni := range n {
+		var min, max int
+		if quantify {
+			nis := strings.Split(ni, ":")
+			if len(nis) == 3 {
+				ni = nis[0]
 
-	var (
-		min, max int
-		err      error
-	)
+				var err error
 
-	if min, err = strconv.Atoi(d[4]); err != nil {
-		return err
+				min, err = strconv.Atoi(nis[1])
+				if err != nil {
+					panic(err)
+				}
+
+				max, err = strconv.Atoi(nis[2])
+				if err != nil {
+					panic(err)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		si[i] = SequenceItem{Name: ni, Min: min, Max: max}
 	}
 
-	if max, err = strconv.Atoi(d[5]); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	return si
+}
 
-	return s.Quantifier(d[1], ct, d[3], min, max)
+func namesToSequenceItems(n []string) []SequenceItem {
+	return namesToSequenceItemsQuantify(n, false)
 }
 
 func defineBootSequence(s *Syntax, d []string) error {
 	ct := stringToCommitType(d[2])
-	return s.Sequence(d[1], ct, d[3:]...)
+	return s.Sequence(d[1], ct, namesToSequenceItemsQuantify(d[3:], true)...)
 }
 
 func defineBootChoice(s *Syntax, d []string) error {
@@ -158,8 +168,6 @@ func defineBoot(s *Syntax, d []string) error {
 		return defineBootClass(s, d)
 	case "chars":
 		return defineBootCharSequence(s, d)
-	case "quantifier":
-		return defineBootQuantifier(s, d)
 	case "sequence":
 		return defineBootSequence(s, d)
 	case "choice":
diff --git a/boot_test.go b/boot_test.go
index 0e85f68..2922811 100644
--- a/boot_test.go
+++ b/boot_test.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 
 func TestBoot(t *testing.T) {
 	var trace Trace
-	// trace = NewTrace(2)
 
 	b, err := initBoot(trace, bootDefinitions)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -29,9 +28,11 @@ func TestBoot(t *testing.T) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	// trace = NewTrace(1)
 	s0 := NewSyntax(trace)
 	if err := define(s0, n0); err != nil {
 		t.Error(err)
+		return
 	}
 
