Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Some, Any
Countable There are some people. cups. books. newspapers. chairs. shoes. Euros. Uncountable There is some money. traffic. paper. time. coffee. food.
Countable
We can use some in positive Statements: sentences with plural countable nouns:I read some books. Positive: Countable There aren't any people. cups. books. newspapers. chairs. shoes. Euros. Statement:
Uncountable
We can use some in positive sentences with uncountable nouns:I would like some coffee.
Uncountable There isn't any money. traffic. paper. time. coffee. food.
We can use any in negative sentences We can use any in negative sentences with plural countable nouns:with uncountable nouns:I don't read any books. I don't want any coffee. Negative: Countable Are(n't) there any people? cups? books? newspapers? chairs? shoes? Euros? Uncountable Is(n't) there any money? traffic? paper? time? coffee? food? We can use any in questions with plural
plural countable nouns:Positive Q: Are there any books? Negative Q: Aren't there any books? ask a question using some.
uncountable nouns:Do you need any coffee? Don't you need any coffee?
!Note! When you expect the answer to be "Yes." to an offer or polite request, you can
Countable Question: A few, A little
There are a few people cups books newspapers chairs shoes Euros There is a little money traffic paper time coffee food Can I have some books, please?
Uncountable
Would you like some coffee?
Countable
Statements: Positive: "I meet a few people every day." "I only have a few Euros."
Uncountable
"There is a little paper in the printer." "I only have a little money."
Many, Much
There aren't many people cups books newspapers chairs shoes There isn't much money traffic paper time coffee food
Countable
Statements:
Uncountable
I don't drink much coffee. Do you need much coffee? Don't you need much coffee?
Negative: I don't read many books. Questions: Positive Q: Are there many books? Negative Q: Aren't there many books?
Few / a few, little / a little are determiners. Here is how to use them correctly: Few / a few A few is more than few. We use a few and few + a plural countable noun. A few is a positive idea. few people, few books, few letters a few people, a few books, a few letters Fortunately, our financial situation is good: we still have a few good customers. I'm very sad: I have few good friends. I'm very sad: I have very few good friends. (Both these sentences mean I don't have many good friends - I would like to have more.)
Few is a negative idea. It means 'almost none'. We can also use very few.
A few and few have irregular comparative and superlative forms. Little / a little A little is more than little. We use a little and little + an uncountable noun. A little is a positive idea. It means 'some but not much'. Little is a negative idea. It means 'nearly none, nearly nothing'. We can also use very little. A little and little have irregular comparative and superlative forms.
a little time, a little food, a little money little time, little food, little money Compare: I can help you: I speak a little English. I can't help you. I speak little English. I can't help you. I speak very little English. (Both these sentences mean My English is bad. I would like to speak English better.) little - less - the least a little - more - the most
Positive Clauses
In positive clauses, we usually use some.
Negative Clauses
In negative clauses, we use any. Note, however, that any alone is not a negative - it must be not ... any
Example: I have not bought any bread. I have not bought any apples.
Questions
In questions, we usually use any.
Example: Have you bought any bread? Have you bought any apples?
Example:
Example: I do not have to buy bread. Rachel has already bought some [bread].
Example: We never go anywhere. She did her homework without any help. Theres hardly anyone here.
Also in if
Example: If there is anything to do, just call me. Questions with Some
We usually use any in questions. But if we expect or want the other to answer yes, we use some.
Much / many
Language Guide German + Dictionary for
Example: How much money have you got? Carla does not have many friends.
In positive clauses with so, as or too, we also use much / many.
Example: Carla has so many friends. She has as many friends as Sue. Kevin has too much money.
In all other positive clauses, however, we prefer expressions like a lot of / lots of.
Example: Carla has a lot of / lots of friends. Kevin has a lot of / lots of money.
In formal texts, however, much / many are also common in positive clauses. This you will notice for example when you read English news.
a few = some few = hardly any Example: A few friends visited me. - Some friends visited me. Few friends visited me. - Hardly any friends visited me. Without the article, little / few sound rather formal. That's why we don't use them very often in everyday English. A negative sentence with much / many is more common here.
Example: I need little money. = I do not need much money. Few friends visited me. = Not many friends visited me.