Some and any, a little and a few

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

When do we use:

Some and any

A little and a few

Some

However, we can also use "some" in questions.

"Would you like some tea?" (I expect the answer to be "Yes".)

When we use some in a question, we limit what we are offering the other person.

For example, "Can I get you something to drink? – Coffee, or tea?" means I am offering you a limited choice of things to drink.

Any

When we use "any" in a question, we are not limiting the choice.

For example, "Would you like anything to drink?" includes a whole range of things to drink.

"Do you have any questions?" (You can ask me anything you like!)

We can combine some and any with other words:

Something – anything

Somewhere – anywhere

Someone – anyone

Somebody – anybody

The rules for using these are the same as the rules for using some and any.

"I need to find somewhere to live." (positive sentence)

"Is there anywhere you would recommend?" (question)

"I didn't know anyone at the party." (negative sentence)

"Somebody at the party spilt beer on the carpet." (we're not sure who)

Have you got __ English friends?

1. some
2. any
3. no

No, I haven't got __ English friends.

1. no
2. some
3. any

answer was correct because:

1. Have you got any English friends?

When we ask questions, we usually use 'any' before the noun.

2. No I haven't got any English friends.

In negative sentences, we usually use 'any' before the noun.

But I have __ English penfriends.

1. some
2. any
3. no

Would you like __ more orange juice?

1. some
2. a
3. no

answer was correct because:

1.But I have some English penfriends

In positive (affirmative) sentences, we often use 'some' before plural or uncountable nouns.

2. Would you like some more orange juice

When we make offers, we can use 'some' or 'any' before the noun.

Have you got __ money?

1. any
2. a
3. no

Yes, I've got __

1. any
2. some
3. a

The answer was correct because:

1. Have you got any money?

When we ask questions, we usually use 'any' before the noun.

2. Yes, I've got some

Use 'some' as a pronoun at the end of a sentence (for example, in answer to the question ''Have you got any...?'') In this example, 'some' = 'some money'.

Have you got __ water?

1. any
2. a
3. no

No, I haven't got __

1. some
2. any
3. a

The answer was correct because:

1. Have you got any water?

When we ask questions, we usually use 'any' before the noun.

2. No, I haven't got any.

Use 'any' at the end of a question as a pronoun. For example, here 'any' = 'any water'.

I want to find __one to love.

1. some
2. any
3. no

The answer was correct because:

We can use 'some' and 'any' in compound words. The difference between 'someone' and 'anyone' is that 'someone' is more restricted. I want someone to love (= one person), not 'anyone' (any person at all).

A little and a few are quantifiers meaning ‘some’.

 Little and few have negative meanings. We can use them to mean ‘not as much as may be expected or wished for’. Or to mean not very much of something.

We use a little with singular uncountable nouns. We use a few with plural countable nouns:

Mary likes a little milk in her  tea but not much

It'll take  a few years for the garden to look nice. We have only just started to plant things in it.

A lot of / lots of

We use a lot of and lots of in informal styles. Lots of is more informal than a lot of. A lot of and lots of can both be used with plural countable nouns and with singular uncountable nouns for affirmatives, negatives, and questions:

There are a lot of people waiting at the bus stop. The bus is going to be very full.