 	_, err = f.Seek(0, 0)
@@ -40,6 +41,12 @@ func TestBoot(t *testing.T) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	err = s0.Init()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+		return
+	}
+
 	n1, err := s0.Parse(f)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Error(err)
diff --git a/bootsyntax.go b/bootsyntax.go
index 2bcf746..76e41ba 100644
--- a/bootsyntax.go
+++ b/bootsyntax.go
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ var bootDefinitions = [][]string{{
 }, {
 	"choice", "block-comment-char", "alias", "not-block-close", "not-star",
 }, {
-	"quantifier", "block-comment-body", "alias", "block-comment-char", "0", "-1",
+	"sequence", "block-comment-body", "alias", "block-comment-char:0:-1",
 }, {
 	"sequence",
 	"block-comment",
@@ -53,15 +53,15 @@ var bootDefinitions = [][]string{{
 	"block-comment-body",
 	"close-block-comment",
 }, {
-	"quantifier", "not-nls", "alias", "not-nl", "0", "-1",
+	"sequence", "not-nls", "alias", "not-nl:0:-1",
 }, {
 	"sequence", "line-comment", "alias", "double-slash", "not-nls",
 }, {
 	"choice", "comment-segment", "alias", "block-comment", "line-comment",
 }, {
-	"quantifier", "wss", "alias", "ws", "0", "-1",
+	"sequence", "wss", "alias", "ws:0:-1",
 }, {
-	"quantifier", "optional-nl", "alias", "nl", "0", "1",
+	"sequence", "optional-nl", "alias", "nl:0:1",
 }, {
 	"choice",
 	"ws-no-nl",
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ var bootDefinitions = [][]string{{
 	"ws-no-nl",
 	"comment-segment",
 }, {
-	"quantifier", "continue-comment", "alias", "continue-comment-segment", "0", "-1",
+	"sequence", "continue-comment", "alias", "continue-comment-segment:0:-1",
 }, {
 	"sequence",
 	"comment",
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ var bootDefinitions = [][]string{{
 }, {
 	"choice", "wsc", "alias", "ws", "comment",
 }, {
-	"quantifier", "wscs", "alias", "wsc", "0", "-1",
+	"sequence", "wscs", "alias", "wsc:0:-1",
 }, {
 	"anything", "anything", "alias",
 }, {
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ var bootDefinitions = [][]string{{
 }, {
 	"chars", "dash", "alias", "-",
 }, {
-	"quantifier", "optional-class-not", "alias", "class-not", "0", "1",
+	"sequence", "optional-class-not", "alias", "class-not:0:1",
 }, {
 	"class", "not-class-control", "alias", "^\\\\\\[\\]\\^\\-",
 }, {
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ var bootDefinitions = [][]string{{
 }, {
 	"choice", "char-or-range", "alias", "class-char", "char-range",
 }, {
-	"quantifier", "chars-or-ranges", "alias", "char-or-range", "0", "-1",
+	"sequence", "chars-or-ranges", "alias", "char-or-range:0:-1",
 }, {
 	"sequence", "char-class", "none", "open-square", "optional-class-not", "chars-or-ranges", "close-square",
 }, {
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ var bootDefinitions = [][]string{{
 }, {
 	"choice", "sequence-char", "none", "not-char-sequence-control", "escaped-char",
 }, {
-	"quantifier", "char-sequence-chars", "alias", "sequence-char", "0", "-1",
+	"sequence", "char-sequence-chars", "alias", "sequence-char:0:-1",
 }, {
 	"sequence", "char-sequence", "none", "double-quote", "char-sequence-chars", "double-quote",
 }, {
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ var bootDefinitions = [][]string{{
 }, {
 	"class", "symbol-char", "alias", "^\\\\ \\n\\t\\b\\f\\r\\v\\b/.\\[\\]\\\"{}\\^+*?|():=;",
 }, {
-	"quantifier", "symbol-chars", "alias", "symbol-char", "1", "-1",
+	"sequence", "symbol-chars", "alias", "symbol-char:1:-1",
 }, {
 	"sequence", "symbol", "none", "symbol-chars",
 }, {
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ var bootDefinitions = [][]string{{
 }, {
 	"class", "digit", "alias", "0-9",
 }, {
-	"quantifier", "number", "alias", "digit", "1", "-1",
+	"sequence", "number", "alias", "digit:1:-1",
 }, {
 	"sequence", "count", "none", "number",
 }, {
@@ -194,23 +194,23 @@ var bootDefinitions = [][]string{{
 }, {
 	"choice", "quantifiable", "alias", "terminal", "symbol", "group",
 }, {
-	"sequence", "quantifier", "none", "quantifiable", "wscs", "quantity",
+	"choice", "item-choice", "alias", "terminal", "symbol", "group",
 }, {
-	"choice", "item", "alias", "terminal", "symbol", "group", "quantifier",
+	"sequence", "item", "none", "item-choice", "quantity:0:1",
 }, {
 	"sequence", "item-continue", "alias", "wscs", "item",
 }, {
-	"quantifier", "items-continue", "alias", "item-continue", "0", "-1",
+	"sequence", "items-continue", "alias", "item-continue:0:-1",
 }, {
 	"sequence", "sequence", "none", "item", "items-continue",
 }, {
-	"choice", "element", "alias", "terminal", "symbol", "group", "quantifier", "sequence",
+	"choice", "element", "alias", "terminal", "symbol", "group", "sequence",
 }, {
 	"chars", "pipe", "alias", "|",
 }, {
 	"sequence", "element-continue", "alias", "wscs", "pipe", "wscs", "element",
 }, {
-	"quantifier", "elements-continue", "alias", "element-continue", "1", "-1",
+	"sequence", "elements-continue", "alias", "element-continue:1:-1",
 }, {
 	"sequence", "choice", "none", "element", "elements-continue",
 }, {
@@ -220,7 +220,6 @@ var bootDefinitions = [][]string{{
 	"terminal",
 	"symbol",
 	"group",
-	"quantifier",
 	"sequence",
 	"choice",
 }, {
@@ -236,7 +235,7 @@ var bootDefinitions = [][]string{{
 }, {
 	"sequence", "flag-tag", "alias", "colon", "flag",
 }, {
-	"quantifier", "flags", "alias", "flag-tag", "0", "-1",
+	"sequence", "flags", "alias", "flag-tag:0:-1",
 }, {
 	"chars", "equal", "alias", "=",
 }, {
@@ -246,7 +245,7 @@ var bootDefinitions = [][]string{{
 }, {
 	"choice", "wsc-or-semicolon", "alias", "wsc", "semicolon",
 }, {
-	"quantifier", "wsc-or-semicolons", "alias", "wsc-or-semicolon", "0", "-1",
+	"sequence", "wsc-or-semicolons", "alias", "wsc-or-semicolon:0:-1",
 }, {
 	"sequence",
 	"subsequent-definition",
@@ -256,12 +255,10 @@ var bootDefinitions = [][]string{{
 	"wsc-or-semicolons",
 	"definition",
 }, {
-	"quantifier",
+	"sequence",
 	"subsequent-definitions",
 	"alias",
-	"subsequent-definition",
-	"0",
-	"-1",
+	"subsequent-definition:0:-1",
 }, {
 	"sequence",
 	"definitions",
@@ -269,12 +266,10 @@ var bootDefinitions = [][]string{{
 	"definition",
 	"subsequent-definitions",
 }, {
-	"quantifier",
+	"sequence",
 	"opt-definitions",
 	"alias",
-	"definitions",
-	"0",
-	"1",
+	"definitions:0:1",
 }, {
 	"sequence",
 	"syntax",
diff --git a/char.go b/char.go
index 5f61636..2d777eb 100644
--- a/char.go
+++ b/char.go
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 package parse
 
