2. Indefinite quantity words
Some – Any – A lot of
Some and any are used for indefinite
quantity or indefinite number. They are
used when it is not important or it is not
easy to say exactly how much /many one
thinks of
3. Some – Any – A lot of
• I need to buy some new clothes.
• There are some nice neighbors in this area.
• Is there any milk left?
• There isn’t any traffic really early in the
morning.
• They put some food in a basket.
• Kemal bought some furniture for his flat.
• Is there any crime in this town?
4. Some is mostly used in positive sentences – for countable and
uncountable nouns and in questions (offers & requests) : when you
encourage or expect people to answer “yes”
• They bought some magazines before the flight.
• He need some medicine for his cold.
• We have some apple trees in our garden.
• I want some biscuits.
• I need some new shirts.
• I would like some coffee.
• I need some help.
• There are some children out side the school building.
• Have you brought some paper and a pen?
• Shouldn’t there be some instructions of how to use this fire extinguisher?
• Would you like some more cake/tea?
• Have you got some glasses that I could borrow?
• Do you want to hear some advice from an old man like me?
• Do you mind if I put some music on ?
• Can I have some cheese?
5. Any is used for an indefinite amount or number when it is not important to
say how much or how many in questions and negative sentences or in
sentences where there is an idea of doubt or negative meaning.
• Have you got any biscuits? • He hasn’t got any coffee
• Are there any biscuits left on the plate? • I haven’t got any butter.
• Did you buy any fruits/coffee from the • There aren’t any eggs in the fridge.
store ? • We haven’t any milk.
• Do you have any TL/USD with you? • They haven’t any stationery
• Did you buy any clothes? • We haven’t any carrots.
• Didn’t you send any postcards? • I don’t want any biscuits
• Did you go anywhere during the • There aren’t any people in the streets
holiday? after 7 p.m. in this town .
• Did you buy any/some clothes? • I haven’t any friends.
• Have you got any problems with
grammar?
• Are there any magazines.
• Is there any water in that can?
• Is there water on the moon? (the
amount if not important – only if the
existence of water
6. A lot of – lots of before singular uncountable and plural nouns and before pronouns;
especially with nouns which has no determiners (a lot of meat / a lot of shops) .
When a lot of is used before a plural subject, the verb is plural, when a lot of is used
before a singular subject, the verb is singular. A lot of is an informal quantity word
• There isn’t a lot of meat left in the freezer.
• A lot of shops are closed on Sunday at the city center.
• A lot of time is need to learn a language.
• A lot of people want to go to the USA
• Do you have a lot of music CDs?
• There is a lot of tourism in Rapa Nui.
• There aren’t a lot of tourists in Marmaris this year.
• A lot of wool is need to make a blanket.
• Have you got a lot of furniture to put in your villa?
• Are there a lot of Chinese students in your class this semester?
• Do you use a lot of electricity in your home?
• This vacuum cleaner does not use a lot of energy?
• There is a lot of tea in the tea pot?
• There is a lot of salt in this meal.
7. Many is used with plural countable nouns in questions
and negatives
Much is used with singular uncountable nouns in
questions and negatives
Much Many
• I haven’t got much time. • I don’t know many of your friends.
• There isn’t much light in the house. • In this supermarket there aren’t many
vegetables to choose from.
• That teacher gives too much homework • There aren’t many fish in the sea.
every day. • There aren’t many girls in the department of
• There isn’t much homework for space engineering.
tomorrow. • There aren’t many clean glasses left in the
• We haven’t much bread in the house. cupboard.
• Do you have many music CDs.
• Do you have much to do in the house ?
• How many problems do you need to to solve
• I don’t have much experience in travelling for the physics lesson?
overseas. • How many students are enrolled for the
• She doesn’t eat much breakfast. aerobic lesson.
• The dentist didn’t do much with my teeth. • There aren’t many coffee cups in the kitchen.
• How many onions do you need to make the
• How much rain does Antalya get in meal.
winter?
• There was too much heat in Istanbul last
summer.
• There isn’t much food in the fridge.
