Use of some and any
Some and any are used to state the quantity, amount of something. When using
some or any, the exact number is not stated. Some and any are quantifiers.
Some and any can be used when:
1. The exact number is not known.
2. The exact number is not important or relevant.
3. Some and any are used with countable and uncountable nouns.
Study the following tables:
Interrogative Affirmative Negative
Are there any tomatoes in the Yes, there are some. No, there aren't any.
fridge?
Is there any orange juice? Yes, there is some. No, there isn't any.
Offering Responding
Would you Yes please I'd like some.
like some coffee?
Making a request Responding
Would you mind lending Of course here you are.
me some money?
The rules of some and many:
SOME:
Use some in positive (affirmative) sentences. Some is used for both countable
and uncountable nouns.
Examples:
I have some friends.(friends is countable)
I'd like some water. (water is uncountable)
ANY:
Use any for countable and uncountable nouns in:
1. interrogative sentences.
Examples:
Have you got any cheese? (cheese is uncountable)
Have you got any friends? (friends is countable)
2. negative sentences.
Example:
He hasn't got any cheese.
He hasn't got any friends in Chicago.
EXCEPTION:
Use some in questions when offering or requesting something.
Example:
Would you like some bread? (offer)
Can I have some water, please? (request)
Something, anything, somewhere, anywhere, someone ,anyone:
The same rules are true for something and anything, someone and anyone,
and somewhere and anywhere.
Policeman Is there anyone at home?
:
Criminal: Yes there is someone there. My friend!
Policeman Is there anything in your pocket?
:
Criminal: Yes there is something. A gun!
Policeman Did you go anywhere recently?
:
Criminal: Yes I went somewhere. I went to the old man's house to steal his money.
Much, many, a lot:
"Much", "many", and "a lot of" indicate a large quantity of something, for example
"I have a lot of friends " means I have a large quantity of friends.
Much, many, and a lot are quantifiers.
Study the examples below:
How much money have you got? I haven't got much money.
I have got a lot.
I have got a lot of money.
How many students are in the There aren't many.
classroom?
There are a lot.
There are a lot of/lots of students.
In the interrogative forms we use:
much with uncountable nouns. (money, bread, water...)
Example:
How much money/bread/water...is there?
many with countable nouns. (students, desks, windows...)
Example:
How many students/teachers/desks... are there?
(See the lesson on countable and countable nouns )
In the negative forms we use:
much with uncountable nouns. (money, bread, water...)
Example:
I haven't got much money/bread/water...
many with countable nouns. (students, desks, windows...)
Example:
There aren't many students/teachers/desks...
In the affirmative forms:
In spoken English and informal writing we tend to use:
a lot, a lot of, lots of with countable and uncountable nouns.
Example:
"How many students are there in the classroom?"
"There are a lot."
"How many students are there in the classroom?"
"There are a lot of / lots of students"..
In formal written English:
It is also possible (and preferable) to use many and much rather than a lot
of, lots of and a lot in formal written English.
Example:
There are many students.
Much time was spent on studying.
So if you're speaking or writing to friends (informal), use a lot, a lot of, lots of.
But if you want to be more formal, perhaps it is preferable to
use much and many.
Remember:
In affirmative sentences with so, as or too, we also use much / many.
Examples:
"Carla has so many friends."
"She has as many friends as Sue."
"Kevin has too much money."
Summary:
Interrogative Negative Affirmative
How many books are there? There aren't many. There are a lot.
There are a lot of books.
There are lots of books.
There are many books (formal)
How much money have you I haven't got much. I've got a lot.
got?
I've got a lot of money.
I've got lots of money.
I have got much money
(formal)
A little, a few, very little, very few
The expressions a little and a few mean some or enough.
The expressions (very) little and (very) few mean hardly any or not enough.
A little, a few, (very) little and (very) few are quantifiers
Study the following examples:
Examples Meaning
I've got a little money. I'm going to the cinema. some/enough
I've got a few friends. We meet everyday.
I've got (very) little money. I need to borrow some. hardly any / not enough
I've got (very) few friends. I need to make new
friends.
The rules:
Affirmative sentences:
A little, a few, (very) little and (very) few are generally used in affirmative
statements, not negatives or questions.
Countable and uncountable nouns:
1. A little and (very) little are used with uncountable nouns (money, bread,
water...)
2. A few and (very) few are used with countable nouns (friends, tables, teachers..)
(See more about countable and uncountable nouns here.)
Meaning:
1. A little and a few mean: some or enough.
Example:
"I have got a little money" = I have got some money. It's enough for me to do
what I want.
"I have got a few friends" = I have got some or enough friends. We meet every
day.
2. (Very) little and (very) few mean; hardly any or not enough.
Examples:
I have got (very) little money = I have got hardly any. I haven't got
enough. I'll borrow some from my friend.
I have got (very) few friends = I have got hardly any. I haven't got enough.
I need to make new friends.
Fewer or less?
Fewer and less can be confusing. Although both words are used as comparatives,
they are used differently. Here are the rules.
Fewer
Fewer is used with countable nouns, things that can be counted or that normally
have a plural such as friends, books, students..
Examples:
There are fewer customers theses days than last summer.
I should eat fewer candies.
There are fewer cookies in the box
Less
Less is used with uncountable nouns, things that can't be counted or that don't
normally have a plural such as money, bread, water...
Examples:
He has less money
There is less drinking water in the village because of the drought.
You should spend less time playing video games.
Less with numbers
As discussed above less is normally used with uncountable nouns and fewer with
countable nouns. There are, however, some exceptions; less can also be used with
counting nouns that denote distance, amount, or time.
Examples:
Less than two weeks
Less than two miles.
Less than three kilos.
