Using some any much many. The most clear rule for using much-many-little-few is with practice.
A pronoun is a part of a construction that indicates speech to an object or its affiliation and quality, but does not name it. Some pronouns are used frequently, while others are used rarely. In this topic we will study the most complex and frequently used pronouns some any, the rules of use in various sentence structures and the main word forms.
This topic is easy to understand if you learn everything in a certain sequence, in which we tried to present our explanation. We hope that after our lesson this topic will become clear to adults and children. The first place to start is the group to which these pronouns belong.
Some and Any are indefinite pronouns because their derivatives do not express anything specific. In other words, this can be translated into Russian as “someone”, “nothing”, “some” and the like.
Before talking about the use of word forms that are formed from these pronouns, the first step is to learn the stem.
The pronouns some any can play the role of adjectives and nouns in construction. In the first case, they go in conjunction with the same noun, and in the second, they are used separately. Indefinite pronouns have different meanings, which we will talk about a little later. Any is used in interrogative, negative and conditional constructions. Some is used in affirmative constructions.
Examples:
I have some cups. Do you need? - I have several cups. You need? (Affirmative, like an adjective).
He asked if I had any interesting DVD disks. - He asked if I had any interesting CDs. (Conventional, like an adjective).
The buyers want to get some models of our dresses, we send them some. - Buyers want to see several models of our dresses. We sent them a few. (Affirmative, as a noun).
I didn't buy matches. Have you got any? - I didn’t buy matches. Do you have several? (Interrogative as a noun).
Below is a table that outlines the main meanings of these indefinite pronouns.
Some any rules of use in the table:
Prules for using some | Rules for using any |
Meaning: several, some, any, before countables (a lot of) | |
in affirmative sentences | in negative, interrogative, conditional sentences |
He gave me some cigarettes. - He gave me some cigarettes. | She didn't make any mistakes. - She didn't make any mistakes. |
Some trees were planted yesterday. - Several trees were planted yesterday. | |
Some people like tea, some don’t like tea. - Some people like tea, some don't. | |
Meaning: a certain amount (much a), a little, some (usually not translated into Russian) | |
in affirmative sentences before uncountable (a lot of) nouns | in negative, interrogative, conditional sentences before uncountable nouns |
Give me some salt, please. - Give me salt, please. | I don't have any ink. - I don't have ink. |
I need some milk from you. Please give me some. - I need milk. Give me please. | There is no water in my glass. Have you got any? - There is no milk in my glass. Do you have? |
Meaning: some | |
in special matters, in general matters, if a request is made, something is offered | |
Why didn’t you buy some bread? - Why didn’t you buy bread? | |
Can I take some warm water? - Can I take some warm water? | |
Will you have some coffee? - Will you have coffee? | |
Meaning: some of - part | |
before uncountable (a lot of) nouns | |
Some of the crop was damaged by rain. - Part of the crop (meaning from this place) was damaged by rain. | |
Meaning: anyone, everyone | |
in affirmative and interrogative sentences with units countable. number and uncountable (a lot of) | |
I may go out at any time that is convenient to me. - I can leave at any time convenient for me. |
Thus, we got acquainted with the main cases of using the basics. The main thing to remember is that any is used in interrogative and negative constructions, and some in affirmative ones. In order not to be confused about the meaning, pay attention to the meaning of the construction.
Using any with no and none
Using any with no is easier to learn. It is used in both the plural and singular as an adjective before a noun. If no is present in the construction, no further negation is required. Without a noun no is not used, none is used instead. Also, after no there is no need for an article before a noun. In addition, this part of the construction is used before the subject to enhance the meaning of the statement - none, none.
Examples:
No girl has been there yet. - No girl has ever been here before.
I have no bag (= I haven’t a bag). - I don't have a bag.
Is there a theater in your town? - No, there is none. - There is a theater in your city. - No.
We had no time. - We didn't have time.
Note the difference between not and no. We use not for a verb, and no before a noun.
Examples:
There is no information in the file. = There is not any information in the file. – There is no information in the file.
There are no pupils in the classroom. = There are not any pupils in the classroom. - There are no students in the class.