+// TODO: rename to token
+
 type charParser struct {
 	name       string
 	commit     CommitType
-	any        bool
 	not        bool
 	chars      []rune
 	ranges     [][]rune
@@ -13,14 +14,13 @@ type charParser struct {
 func newChar(
 	name string,
 	ct CommitType,
-	any, not bool,
+	not bool,
 	chars []rune,
 	ranges [][]rune,
 ) *charParser {
 	return &charParser{
 		name:   name,
 		commit: ct,
-		any:    any,
 		not:    not,
 		chars:  chars,
 		ranges: ranges,
@@ -31,7 +31,11 @@ func (p *charParser) nodeName() string { return p.name }
 
 func (p *charParser) parser(r *registry, path []string) (parser, error) {
 	if stringsContain(path, p.name) {
-		panic(errCannotIncludeParsers)
+		panic(cannotIncludeParsers(p.name))
+	}
+
+	if _, ok := r.parser(p.name); ok {
+		return p, nil
 	}
 
 	r.setParser(p)
@@ -42,23 +46,19 @@ func (p *charParser) commitType() CommitType {
 	return p.commit
 }
 
-func (p *charParser) setIncludedBy(i parser, path []string) {
+func (p *charParser) setIncludedBy(including parser, path []string) {
 	if stringsContain(path, p.name) {
-		panic(errCannotIncludeParsers)
+		panic(cannotIncludeParsers(p.name))
 	}
 
-	p.includedBy = append(p.includedBy, i)
+	p.includedBy = append(p.includedBy, including)
 }
 
 func (p *charParser) cacheIncluded(*context, *Node) {
-	panic(errCannotIncludeParsers)
+	panic(cannotIncludeParsers(p.name))
 }
 
 func (p *charParser) match(t rune) bool {
-	if p.any {
-		return true
-	}
-
 	for _, ci := range p.chars {
 		if ci == t {
 			return !p.not
@@ -93,8 +93,8 @@ func (p *charParser) parse(t Trace, c *context) {
 		t.Out1("success", string(tok))
 		n := newNode(p.name, p.commit, c.offset, c.offset+1)
 		c.cache.set(c.offset, p.name, n)
-		for _, i := range p.includedBy {
-			i.cacheIncluded(c, n)
+		for _, including := range p.includedBy {
+			including.cacheIncluded(c, n)
 		}
 
 		c.success(n)
diff --git a/define.go b/define.go
index f11f6de..c382788 100644
--- a/define.go
+++ b/define.go
@@ -106,19 +106,25 @@ func nodeChar(n *Node) rune {
 	return toRune(s)
 }
 
