SOME VS. ANY: SOME: It refers to an indefinite quantity (certain number of…). It is commonly used in affirmative sentences, but it may appear i n interrogative sentences when a positive answer answer is expected . She found some useful books in that room. I have got some money. Would you like some coffee?
ANY: It also refers to an indefinite quantity. However, it is commonly used in:
Interrogative sentences (expecting either a positive or negative answer): Is there any problem here?
Negative sentences (expressing lack of quantity): There isn’t any problem here.
LITTLE/A LITTLE VS. FEW/A FEW LITTLE & A LITTLE is used with singular uncountable nouns.
A LITTLE (un poco/algo de): I have got a little money. A little exercise a day would do you good.
LITTLE (poco): It has more negative sense than a little: I have got little money. You do little exercise.
FEW & A FEW is used with plural nouns.
A FEW (unos/as pocos/as): I have read a few books through my life. My mother gave me a few coins.
FEW (pocos/as): It has more negative sense than a few: I have read few books through my life. My mother gave me few coins.
MANY /MUCH / A LOT OF:
MANY (muchos/as) is used with countable nouns:
They went there many times; I bought many
books yesterday; Have you got many friends?
MUCH (mucho) is used with uncountable nouns:
That’s much information; There’s much traffic
today; Is there much milk in that bottle?; There wasn’t much juice in the fridge; how much is it?
However, both of them (many and much) can be replaced by “ A LOT OF”, mainly in
affirmative sentences: I bought a lot of books yesterday. She is always with a lot of friends. He has a lot of money. That’s a lot of information.
SOME OR ANY?
1. There are …………… letters for you. 2. Is there …………… news from Harry? 3. Have we got …………… bread for breakfast? 4. Would you like …………… more coffee? 5. There are …………… alternatives to do the exam. 6. …………… people believe ever ything they read in the papers. 7. We don’t have …………… shirts in your size. 8. The employees didn’t paint …………… building. 9. …………… of the tourists missed the trip. 10. There isn’t …………… milk in the fridge.
A LITTLE/LITTLE VS. A FEW/FEW 1.
I would like to make .......... sandwiches for the picnic.
2.
The .......... people who went to the concert, enjoyed it.
3.
The students did .......... progress during this year.
4.
His .......... friends went to my father's funeral.
5.
My girlfriend has .......... interest in going to the wedding with me.
6.
The teacher asked them .......... questions.
7.
Susan speaks .......... French.
8.
Only .......... students passed the difficult exam.
9.
My boyfriend gave me .......... flowers.
10. Tom always borrows .......... money from his friends.
Complete each sentence with one word: (much, a lot of, many, few, little) a) How _________ money do you spend on clothes? b) I spend _________ money because I like them! c)
How _________ CDs do you buy every month?
d) I buy _________ CDs because I download a lot of music. e) Do you buy _________ magazines? f)
No. I don’t buy _________ magazines. I don’t read them.
g) What about sport? Do you buy _________ sports equipment? h) Well, I buy _________ pairs of trainers every year. i)
Do you spend _________ on fast food?
j)
I only spend _________ on fast food because it’s unhealthy!
Choose the correct expression of quantity in each sentence: a) Emily had a few / a little good ideas for the party. b) We don’t have much / many time so hurry or we’ll be late. c)
Do you have some / any stamps to send postcards?
d) I drank a few / a little coffee earlier but now I’m thirsty ag ain. e) David doesn’t meet much / many interesting people in his job. f)
Most children drink a lot of / a number of milk when they’re young.
g) I can’t stand anything frightening, so I don’t like some / any horror films! h) There aren’t much / many good programmes on TV this week. i)
My grandfather is 80 and only has a few / a little hair left.
j)
Does that newsagent sell some / any fashion magazines?
