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THE QUANTIFIERS

February 18th, 2010 No comments

Some and Any

Some and any are used with countable and uncountable nouns, to describe an indefinite or incomplete quantity.

Some is used in positive statements:

Examples

  • I had some rice for lunch
  • He’s got some books from the library.

It is also used in questions where we are sure about the answer:

Examples

  • Did he give you some tea? (= I’m sure he did.)
  • Is there some fruit juice in the fridge? (= I think there is)

Some is used in situations where the question is not a request for information, but a method of making a request, encouraging or giving an invitation:

Examples

  • Could I have some books, please?
  • Why don’t you take some books home with you?
  • Would you like some books?

Any is used in questions and with not in negative statements:

Examples

  • Have you got any tea?
  • He didn’t give me any tea.
  • I don’t think we’ve got any coffee left.

SOME in positive sentences.

Examples

  • I will have some news next week.
  • She has some valuable books in her house.
  • Philip wants some help with his exams.
  • There is some butter in the fridge.
  • We need some cheese if we want to make a fondue.

SOME in questions:

Examples

  • Would you like some help?
  • Will you have some more roast beef?

ANY in negative sentences

Examples

  • She doesn’t want any kitchen appliances for Christmas.
  • They don’t want any help moving to their new house.
  • No, thank you. I don’t want any more cake.
  • There isn’t any reason to complain.

ANY in interrogative sentences

Examples

  • Do you have any friends in London?
  • Have they got any children?
  • Do you want any groceries from the shop?
  • Are there any problems with your work?

 

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Categories: Determiners Tags: ,

THE QUANTIFIERS

February 18th, 2010 No comments

A few and few, a little and little

These expressions show the speaker’s attitude towards the quantity he/she is referring to.

A few (for countable nouns) and a little (for uncountable nouns) describe the quantity in a positive way:

Examples

  • “I’ve got a few friends” (= maybe not many, but enough)
  • “I’ve got a little money” (= I’ve got enough to live on)

Few and little describe the quantity in a negative way:

Examples

  • Few people visited him in hospital (= he had almost no visitors)
  • He had little money (= almost no money)

 

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Examples

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Categories: Determiners Tags: , ,