Some and any, a little and a few

When do we use:
Some and any

A little and a few
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Slide 1: Slide
EngelsMiddelbare schoolvwoLeerjaar 1

This lesson contains 21 slides, with interactive quizzes and text slides.

time-iconLesson duration is: 50 min

Items in this lesson

When do we use:
Some and any

A little and a few

Slide 1 - Slide

Slide 2 - Slide

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.

Slide 3 - Slide

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!)


Slide 4 - Slide

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)

Slide 5 - Slide

Have you got __ English friends?
A
some
B
any
C
no

Slide 6 - Quiz

No, I haven't got __ English friends.
A
no
B
some
C
any

Slide 7 - Quiz

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.

Slide 8 - Slide

but I have __ English penfriends.
A
some
B
any
C
no

Slide 9 - Quiz

Would you like __ more orange juice?
A
some
B
a
C
no

Slide 10 - Quiz

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.

Slide 11 - Slide

Have you got __ money?
A
any
B
a
C
no

Slide 12 - Quiz

Yes, I've got __
A
any
B
some
C
a

Slide 13 - Quiz

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'.

Slide 14 - Slide

Have you got __ water?
A
any
B
a
C
no

Slide 15 - Quiz

No, I haven't got __
A
some
B
any
C
a

Slide 16 - Quiz

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'.

Slide 17 - Slide

I want to find __one to love.
A
some
B
any
C
no

Slide 18 - Quiz

The answer was correct because:
We can use 'some' and 'any' in compound words (When two words come together to form a new meaning). 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).

Slide 19 - Slide

A little and a few are words also 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.


Slide 20 - Slide

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.

Slide 21 - Slide