I have no telephone at home. = I have not got a telephone at home. – I don’t have a phone at home.
You can use any option that you like best. But you should not mix them, since in a correctly composed British construction there is only one negative.
This concludes the study of the basic rules for using some, any and no. It's time to move on to their word forms.
Indefinite pronouns and body
Somebody, anybody, nobody/ anyone, someone, no one - all these words are used as nouns and are translated into Russian as no one, someone, no one, anyone. Simply put, they replace animate nouns.
Anybody in sentences expressing negation is translated - no one, no one. Nobody has two negatives in Russian.
Examples:
Nobody called him yesterday. - Nobody called him yesterday.
Is anybody at home? - There isn’t anybody at home. - Is anybody home? - Nobody is at home.
Somebody is waiting for you. - Someone is waiting for you.
Indefinite pronouns and thing
Anything, something, nothing, as in the previous case, act as a noun, however, these words are applicable only to inanimate objects. In translation into Russian it means something, something. Anything in negative constructions is translated as nothing, and sentences with nothing in Russian have two negatives.
Examples:
Nothing was done. - Nothing was done.
Is there anything in the envelope? - Is there anything in the envelope?
Something has fallen. - Something fell.
Indefinite pronouns and where
This is how adverbs are formed. They are translated into Russian as nowhere, somewhere, nowhere, somewhere. Their use corresponds to the use of basic forms.
Examples:
Where did you go? - Nowhere. - Where did you go. Nowhere.
Tomorrow I will fly somewhere with my boss. - Tomorrow I will fly somewhere with the boss.
Is she going anywhere? - Is she going somewhere?
Indefinite pronouns and of
When we use the pronouns in question with of, we are talking about some part of the whole. However, nobody, no one, anybody, anyone are not used with of. In the first two cases they are replaced with none, and in the second - any of in the meaning of any of. Instead of somebody, one of is used.
Examples:
None of them came to me after the accident. - None of them came to me after the accident.
One of you should tell the truth. - One of you must tell the truth.
Any of us can go there. - Any of us can go there.
Some of my friends speak English. - Some of my friends speak English.
Small tricks to help you learn English
In some cases with nobody, anybody, somebody, someone the possessive case is used. For example, somebody's hat - someone's hat.
Standing in first place and fulfilling the role of the subject, these parts of the construction (nobody, no one, nothing, anybody, anyone, anything, somebody, something) require the use of a 3rd person singular verb after them.
After nobody, no one, nothing, anybody, anyone, anything, somebody, something, else is also often used. For example, anything else - anything else?
The use of several more definite pronouns much and many
We will briefly touch on the section – use in the construction much and many . They are translated as “many” and indicate a large amount of something.
Much is used with nouns that we cannot count:
Many is used with countable nouns.
Many cookies, many cats, many men.
This is the difference between much and many in the rules of use.
This concludes the analysis of the topic. As you can see, with the right approach, this topic will be understandable even for a child. Learn and practice making some any constructions with pronouns in English.
Dear readers, you often ask us questions and ask for help. We are happy to help everyone, check your assignments and create articles with explanations. Lately we have received several letters asking us to explain how to use the words some, any, no in sentences. According to your requests, keep the long-awaited article! If you are not always sure what you are using some, any, no as it should, you will definitely need this information.
Any- a determiner, which implies a certain quantity, is used with countable and uncountable nouns when the specific quantity is not important or does not need to be specified. Any used in interrogative sentences ( any amount; any quantity; some), but, as a rule, is not translated into Russian. And any occurs in negative sentences ( not at all, not one, none), where it can be translated into Russian:
Have you got any questions? - Do you have (any, any) questions?
Did you buy any milk? - Did you buy (any; any quantity) milk?
Were there any celebrities? - Were there (any, any) celebrities there?
I cannot see any pictures. - I don’t see (any) pictures.
We have not read any letters. - We didn’t read (any) letters.
There is not any furniture in the room. - There is (no) furniture in the room.