+func defineMember(s *Syntax, defaultName string, n *Node) (string, error) {
+	switch n.Name {
+	case "symbol":
+		return n.Text(), nil
+	default:
+		return defaultName, defineExpression(s, defaultName, Alias, n)
+	}
+}
+
 func defineMembers(s *Syntax, name string, n ...*Node) ([]string, error) {
 	var refs []string
 	for i, ni := range n {
 		nmi := childName(name, i)
-		switch ni.Name {
-		case "symbol":
-			refs = append(refs, ni.Text())
-		default:
-			refs = append(refs, nmi)
-			if err := defineExpression(s, nmi, Alias, ni); err != nil {
-				return nil, err
-			}
+		ref, err := defineMember(s, nmi, ni)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
 		}
+
+		refs = append(refs, ref)
 	}
 
 	return refs, nil
@@ -156,38 +162,33 @@ func defineCharSequence(s *Syntax, name string, ct CommitType, charNodes []*Node
 	return s.CharSequence(name, ct, chars)
 }
 
-func defineQuantifier(s *Syntax, name string, ct CommitType, n *Node, q *Node) error {
-	refs, err := defineMembers(s, name, n)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	var min, max int
-	switch q.Name {
+func getQuantity(n *Node) (min int, max int, err error) {
+	switch n.Name {
 	case "count-quantifier":
-		min, err = strconv.Atoi(q.Nodes[0].Text())
+		min, err = strconv.Atoi(n.Nodes[0].Text())
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			return
 		}
 
 		max = min
 	case "range-quantifier":
 		min = 0
 		max = -1
-		for _, rq := range q.Nodes {
+		for _, rq := range n.Nodes {
 			switch rq.Name {
 			case "range-from":
 				min, err = strconv.Atoi(rq.Text())
 				if err != nil {
-					return err
+					return
 				}
 			case "range-to":
 				max, err = strconv.Atoi(rq.Text())
 				if err != nil {
-					return err
+					return
 				}
 			default:
-				return ErrInvalidSyntax
+				err = ErrInvalidSyntax
+				return
 			}
 		}
 	case "one-or-more":
@@ -198,23 +199,42 @@ func defineQuantifier(s *Syntax, name string, ct CommitType, n *Node, q *Node) e
 		min, max = 0, 1
 	}
 
-	return s.Quantifier(name, ct, refs[0], min, max)
+	return
+}
+
+func defineSymbol(s *Syntax, name string, ct CommitType, n *Node) error {
+	return s.Sequence(name, ct, SequenceItem{Name: n.Text()})
 }
 
 func defineSequence(s *Syntax, name string, ct CommitType, n ...*Node) error {
-	refs, err := defineMembers(s, name, n...)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	var items []SequenceItem
+	for i, ni := range n {
+		if ni.Name != "item" || len(ni.Nodes) == 0 {
+			return ErrInvalidSyntax
+		}
+
+		var (
+			item SequenceItem
+			err  error
+		)
+
+		defaultName := childName(name, i)
+		item.Name, err = defineMember(s, defaultName, ni.Nodes[0])
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		if len(ni.Nodes) == 2 {
+			item.Min, item.Max, err = getQuantity(ni.Nodes[1])
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+
+		items = append(items, item)
 	}
 
-	// // TODO: try to make this expressed in the syntax (maybe as sequences need either a quantififer or not
-	// // one item? or by maintaining the excluded and caching in the sequence in a similar way when there is
-	// // only one item?) how does this effect the quantifiers?
-	// if len(refs) == 1 {
-	// 	return s.Choice(name, ct, refs[0])
-	// }
-
-	return s.Sequence(name, ct, refs...)
+	return s.Sequence(name, ct, items...)
 }
 
 func defineChoice(s *Syntax, name string, ct CommitType, n ...*Node) error {
@@ -236,9 +256,7 @@ func defineExpression(s *Syntax, name string, ct CommitType, expression *Node) e
 	case "char-sequence":
 		err = defineCharSequence(s, name, ct, expression.Nodes)
 	case "symbol":
-		err = defineSequence(s, name, ct, expression)
-	case "quantifier":
-		err = defineQuantifier(s, name, ct, expression.Nodes[0], expression.Nodes[1])
+		err = defineSymbol(s, name, ct, expression)
 	case "sequence":
 		err = defineSequence(s, name, ct, expression.Nodes...)
 	case "choice":
diff --git a/parse.go b/parse.go
index 4929ab2..16110e1 100644
--- a/parse.go
+++ b/parse.go
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 package parse
 
