Some / Any / No

Now that you have reviewed the basics of using quantifiers, let’s look at how to use some of the most common: some / any / no / many / few / all / whole / so / such

Some

  • some
  • something
  • someone
  • somebody
  • somewhere

Any

  • any
  • anything
  • anyone
  • anybody
  • anywhere

The most basic difference between these is that some or some~ are used in affirmative sentences. Any or any~ are used in negative sentences and questions. Both some and any can be used with countable and uncountable nouns.

  • I would really like some water.
  • I would really like somebody to take my order.
  • He doesn't have any money.
  • Did you go anywhere last night?

Some or some~ are used in requests, offers, and invitations. They are used in any kind of question that we expect the answer to be yes - for example in offers and requests.

  • Have I met you somewhere before? (Expect the answer to be yes)
  • Would you like something to eat? (Offer: Expect the answer to be yes)
  • Can we go somewhere and talk in private? (Request: Expect the answer to be yes)
  • Would you like to come with me and get something to eat? (Invitation: Expect the answer to be yes)

Any or any~ are used in affirmative sentences that have a negative meaning.

  • He left without saying anything.
  • I have never eaten any food from that country.
  • She has hardly anything to say.
  • I would come with you if I had any time.

Any or any~ are also used to mean "It doesn't matter who, what, which, where, etc."

  • You can use any computer you like.
  • I don't care where we eat. Anywhere is fine.
  • I usually buy anything that catches my eye.
  • Anyone can learn English!

No

  • no
  • nothing
  • no one
  • nobody
  • nowhere

No or no~ are used to emphasize the negative. They are also used as sentence subjects.

  • I see nothing I like on the menu.
  • Wow, I just have no time these days.
  • Nobody wants to help me!
  • Nowhere is more beautiful than this park!

Many / Much

Many and much are usually found in negative sentences and questions.

  • How many kilograms of plastic are thrown away every year?
  • Do you have much spare time this weekend?
  • There isn't much we can do about the problem.
  • There aren't many people in line to use the bathroom.

Much and many are usually in affirmative sentences after so, as, or too.

  • In my country, there are so many problems with the economy.
  • I have almost as many friends as you do.
  • You spend too much time working as the treasurer.
  • You worry too much about your reputation.
  • Wow, I used so much money today.
  • He's been to as many countries as I have.

With the exception to the second rule above, the use of much and many in affirmative sentences is quite formal. Below are other expressions used in formal and informal English. These expressions all have the meaning of much or many.

Written or Formal English

  • (Quite) A great deal of + uncount noun
    • A great deal of money is wasted every year.
  • (Quite) A large amount of + uncount noun
    • There is a large amount of gold in the north of that country.
  • (Quite) A large number of + count noun
    • There are a large number of committee members who disagree with the initiative.

Spoken or Informal English

  • Plenty of + countable / uncountable noun
    • We ate plenty of good food on our vacation!
    • People can find plenty of ways to reduce their consumption of single-use plastics.
  • Lots of + countable / uncountable noun
    • Lots of students learn English without using a dictionary.
    • There is lots of information about that subject on the Internet.
  • (Quite) A lot of + countable / uncountable noun
    • A lot of time was spent on the initiative.
    • We need a lot of extra plates and glasses for the party.
  • (Quite) A bunch of + countable / uncountable noun
    • You need a bunch of money if you plan to remodel your kitchen.
    • A bunch of people were watching the game in the bar.

Little / Few / A bit of

A little and a few express a small amount in normally a positive way. Usually with these expressions, the quantity is enough for something.

  • Let's go get a coffee. I have a little money to spend.
  • I went to the game with a few of my friends.

Little and few without a express a small amount in a negative way. Usually this means there is not enough.

  • Changing our habits may be difficult, but we have little choice in the matter.
  • There are few people in this nightclub. Let's go somewhere else.

A bit of is common in spoken or informal English for uncount nouns.

  • We watched a bit of the beginning of that movie before we left.
  • A bit of the information you gave me was actually incorrect.

When we use the adverb quite before the expressions a few, or a bit of, the meaning is the opposite. Strangely, this means many or much in English.

  • I spent quite a bit of time on my homework last night.
  • There are quite a few people in line.
  • We visited quite a few museums in Italy.

All

When we are speaking generally in English, we prefer the words everybody, everyone, and everything over all.

  • In my country, everybody uses chopsticks.
  • Everything in that store was on sale.
  • Everyone needs to work hard if we are going to save this planet.

All is more common with determiners. When we use determiners, you can say all or all of.

  • All of the students in the room are tired this morning.
  • All of your homework was done perfectly.
  • We ate all of the food on the table.

Only all of is used with personal object pronouns.

  • I hate all of you!
  • "Where are all the bananas?" "I ate all of them!"

All is also common with relative clauses. You can also use everything with the same meaning.

  • All you did was wonderful!
  • All she told me was quite confusing.
  • Everything you did was wonderful.

This structure can also have a negative meaning. This is commonly used to mean nothing more or only this.

  • All I've eaten this morning is a banana.
    • A banana is all I've eaten this morning.
  • All you ever do is watch TV.
    • Watching TV is all you ever do.
  • All that we did was turn on the lights.
    • Turning on the lights was all we did.
  • All I want is you.
    • You are all I want.

Whole

Whole, is also a determiner with a similar meaning to, all but the form is a bit different.

  • All my family loves spicy food. (all + determiner + noun)
  • My whole family loves spicy food. (determiner + whole + noun)

We can also use indefinite articles with whole. We can’t do this with all.

  • I spent the whole weekend watching Netflix. (but never: I spent the all weekend watching Netflix.)
  • My brother usually eats a whole pizza to himself! (but never: My brother usually eats all a pizza by himself.)

We use the whole, or the whole of to refer to singular things that are countable. Either of these work in any situation, but it’s more casual without the of. We can’t use whole for uncountable nouns. In that case we use all of.

  • The whole situation was strange and uncomfortable.
  • The people behind us were talking through the whole of the performance.
  • I spent all of the money. (not: I spent the whole money.)

If we use whole with plural nouns, we are talking about entire or complete groups. We use all for all other plural nouns.

  • Whole neighbourhoods were wiped out by the hurricane. (entire neighbourhoods)
  • All the neighbourhoods were wiped out by the hurricane. (every single neighbourhood)

Exercise

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