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Topic: Some and Any |
26 September 2002 |
Last week we showed you how to use Much, Many and A lot, so this week we will
continue with the use of Some and Any.
Some and Any are used as "determiner", word that is used in order to describe quantity.
Contrary to Much, Many and A lot, which stand for a "big" quantity, Some and Any mean
"small" quantity. They are used in conditions like these:
We use them before uncountable singular and plural nouns. Some of and any of
are used with pronouns and other determiners. Compare:
Would you like some ice- cream?
Would you like some of this ice- cream?
I can't find any books.
I can't find any of my books.
Some and any have the same meaning with article a/an when they are used to
describe an indefinite quantity. Compare:
Have you got an Aspirin? (singular countable noun)
Have you got any Aspirins? (plural countable noun)
I need some medicine. (uncountable noun)
NOTE: All these three words suggest the (indefinitely) small amount of quantity.
We usually use some in affirmative sentences and any in negatives and questions. Compare:
I need some money.
I don't have any money with me now.
Do you have any money?
Sometimes when we expect the answer to the questions to be "yes", like in requests or
offers, we can use some instead of any.
Would you like some more cookies?
Can you pass me some rice?
Do you have some coffee mugs I could borrow?
We use any after words with negative meaning like never, hardly, without and we often use any after if.
You never give me any love.
We went there without any trouble.
There's hardly any coffee left in the jar.
If you want any help, I'll be here.
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Exercise: Some and Any |
| Directions : Choose the right word to complete the sentences. |
 1. Do you have ______ ideas how hard your mother has to work? |
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some |
some of |
any |
any of |
| 2. _______ his ideas are really good. |
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Some |
Some of |
Any |
Any of |
| 3. His colleagues rarely come up with _____ good new ideas. |
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some |
some of |
any |
any of |
| 4. Can you bring _____ food to the party? |
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some |
some of |
any |
any of |
| 5. We don't have _____ soap left. |
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some |
some of |
any |
any of |
| 6. _____ people complained about the service. |
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Some |
Some of |
Any |
Any of |
| 7. ______ the customer has threatened to sue the establishment. |
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Some |
Some of |
Any |
Any of |
| 8. The manager refused to deal with ______ the complaints. |
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some |
some of |
any |
any of |
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Answers |
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