-import (
-	"errors"
-	"fmt"
-)
+import "fmt"
 
 type definition interface {
 	nodeName() string
@@ -18,12 +15,14 @@ type parser interface {
 	parse(Trace, *context)
 }
 
-var errCannotIncludeParsers = errors.New("cannot include parsers")
-
 func parserNotFound(name string) error {
 	return fmt.Errorf("parser not found: %s", name)
 }
 
+func cannotIncludeParsers(name string) error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("parser: %s cannot include other parsers", name)
+}
+
 func stringsContain(ss []string, s string) bool {
 	for _, si := range ss {
 		if si == s {
diff --git a/parse_test.go b/parse_test.go
index 6439f75..a94b805 100644
--- a/parse_test.go
+++ b/parse_test.go
@@ -358,9 +358,10 @@ func TestSequence(t *testing.T) {
 		}},
 	)
 
-	testString(
+	testStringTrace(
 		t,
 		`A = "a" | (A?)*`,
+		1,
 		[]testItem{{
 			msg:  "sequence in choice with redundant quantifier",
 			text: "aaa",
@@ -397,15 +398,15 @@ func TestQuantifiers(t *testing.T) {
 		t,
 		`A = "a" "b"{0} "a"`,
 		[]testItem{{
-			msg:  "zero",
-			text: "aa",
+			msg:  "zero, considered as one",
+			text: "aba",
 			node: &Node{
 				Name: "A",
-				to:   2,
+				to:   3,
 			},
 		}, {
 			msg:  "zero, fail",
-			text: "aba",
+			text: "aa",
 			fail: true,
 		}},
 	)
@@ -642,10 +643,9 @@ func TestQuantifiers(t *testing.T) {
 		}},
 	)
 
-	testStringTrace(
+	testString(
 		t,
 		`A = "a" "b"{0,} "a"`,
-		1,
 		[]testItem{{
 			msg:  "zero or more, explicit, missing",
 			text: "aa",
@@ -663,10 +663,9 @@ func TestQuantifiers(t *testing.T) {
 		}},
 	)
 
-	testStringTrace(
+	testString(
 		t,
 		`A = "a" "b"* "a"`,
-		1,
 		[]testItem{{
 			msg:  "zero or more, shortcut, missing",
 			text: "aa",
@@ -684,10 +683,9 @@ func TestQuantifiers(t *testing.T) {
 		}},
 	)
 
-	testStringTrace(
+	testString(
 		t,
 		`A = "a" "b"{1,} "a"`,
-		1,
 		[]testItem{{
 			msg:  "one or more, explicit, missing",
 			text: "aa",
@@ -702,10 +700,9 @@ func TestQuantifiers(t *testing.T) {
 		}},
 	)
 
-	testStringTrace(
+	testString(
 		t,
 		`A = "a" "b"+ "a"`,
-		1,
 		[]testItem{{
 			msg:  "one or more, shortcut, missing",
 			text: "aa",
@@ -720,10 +717,9 @@ func TestQuantifiers(t *testing.T) {
 		}},
 	)
 