No- a qualifier that denotes the complete absence of something. Used in sentences with a negative meaning. No- a stronger determinant than not any, conveys the idea of absence more emphatically, although both sentences are translated into Russian the same way:
Typically, plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns are used after no, but in certain contexts it is also possible to use no with singular countable nouns:
I have got no friends. - I do not have friends.
She has no husband. - She doesn't have a husband.
Having a sentence with the word some, you can make up its interrogative form (with any) and two negation sentences (c no And not any). If this topic is new to you, then at first you will still think about which word to use, but in the future you will learn to construct different types of statements automatically:
We introduced you to the basics of using the words some, any, no. However, that's not all. There are still some nuances, one might say exceptions, which it would also do you good to remember.
As stated above, some Most often used in affirmative sentences. Exceptions are interrogative sentences in which something is offered or asked:
Do you mind if...?
Can I have some...?
Would you like...?
Would you like some tea? - Would you like (some) tea?
Do you mind if I take some cake? - Do you mind if I take (a little) cake?
Can I have some water? - Can I have (some) water?
Some is also used in questions when they expect a “Yes” answer, and to make it clear that they are expecting an affirmative answer:
In addition to an indefinite quantity, some denotes the indefiniteness of the thing itself (something) when used with a count noun. If you want to show that an object or person is unknown or of little interest to you, do it using the word some:
As it turns out, some can be found in the question. May be, any used in affirmative statements? Yes, it is used. But not in all, but in some cases.
Any is used in, after if:
If you have any questions, just ask me. - If you have any questions, just ask me.
If they leave any messages, you must inform me. - If they leave any messages, you must inform me.
Any is used in statements to mean “any,” “any,” “it doesn’t matter which,” to emphasize the idea of free choice:
You can choose any dress, it will be my present for you. - You can choose any dress, it will be my gift.
If you do not know the way to the laboratory, ask any student. - If you don’t know how to get to the laboratory, ask any student.
If any is used with this meaning, it is emphasized in the sentence.
After words with a negative meaning: never, hardly, without is used any, not some:
That's all you need to know about words some, any, no. Of course, each of these words has additional features, but we will talk about them in our next publications.
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In English grammar, special attention should be paid to the category of indefinite pronouns, which includes pronouns such as some, any, little, few, every, much, etc.
These pronouns are studied in separate topics, usually in pairs:
Some/any;
Either/neither;
Much/many, etc.
This article will cover in detail the pronouns some and any, which are used in different meanings. To present the information in a convenient, structured form, all of it is entered into a table.
Usage table for Some and Any
1. Some and any are used to mean before plural nouns. |
They sent me some boxes of salt - They sent me several boxes of salt. | |
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2. Some and any are used to mean some, several, someinstead of plural nouns. | Some (in affirmative sentences) | Clients of our company wanted to look at the new products and we showed them some – Clients of our company wanted to look at new products, and we showed them a few. |
Any (in interrogative and negative sentences) | Tom asked me for some tickets but I hadn't any - Tom asked me for tickets, but I didn’t have them. | |
3. Some and any are used to mean before uncountable nouns. However, they are often not translated into Russian. | Some (in affirmative sentences) | Add some oil, please – Add some oil, please. |
Any (in interrogative and negative sentences) | We don"t have any work in May - We have no work in May. | |
4. Some and any are used to mean some amount, a little, someinstead of uncountable nouns. | Some (in affirmative sentences) | We need some salt. Please pass me some - We need salt. Pass me the salt, please. |
Any (in interrogative and negative sentences) | I have lost my money on my way home. Have you got any? – I lost my money on the way home. You have money? | |
5. In special matters some is used, not any. |
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6. Some is used to mean some before plural nouns. | Some animals die in cold weather - In cold weather, some animals die. | |
7. Some is used to mean part before uncountable nouns. | Some of the fuel was found in the forest – Some of the fuel was found in the forest. | |
8. Any is used in any sentences to mean everyone, any with uncountable nouns or countable nouns in the singular. |
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And here is another article from the “Grammar for Beginners” series. We have already published four articles and received hundreds of grateful reviews from our readers. Let us remind you: in this series of articles we explain grammar in accessible words without complex terms, so that beginners learning the language from scratch or people who do not remember the basics of English well can understand the grammar and apply it in practice.
