2015-08-21
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Numbers can be modified by e g about almost exactly fewer than
at least less than more than nearly over under
There were over seventy people at the party (= more than) You can t vote if you re under eighteen (= less than)
5.10 The use of 'some' and 'any'
Some and any are the most frequently used quantity words in the language They never answer How many? and How much? How many do you want? - e g Just a few (Not 'some*) How much do you want? - e g Just a little (Not 'some')
We generally use some and any when it is not important to state
exactly how great or how small the quantity is They often function as
if they were the plural of a an [> 3.6, 4.16]
There are some letters tor you (unspecified number)
How many (letters are there)? Seven (number specified)
There s some bread in the bread-bin (unspecified amount)
How much (bread is there)? Half a loaf (amount specified)
It is sometimes possible to omit some or any [> 3.28.8, 5.3] My wife bought me medicine and pastilles for my cough
Some (= indefinite quantity or amount) is normally used
- in the affirmative There are some eggs in the fridge (i e an unstated number) There is some milk in the fridge (i e an unstated quantity)
- in questions when we expect (or hope to get) the answer 'Yes' Have you got some paper-clips in that box? (i e I know or I think
you've got some and expect you to say 'Yes')
- in offers, requests, invitations and suggestions when we expect the
answer 'Yes' or expect implied agreement
Particular quantifiers and their uses
The following are in the form of questions though we are not seeking information [> 11.35-36]
Would you like some (more) coffee? (expecting 'Yes) May I have some (more) coffee? (expecting 'Yes)
- to mean 'certain but not all
Some people believe anything they read in the papers
Not some can be used in certain contexts to mean not all
/ didn't understand some of the lectures some of the information
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Some + countable or uncountable noun is normally unstressed in fluent speech and is pronounced /səm/
There are some /səm/ ' letters for you As a pronoun some is pronounced /sAm/ but not usually stressed
Would you like any sugar? – I’ ve had some /sAm/ thank you Some, meaning certain but not all (see note above) is usually stressed and is pronounced /sAm/ It can be stressed at the beginning of a statement to emphasize a contrast
Some /sAm/ people have no manners It can be stressed to refer to an unspecified person/thing
'Some /sAm/ boy left his shirt in the cloakroom [ > 5. 1 2. 1 ]
Any (= indefinite quantity or amount) is normally used
- in negative statements containing not or n t We haven't got any shirts in your size There isn't any milk in the fridge
- in questions when we are not sure about the answer or expect No Have you got any paper-clips in the box? (i e I don t know if you've got any and wouldn t be surprised if you said 'No)
- in sentences containing a negative word other than not such as hardly never seldom or without or when there is any suggestion of doubt e g with if or whether [implied negatives > 13.8]
There s hardly any petrol in the tank
We got to Pans without any problems
I don t know if/whether there's any news from Harry
- with at all and (more formally) whatever for special emphasis
/ haven't got any idea at all/whatever about what happened
5.11 The use of 'not...any', 'no' and 'none' 5.11.1 Not...any'and no'
An alternative way of forming a negative is with no [compare > 13.9]
not any There aren't any buses after midnight
no There are no buses after midnight
A clause can contain only one negative word so that not and e g no or never cannot be used together [> 7.39, 13.10]
/ could get no information (Not */ couldn t*) When used in preference to not any no is sl'ghtly more formal and makes a negative idea more emphatic Negatives with not any are used in normal conversation but we must always use no (Never 'not any*) if we wish to begin a sentence with a negative
No department stores open oi Sundays
5 Quantity
No can combine with a singular noun:
There's no letter for you (= There isn't a letter for you.)
/' m no expert but I think this painting is a fake No at the beginning of a statement strongly emphasizes a negative idea [compare > 13.9].
5.11.2 'No' and 'none' [compare 'none of, > 5.5.2]
No meaning not any is a determiner and can only be used before a
noun; none stands on its own as a pronoun:
There isn't any bread There’s no bread There’s none
There aren't any sweets There are no sweets There are none
Like no, none is more emphatic than not any. When no or none are
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used, not cannot be used as well [> 7.39, 13.10]:
/ couldn't get any information about flights to the USA
I could get no information about flights to the USA
Do you have any new diaries? – We’ve got none at the moment
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Special uses of 'some', 'any' and 'no'
'Some'
Apart from its common use as a quantifier, some can be used to refer to an unspecified person or thing, etc. When used in this way it is generally stressed [> 5.10] and can mean:
- 'several': / haven't seen Tom for some years
- 'approximately': There were some 400 demonstrators
- 'extraordinary': That’s some radio you ve bought' (informal)
- 'an unknown': There must be some book which could help
- 'no kind of: That’s some consolation I must say1 (ironic)
With abstract nouns some can be used to mean 'an amount of: We ve given some thought to your idea and find it interesting
5.12.2 Any'
Apart from its common use as a quantifier, any can be used to refer to an unspecified person or thing and can occur in affirmative statements. When used in this way it is stressed and can mean:
- 'usual': This isn t just any cake (it's special)
- 'the minimum/maximum': He II need any help he can get
- 'I don't care which': Give me a plate Any plate/one will do
5.12.3 'Any' and 'no' + adjective or adverb
Any and no, used as adverbs to mean 'at all', will combine with adjectives and adverbs in the comparative:
Is he any better this morning? No he’s no better Any and no, used as adverbs, combine with a few positive adjectives, e.g. good (any good) and different (any different)
Is that book any good? - It s no good at all
5.13 Common uses of 'much' and 'many' [also > 6.24, 7.4]
We normally use much(+ uncountable) and many(+ plural countable):
- in negative statements:
/ haven't much time There aren't many pandas in China
Particular quantifiers and their uses
- in questions: (For questions with How much many? [> 13.40.1])
Is there much milk in that carton? Have you had many inquiries? In everyday speech we usually avoid using much and many in affirmative statements. We use other quantifiers, especially a lot of [> 5.14]. Much and many occur in formal affirmative statements: Much has been done to improve conditions of work Many teachers dislike marking piles of exercise books
Combinations like as much as and as many as are used in the affirmative or negative:
You can/can' t have as much as (as many as) you like When much and many are modified by much and far (much far too much far too many) they tend to be used in the affirmative:
Your son gets much/far too much pocket money
There are far too many accidents at this junction Many in time expressions occurs in the affirmative or negative:
/ have lived here/haven t lived here (for) many years
Not much and not many commonly occur in short answers:
Have you brought much luggage? No not much
Have you written many letters? No not many Not much and not many can be subjects or part of the subject:
Not much is really known about dinosaurs
Not many people know about Delia s past
Much occurs in a number of expressions (e.g. there s not much point
in it’s a bit much, he’s not much of a):
There's not much point in telling the same story again
Not so much occurs in comparisons: It s not so much a bedroom, more a studio Dennis is not so much a nuisance as a menace It's not so much that he dislikes his parents, as that/but that he wants to set up on his own
Many (like few [> 5.15.1]) can be modified by the my your, etc.: One of the many people he knows can help him to get a job