-	testStringTrace(
+	testString(
 		t,
 		`A = "a" "b"{3,} "a"`,
-		1,
 		[]testItem{{
 			msg:  "three or more, explicit, missing",
 			text: "abba",
diff --git a/quantifier.go b/quantifier.go
deleted file mode 100644
index e18606c..0000000
--- a/quantifier.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,172 +0,0 @@
-package parse
-
-type quantifierDefinition struct {
-	name     string
-	commit   CommitType
-	min, max int
-	item     string
-}
-
-type quantifierParser struct {
-	name       string
-	commit     CommitType
-	min, max   int
-	item       parser
-	includedBy []parser
-}
-
-func newQuantifier(name string, ct CommitType, item string, min, max int) *quantifierDefinition {
-	return &quantifierDefinition{
-		name:   name,
-		commit: ct,
-		min:    min,
-		max:    max,
-		item:   item,
-	}
-}
-
-func (d *quantifierDefinition) nodeName() string { return d.name }
-
-func (d *quantifierDefinition) parser(r *registry, path []string) (parser, error) {
-	if stringsContain(path, d.name) {
-		panic(errCannotIncludeParsers)
-	}
-
-	p, ok := r.parser(d.name)
-	if ok {
-		return p, nil
-	}
-
-	qp := &quantifierParser{
-		name:   d.name,
-		commit: d.commit,
-		min:    d.min,
-		max:    d.max,
-	}
-
-	r.setParser(qp)
-
-	item, ok := r.parser(d.item)
-	if !ok {
-		itemDefinition, ok := r.definition(d.item)
-		if !ok {
-			return nil, parserNotFound(d.item)
-		}
-
-		var err error
-		item, err = itemDefinition.parser(r, path)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-	}
-
-	qp.item = item
-	return qp, nil
-}
-
-func (d *quantifierDefinition) commitType() CommitType { return d.commit }
-func (p *quantifierParser) nodeName() string           { return p.name }
-
-// TODO: merge the quantifier into the sequence
-// DOC: sequences are hungry and are not revisited, a*a cannot match anything.
-// DOC: how to match a tailing a? (..)*a | .(..)*a
-
-func (p *quantifierParser) setIncludedBy(i parser, path []string) {
-	if stringsContain(path, p.name) {
-		panic(errCannotIncludeParsers)
-	}
-
-	p.includedBy = append(p.includedBy, i)
-}
-
-func (p *quantifierParser) cacheIncluded(*context, *Node) {
-	panic(errCannotIncludeParsers)
-}
-
-func (p *quantifierParser) parse(t Trace, c *context) {
-	t = t.Extend(p.name)
-	t.Out1("parsing quantifier", c.offset)
-
-	if p.commit&Documentation != 0 {
-		t.Out1("fail, doc")
-		c.fail(c.offset)
-		return
-	}
-
-	if c.excluded(c.offset, p.name) {
-		t.Out1("excluded")
-		c.fail(c.offset)
-		return
-	}
-
-	c.exclude(c.offset, p.name)
-	defer c.include(c.offset, p.name)
-
-	node := newNode(p.name, p.commit, c.offset, c.offset)
-
-	// this way of checking the cache definitely needs the testing of the russ cox form
-	for {
-		if p.max >= 0 && node.nodeLength() == p.max {
-			t.Out1("success, max reached")
-			c.cache.set(node.from, p.name, node)
-			for _, i := range p.includedBy {
-				i.cacheIncluded(c, node)
-			}
-
-			c.success(node)
-			return
-		}
-
-		t.Out2("next quantifier item")
-
-		// n, m, ok := c.cache.get(c.offset, p.item.nodeName())
-		m, ok := c.fromCache(p.item.nodeName())
-		if ok {
-			t.Out1("quantifier item found in cache, match:", m, c.offset, c.node.tokenLength())
-			if m {
-				node.append(c.node)
-				if c.node.tokenLength() > 0 {
-					t.Out2("taking next after cached found")
-					continue
-				}
-			}
-
-			if node.nodeLength() >= p.min {
-				t.Out1("success, no more match")
-				c.cache.set(node.from, p.name, node)
-				for _, i := range p.includedBy {
-					i.cacheIncluded(c, node)
-				}
-
-				c.success(node)
-			} else {
-				t.Out1("fail, min not reached")
-				c.cache.set(node.from, p.name, nil)
-				c.fail(node.from)
-			}
-
-			return
-		}
-
-		p.item.parse(t, c)
-		if !c.match || c.node.tokenLength() == 0 {
-			if node.nodeLength() >= p.min {
-				t.Out1("success, no more match")
-				c.cache.set(node.from, p.name, node)
-				for _, i := range p.includedBy {
-					i.cacheIncluded(c, node)
-				}
-
-				c.success(node)
-			} else {
-				t.Out1("fail, min not reached")
-				c.cache.set(node.from, p.name, nil)
-				c.fail(node.from)
-			}
-
-			return
-		}
-
-		node.append(c.node)
-	}
-}
diff --git a/sequence.go b/sequence.go
index 0539e62..2067d89 100644
--- a/sequence.go
+++ b/sequence.go
@@ -3,17 +3,18 @@ package parse
 type sequenceDefinition struct {
 	name   string
 	commit CommitType
-	items  []string
+	items  []SequenceItem
 }
 
 type sequenceParser struct {
 	name      string
 	commit    CommitType
 	items     []parser
+	ranges    [][]int
 	including []parser
 }
 