Demonstrative pronouns this, that, these, those
Demonstrative pronouns in English indicate an object, person, animal. In the singular we use the pronoun this (this, this, this) and that (that, that, then), in the plural - these (these) and those (those).
This and these | That and those |
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are near us. In some cases, such phrases will contain the word here, which will indicate to you the close location of the object. Look at this book here. - Look at this book. (which means the book is lying next to us) These shoes are too small. - These the shoes are too small. (you try on the shoes and tell the seller that they are small) | 1. We talk about objects and people that are far from us. In some cases, such phrases will contain the words over there (there, over there), which will indicate to you the distant location of the object. That book over there belongs to me. - Ta the book belongs to me. (the book is at the other end of the room, and you show the person that that book over there is yours) Those shoes look fantastic! - Those the shoes look fantastic! (the shoes are on the shelf farthest from you) |
2. Talk about something happening at the moment of speaking or close to the moment of speaking. This girl is charming. - This the girl is charming. (we are looking at the girl at the moment) These hamburgers are tasty. - This delicious hamburgers. (referring to the hamburgers we are eating at the moment) | 2. Talk about the event in the past tense, that is, distant from the moment of speech. That girl I met last week was charming. - Ta the girl I met last week was charming. (action happened in the past) Those hamburgers we ate yesterday were tasty. - Those The burgers we ate yesterday were delicious. (we are talking about the past - a distant point in time) |
3. When we introduce ourselves(in a telephone conversation) or introducing a person / several people. Hello, this is John! - Hello, This John! (we call and introduce ourselves) These are my colleagues, Tom and Jerry. - This my colleagues, Tom and Jerry. | 3. When you ask the person to introduce himself person you're talking to on the phone (person is far from you). Hello, is that Sally? - Hello, This Sally? |
An interesting point: the pronouns this and it are very similar, we can say both This is a dog and It is a dog. What is the difference between them?
This is a dog. - This is a dog. (emphasis on the first word: we want to say that this particular animal, and not some other animal, is a dog)
A cat and a dog stand in front of us. Your friend points to the cat and claims that it is a dog. You point at the dog and say: This is a dog.
It is a dog. - This is a dog. (emphasis on the second word: we want to emphasize that this animal is a dog, not a cat)
Your friend points to your dog and says it's a cat. In this case, you will tell him: It’s a dog (This is a DOG).
Do you understand the difference between these pronouns? Then take our test.
Test for knowledge of demonstrative pronouns this, that, these, those
Using few, a few, little, a little, a lot of, plenty
In the third part of our “Grammar for Beginners” we have already learned five words to denote the quantity of something: many, much, some, any and no. Now let's see what other expressions are used to indicate the number of countable (that can be counted) and uncountable (that cannot be counted) nouns. For convenience, we present everything in a table.
Countable nouns | Uncountable nouns | Translation | Example |
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a lot of, plenty of | many, very many | I have a lot of so many books. I put plenty of so many milk in your coffee. |
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many | much | a lot (many in all types of sentences, much mainly in negative and interrogative sentences) | Do you have many books. - At your place a lot of books? Do you put much milk in my coffee? - You a lot of poured milk into my coffee? |
some | a few, a little (in affirmative sentences) | I have some books. - I have some books. I put some milk in my coffee. - I poured A little milk in your coffee. |
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any | a few, a little (in interrogative and negative sentences) | Do you have any books? - Do you have A little books? Did you put any milk in my coffee? - You poured A little milk in my coffee? |
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a few | a little | little but enough | I have a few books in my library. - In my library A little books. (this number of books is enough for me) I put a little milk in my coffee. - I poured A little milk in your coffee. (It's enough) |
few | little | little and not enough | I have few books in my library. - In my library few books. (so little that it is not enough, a lack is felt) I put little milk in my coffee. - I poured few milk in your coffee. (I would like more, I feel a lack) |
no | there is none, there is none | I have no books in my library. - In my library there is none books. There is no milk in my coffee. - In my coffee there is no milk. |
We would like to explain in a little more detail the difference between the words a few (a little) and few (little). The first of them (a few and a little) are used if you don’t have enough of something, but this amount is still enough for you, you don’t experience a shortage. While we use few and little, when you have little of something and this quantity is not enough for you, you do not have enough of it.
