Unit

Unit Exercises 85
85 some and any 85.1 Put in some or any.
1 We didn’t buy any flowers.
A In general we use some (also somebody/someone/something) in positive sentences and any 2 Tonight I’m going out with friends of mine.
(also anybody etc.) in negative sentences: 3 Have you seen good movies recently?
4 I’d like information about what there is to see in this town.
some any
5 I didn’t have money. I had to borrow .
We bought some flowers. We didn’t buy any flowers.
He’s busy. He has some work to do. He’s lazy. He never does any work. 6 You can use your card to withdraw money at cash machine.
There’s somebody at the door. There isn’t anybody at the door. 7 Those apples look nice. Shall we get ?
I want something to eat. I don’t want anything to eat. 8 With the special tourist train ticket, you can travel on train you like.
9 ‘Can I have more coffee, please?’ ‘Sure. Help yourself.’
We use any in the following sentences because the meaning is negative: 10 If there are words you don’t understand, look them up in a dictionary.
She went out without any money. (she didn’t take any money with her) 11 We wanted to buy grapes, but they didn’t have in the shop.
He refused to eat anything. (he didn’t eat anything)
It’s a very easy exam. Hardly anybody fails. (= almost nobody fails) 85.2 Complete the sentences with some- or any- + -body/-thing/-where.
1 I was too surprised to say anything .
B We use both some and any in questions. We use some/somebody/something to talk about a person 2 There’s at the door. Can you go and see who it is?
or thing that we know exists, or we think exists: 3 Does mind if I open the window?
Are you waiting for somebody? (I think you are waiting for somebody) 4 I can’t drive and I don’t know about cars.
5 You must be hungry. Why don’t I get you to eat?
We use some in questions when we ask for or offer things:
Can I have some sugar, please? (there is probably some sugar that I can have) 6 Emma is very tolerant. She never complains about .
Would you like something to eat? (there is something to eat) 7 There was hardly on the beach. It was almost deserted.
8 Let’s go away. Let’s go warm and sunny.
But in most questions, we use any. We do not know if the thing or person exists: 9 I’m going out now. If asks where I am, tell them you don’t know.
Do you have any luggage? (maybe you do, maybe not)
10 Why are you looking under the bed? Have you lost ?
Is there anybody in the house? (maybe there is, maybe not)
11 This is a no-parking area. who parks their car here will have to pay a fine.
12 Quick, let’s go! There’s coming and I don’t want to see us.
C You can use if + any: 13 They stay at home all the time. They never seem to go .
Let me know if you need anything.
14 Jonathan stood up and left the room without saying .
If anyone has any questions, I’ll be pleased to answer them.
15 ‘Can I ask you ?’ ‘Sure. What do you want to ask?’
The following sentences have the idea of if: 16 Sarah was upset about and refused to talk to .
I’m sorry for any trouble I’ve caused. (= if I have caused any trouble) 17 I need to translate. Is there here who speaks English?
The police want to speak to anyone who saw the accident. (= if there is anyone) 18 Sue is very secretive. She never tells . (2 words)

D We also use any with the meaning ‘it doesn’t matter which’: 85.3 Complete the sentences. Use any (+ noun) or anybody/anything/anywhere.
You can take any bus. They all go to the centre. (= it doesn’t matter which bus you take)
Come and see me any time you want. 1 Which bus do I have to take? Any bus . They all go to the centre.
We use anybody/anyone/anything/anywhere in the same way: 2 I don’t mind. next week
We forgot to lock the door. Anybody could have come in. When shall we meet? Monday?
will be OK for me.
Compare some- and any-:
A: I’m hungry. I want something to eat. 3 . I don’t mind.
What do you want to eat?
B: What would you like? Whatever you have.
A: I don’t mind. Anything. (= it doesn’t matter what)
4 It’s your party. You can invite
B: Let’s go out somewhere. Who shall I invite to the party?
you want.
A: Where shall we go?
B: Anywhere. I just want to go out. 5 . It doesn’t matter what
What sort of job are you looking for?
it is.
E Somebody/someone/anybody/anyone are singular words:
Someone is here to see you. 6 It’s up to you. You can sit
Where shall I sit?
you like.
But we use they/them/their after these words:
Someone has forgotten their umbrella. (= his or her umbrella) 7 No, it’s easy. can learn
If anybody wants to leave early, they can. (= he or she can) Is this machine difficult to use?
to use it very quickly.