-func newSequence(name string, ct CommitType, items []string) *sequenceDefinition {
+func newSequence(name string, ct CommitType, items []SequenceItem) *sequenceDefinition {
 	return &sequenceDefinition{
 		name:   name,
 		commit: ct,
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ func (d *sequenceDefinition) nodeName() string { return d.name }
 
 func (d *sequenceDefinition) parser(r *registry, path []string) (parser, error) {
 	if stringsContain(path, d.name) {
-		panic(errCannotIncludeParsers)
+		panic(cannotIncludeParsers(d.name))
 	}
 
 	p, ok := r.parser(d.name)
@@ -40,34 +41,47 @@ func (d *sequenceDefinition) parser(r *registry, path []string) (parser, error)
 
 	r.setParser(sp)
 
-	var items []parser
+	var (
+		items  []parser
+		ranges [][]int
+	)
+
 	path = append(path, d.name)
-	for _, name := range d.items {
-		item, ok := r.parser(name)
+	for _, item := range d.items {
+		if item.Min == 0 && item.Max == 0 {
+			item.Min, item.Max = 1, 1
+		} else if item.Max == 0 {
+			item.Max = -1
+		}
+
+		pi, ok := r.parser(item.Name)
 		if ok {
-			items = append(items, item)
+			items = append(items, pi)
+			ranges = append(ranges, []int{item.Min, item.Max})
 			continue
 		}
 
-		itemDefinition, ok := r.definition(name)
+		itemDefinition, ok := r.definition(item.Name)
 		if !ok {
-			return nil, parserNotFound(name)
+			return nil, parserNotFound(item.Name)
 		}
 
-		item, err := itemDefinition.parser(r, path)
+		pi, err := itemDefinition.parser(r, path)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
-		items = append(items, item)
+		items = append(items, pi)
+		ranges = append(ranges, []int{item.Min, item.Max})
 	}
 
 	// for single items, acts like a choice
-	if len(items) == 1 {
+	if len(items) == 1 && ranges[0][0] == 1 && ranges[0][1] == 1 {
 		items[0].setIncludedBy(sp, path)
 	}
 
 	sp.items = items
+	sp.ranges = ranges
 	return sp, nil
 }
 
@@ -112,6 +126,8 @@ e = b | d
 input: 111
 */
 
+// TODO: apply the quantifier migration to the syntax
+
 func (p *sequenceParser) parse(t Trace, c *context) {
 	t = t.Extend(p.name)
 	t.Out1("parsing sequence", c.offset)
@@ -122,8 +138,6 @@ func (p *sequenceParser) parse(t Trace, c *context) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	// TODO: maybe we can check the cache here? no because that would exclude the continuations
-
 	if c.excluded(c.offset, p.name) {
 		t.Out1("excluded")
 		c.fail(c.offset)
@@ -134,54 +148,75 @@ func (p *sequenceParser) parse(t Trace, c *context) {
 	defer c.include(c.offset, p.name)
 
 	items := p.items
+	ranges := p.ranges
+	var currentCount int
 	node := newNode(p.name, p.commit, c.offset, c.offset)
 
 	for len(items) > 0 {
-		t.Out2("next sequence item")
-		// n, m, ok := c.cache.get(c.offset, items[0].nodeName())
 		m, ok := c.fromCache(items[0].nodeName())
 		if ok {
 			t.Out1("sequence item found in cache, match:", m, items[0].nodeName(), c.offset)
 			if m {
-				t.Out2("sequence item from cache:", c.node.Name, len(c.node.Nodes), c.node.from)
-				node.append(c.node)
-				items = items[1:]
+				if c.node.tokenLength() > 0 {
+					node.append(c.node)
+					currentCount++
+				}
+
+				if c.node.tokenLength() == 0 || ranges[0][1] >= 0 && currentCount == ranges[0][1] {
+					items = items[1:]
+					ranges = ranges[1:]
+					currentCount = 0
+				}
+
 				continue
 			}
 