Features of using some, any, no
We found out how to indicate quantity using the words some, any, no. As you noticed, indefinite pronouns in English always come before the noun and, in fact, replace the article. Let's look at examples of how this happens:
There is a book in the box. = There is some book in the box. - In the box some kind book.
Pass me a cup, please. = Pass me any cup, please. - Give me any cup please.
Now let's see how the words some, any, no can be translated and in what sentences they can be used.
- Some - several, a little/a certain amount. Used mainly in affirmative sentences and not used in negative ones.
There are some books in the box. - In the box some books.
Some can also be used in questions when we politely offer or ask something to a person and usually expect an affirmative answer.
Would you like some cookies? - You do not want A little cookies?
Can I have some tea, please? - Can I have some tea, please? - Any - any (any), no/no/none, some. Any is used in negative sentences instead of some, as well as in questions.
Do you know any lawyers in Moscow? - You know any lawyers in Moscow?
She didn't buy any cups. - She didn't buy it no cups.
Are there any difficulties with translation? - Some difficulties with translation? - No - no (none), no (none), no (none). Always used only in negative sentences.
They have no food in the fridge. - They have No (no) food in the refrigerator.
There are no coats in my wardrobe. - In my closet No coat.
Please note: if the sentence contains no, we no longer need to add the negative particle not, it already means “there is no/any/any”. No can be easily replaced by any, the meaning of the sentence will not change, but in this case you also need to add the negation not: not any. In addition, instead of not, you can use the adverb never, which has a negative connotation.
There are no cats in my kitchen. = There are not any cats in my kitchen. - In my kitchen there are no cats
I never see any dogs here. - I never haven't seen it here no dogs.
Take our test and check how well you understand the use of the words some, any, no, as well as others denoting the amount of something.
Test for the use of the words some, any, no, as well as others denoting the amount of something
Indefinite pronouns with some-, any-, no- and every-
So, you already know how to use the pronouns some, any and no. And now we will tell you what other pronouns can be formed from these words:
Talking about people + one/body | We talk about place + where | Talking about things + thing | |
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some- | someone/somebody - somebody, somebody | somewhere - somewhere, somewhere | something - anything, something |
every- | everyone/everybody - everyone, everyone | everywhere - everywhere | everything - everything |
any- | anyone/anybody - anyone, anyone, no one (in negatives) | anywhere - somewhere, anywhere, nowhere (in negatives) | anything - anything, anything, nothing (in negatives) |
no- | no one / nobody - no one | nowhere - nowhere | nothing - nothing |
Please note: someone, everyone and anyone are considered slightly more formal than somebody, everybody and anybody. So it is preferable to use the former in formal speech, in writing, and the latter in casual conversation. In addition, all these pronouns are always followed by the singular verb everybody knows, someone helps, etc.
Let's now figure out which sentences use all of the above words:
- Affirmative sentences: all pronouns.
Somebody/someone closed the door. - Somebody closed the door.
Love is everywhere. - Love everywhere.
No one / nobody is looking for you. - Nobody is not looking for you.However, words that begin with any- have a peculiarity: in statements they are used only in the meaning of “anyone”, “anywhere” and “anything”. In other cases, they are replaced by pronouns that begin with some-.
You can invite anyone/anybody you want. - You can invite whom whatever.
Anybody Somebody broke this vase. - Somebody broke this vase. - Negative sentences: words starting with any-.
I don't know anybody. - I no one Don't know. (can be translated into an affirmative sentence using a word with no)
She didn't say anything about him. - She didn't say Nothing about him.
I can't find this book anywhere. - I can't nowhere find this book.An interesting detail: all of these sentences can be made affirmative, while maintaining a hint of negation, using words starting with no:
I don't know anybody. = I know nobody. - I no one Don't know.