170 not … any ➜ Unit 86 some of / any of … ➜ Unit 88 hardly any ➜ Unit 101C 171
 Unit
Unit Exercises 87
87 much, many, little, few, a lot, plenty 87.1 In some of these sentences much is incorrect or unnatural. Change much to many or a lot (of)
where necessary. Write ‘OK’ if the sentence is correct.
A We use much and little with uncountable nouns: 1 We didn’t eat much. OK
much luck much time little energy little money 2 My mother drinks much tea. My mother drinks a lot of tea.
We use many and few with plural nouns: 3 Be quick. We don’t have much time.
many friends many people few cars few children 4 It cost much to repair the car.
5 Did it cost much to repair the car?
We use a lot of / lots of / plenty of with both uncountable and plural nouns:
a lot of luck lots of time plenty of money 6 You have much luggage. Let me help you.
a lot of friends lots of people plenty of ideas 7 There wasn’t much traffic this morning.
8 I don’t know much people in this town.
plenty = more than enough: 9 Do you eat much fruit?
There’s no need to hurry. We’ve got plenty of time.
10 Mike likes travelling. He travels much.
There’s plenty to do in this town.
87.2 Complete the sentences using plenty of … or plenty to … . Choose from:
B Much is unusual in positive sentences (especially in spoken English). Compare:
hotels learn money room see time
We didn’t spend much money. but We spent a lot of money.
Do you see David much? but I see David a lot. 1 There’s no need to hurry. There’s plenty of time.
But we use too much / so much / as much in positive sentences: 2 He has no financial problems. He has
We spent too much money. 3 Come and sit with us. There’s
We use many and a lot of in all kinds of sentences: 4 She knows a lot, but she still has
Many people drive too fast. or A lot of people drive too fast. 5 It’s an interesting town to visit. There
Do you know many people? or Do you know a lot of people? 6 I’m sure we’ll find somewhere to stay.
There aren’t many tourists here. or There aren’t a lot of tourists here.
87.3 Put in much/many/little/few (one word only).
Note that we say many years / many weeks / many days:
We’ve lived here for many years. (not usually a lot of years) 1 She isn’t popular. She has few friends.
2 Anna is very busy these days. She has free time.
3 Did you take pictures at the wedding?
C little = not much, few = not many:
4 This is a modern city. There are old buildings.
Gary is very busy with his job. He has little time for other things.
(= not much time, less time than he would like) 5 The weather has been very dry recently. We’ve had rain.
Vicky doesn’t like living in London. She has few friends there. 6 I don’t know London well. I haven’t been there for years.
(= not many friends, not as many as she would like) 7 The two cars are similar. There is difference between them.
8 I’m not very busy today. I don’t have to do.
We often use very little and very few:
9 It’s a wonderful place to live. There are better places to be.
Gary has very little time for other things.
Vicky has very few friends in London. 87.4 Which is right?
1 She’s lucky. She has few problems / a few problems. (few problems is correct)
D a little = some, a small amount: 2 Can you lend me few dollars / a few dollars?
Let’s go and have coffee. We have a little time before the train leaves.
3 It was the middle of the night, so there was little traffic / a little traffic.
(a little time = some time, enough time to have a coffee)
4 They got married few years ago / a few years ago.
‘Do you speak English?’ ‘A little.’ (so we can talk a bit)
5 I can’t give you a decision yet. I need little time / a little time to think.
a few = some, a small number: 6 I don’t know much Russian – only few words / only a few words.
I enjoy my life here. I have a few friends and we meet quite often. 7 It was a surprise that he won the game. Few people / A few people expected him to win.
(a few friends = not many, but enough to have a good time)
‘When was the last time you saw Clare?’ ‘A few days ago.’ (= 3 or 4 days ago) 87.5 Put in little / a little / few / a few.
1 Gary is very busy with his job. He has little time for other things.
E Compare little and a little, few and a few: 2 Listen carefully. I’m going to give you advice.
He spoke little English, so it was difficult to communicate with him. 3 Do you mind if I ask you questions?
He spoke a little English, so we were able to communicate with him. 4 It’s not a very interesting place, so tourists visit.
She’s lucky. She has few problems. (= not many problems)
5 I don’t think Amy would be a good teacher. She has patience.
Things are not going so well for her. She has a few problems. (= some problems)
6 ‘Would you like milk in your coffee?’ ‘Yes, , please.’
We say only a little (not only little) and only a few (not only few): 7 This is a boring place to live. There’s to do.
Hurry! We only have a little time. (= some, but not much time) 8 I know Hong Kong quite well. I’ve been there times.
The village was small. There were only a few houses. (= some but not many houses) 9 There were only people at the meeting.
10 ‘Did you do all this work on your own?’ ‘No, I had help from my friends.’
174 Countable and uncountable ➜ Units 69–70 175