-			c.cache.set(node.from, p.name, nil)
-			c.fail(node.from)
-			return
+			if currentCount < ranges[0][0] {
+				c.cache.set(node.from, p.name, nil)
+				c.fail(node.from)
+				return
+			}
+
+			items = items[1:]
+			ranges = ranges[1:]
+			currentCount = 0
+			continue
 		}
 
 		items[0].parse(t, c)
-		items = items[1:]
 
 		if !c.match {
-			t.Out1("fail, item failed")
-			c.cache.set(node.from, p.name, nil)
-			c.fail(node.from)
-			return
+			if currentCount < ranges[0][0] {
+				t.Out1("fail, item failed")
+				c.cache.set(node.from, p.name, nil)
+				c.fail(node.from)
+				return
+			}
+
+			items = items[1:]
+			ranges = ranges[1:]
+			currentCount = 0
+			continue
 		}
 
 		if c.node.tokenLength() > 0 {
-			t.Out2("appending sequence item", c.node.Name, len(c.node.Nodes))
 			node.append(c.node)
+			currentCount++
+		}
+
+		if c.node.tokenLength() == 0 || ranges[0][1] >= 0 && currentCount == ranges[0][1] {
+			items = items[1:]
+			ranges = ranges[1:]
+			currentCount = 0
 		}
 	}
 
 	t.Out1("success, items parsed")
-	t.Out2("nodes", node.nodeLength())
-	if node.Name == "group" {
-		t.Out2("caching group", node.from, node.Nodes[2].Name, node.Nodes[2].nodeLength())
-	}
 
-	// is this cached item ever taken?
 	c.cache.set(node.from, p.name, node)
 	for _, i := range p.including {
 		i.cacheIncluded(c, node)
 	}
 
-	t.Out2("caching sequence and included by done")
 	c.success(node)
 }
diff --git a/syntax.go b/syntax.go
index aa44626..8872dc6 100644
--- a/syntax.go
+++ b/syntax.go
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ const (
 	Root
 )
 
+type SequenceItem struct {
+	Name     string
+	Min, Max int // 0,0 considered as 1,1, x,0 considered as x,-1
+}
+
 type Syntax struct {
 	trace       Trace
 	registry    *registry
@@ -68,11 +73,11 @@ func (s *Syntax) register(d definition) error {
 }
 
 func (s *Syntax) AnyChar(name string, ct CommitType) error {
-	return s.register(newChar(name, ct, true, false, nil, nil))
+	return s.Class(name, ct, true, nil, nil)
 }
 
 func (s *Syntax) Class(name string, ct CommitType, not bool, chars []rune, ranges [][]rune) error {
-	return s.register(newChar(name, ct, false, not, chars, ranges))
+	return s.register(newChar(name, ct, not, chars, ranges))
 }
 
 func childName(name string, childIndex int) string {
@@ -84,19 +89,15 @@ func (s *Syntax) CharSequence(name string, ct CommitType, chars []rune) error {
 	for i, ci := range chars {
 		ref := childName(name, i)
 		refs = append(refs, ref)
-		if err := s.register(newChar(ref, Alias, false, false, []rune{ci}, nil)); err != nil {
+		if err := s.register(newChar(ref, Alias, false, []rune{ci}, nil)); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
 
-	return s.Sequence(name, ct, refs...)
+	return s.Sequence(name, ct, namesToSequenceItems(refs)...)
 }
 
-func (s *Syntax) Quantifier(name string, ct CommitType, item string, min, max int) error {
-	return s.register(newQuantifier(name, ct, item, min, max))
-}
-
-func (s *Syntax) Sequence(name string, ct CommitType, items ...string) error {
+func (s *Syntax) Sequence(name string, ct CommitType, items ...SequenceItem) error {
 	return s.register(newSequence(name, ct, items))
 }
 
diff --git a/syntax.p b/syntax.p
index 87a483a..d5d454f 100644
--- a/syntax.p
+++ b/syntax.p
@@ -49,22 +49,19 @@ quantity:alias   = count-quantifier
                  | zero-or-more
                  | zero-or-one;
 
-quantifier = (terminal | symbol | group) wsc* quantity;
+item     = (terminal | symbol | group) quantity?;
+sequence = item (wsc* item)*; // TODO: why was this '+'?
 
-item:alias = terminal | symbol | group | quantifier;
-sequence   = item (wsc* item)+;
-
-element:alias = terminal | symbol | group | quantifier | sequence;
+element:alias = terminal | symbol | group | sequence;
 
 // DOC: once cached, doesn't try again, even in a new context, therefore the order may matter
-choice        = element (wsc* "|" wsc* element)+;
+choice = element (wsc* "|" wsc* element)+;
 
 // DOC: not having 'not' needs some tricks sometimes
 
 expression:alias = terminal
                  | symbol
                  | group
-                 | quantifier
                  | sequence
                  | choice;