She didn't say anything about him. = She said nothing about him. - She didn't say Nothing about him.
I can't find this book anywhere. = I can find this book nowhere. - I can't nowhere find this book. - Interrogative sentences: words starting with some-, every- and any-.
Can somebody/someone help her? - Anyone can you help her?
Is everyone/everybody here? - All Here?
Can anyone close the door? - Anyone can you close the door?
Not an easy topic, isn't it? Before taking the test, let's take a little rest and watch the video of the singer Adele “Someone like you”, in which she uses indefinite pronouns. In the spoiler you will find the lyrics of the song, you can look there while listening to the video.
Now let's test your understanding of this topic.
Test for the use of indefinite pronouns with some-, any-, no- and every-
In this article we talked about quite difficult and very important topics in English grammar for beginners. Study them thoroughly, and in the meantime we will prepare for you the next part of the article in this series. We wish you success!
In English there are words called quantifiers. They are used to indicate quantity. Unlike numerals, which indicate an exact quantity, these words indicate an approximate quantity. In this article we will talk about words such as much, many, few, little, a lot of And plenty of.
Using much, many and a lot of
All these words are translated into Russian as “many”. However, the use of these words depends on the type of sentence (affirmation, negation or question) and whether it refers to a countable or uncountable noun. The basic rules are presented in the table below:
For example:
He has a lot of books. - He has a lot of books.
Kate doesn't have many DVDs. - Kate's A little DVD. (Literally: Kate doesn't have many DVDs).
Holly spends a lot of time watching TV shows. – Holly conducts a lot of time watching television shows.
Is there much petrol in the tank? - In the tank a lot of gasoline?
Much and many in statements
As you can see, a lot of mainly used in affirmative sentences, and much and many– in denials and questions. However, this rule is not strict, it is based on the frequency of use, so much and many can also be used in statements. For example:
Joe has many friends. - Joe's a lot of friends.
Also words much and many are used instead a lot of in a formal business style:
Many different kinds of research require the permission of the supervisor. – Many types of research require supervisor permission.
If we want to say that there is too much of something (that is, to build an affirmative sentence), then instead a lot of we will use words much and many with an additional word too("too much"). For example:
There were too many people at the conference. - At the conference there was too much of people.
Oliver ate too much ice-cream – Oliver ate too much ice cream
Synonyms of a lot of
Synonym of the word a lot of is lots of. It is believed that lots of more informal and more often used in colloquial speech, and a lot of on the contrary, it is more formal. Lots of can also be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. For example:
Julia eats a lot of vegetables. /Julia eats lots of vegetables. – Julia is a lot of vegetables
They have done a lot of work. /They have done lots of work. - They did a lot of work.
Another word for large quantity is plenty of. Typically, it is used to denote a very large quantity of something, something in abundance:
We have plenty of tea at home. - At our home a lot of tea.
James has brought plenty of biscuits to the office. – James brought it to the office a lot of cookies.
As we see, plenty of can also be used with both countable and uncountable nouns.
Using few, a few, little, a little
In order to understand how these words are used, we need to know two parameters: first, whether the word refers to a countable or uncountable noun, and second, whether the sentence has a positive or negative meaning. Consider the table below:
Kelly has a few close friends. – Kelly has A little close friends. (Positive value).
Kelly has few close friends. – Kelly's few close friends. (Negative meaning).
Bobby has a little money. - Bobby has A little money. (Positive value – a little, but still there).
Bobby has little money. - Bobby's few money. (Negative meaning).
As we see from the examples, these words have the same translation into Russian for both countable and uncountable nouns, but different translations depending on the meaning: with a positive meaning we translate them as “a little”, with a negative meaning as “little”.
The words much, a lot, a little in other meanings
Form a lot sometimes it is used not to mean “a lot”, but to mean “often” or “very”. For example:
Do you enjoy watching films? – Yes, a lot. - Do you like to watch movies? - Yes, Very.
Also words much And a little can be used to form the comparative degree of adjectives. For example:
Sarah is much taller than Brenda. – Sarah much above Brenda.
Peter is a little older than Tim. – Peter A little older than Tim.