6. Who did you meet? ---
7. What did you buy? ---
Now write full sentences using any/anybody/anything/anywhere.
8 (1) _I didn't do anything._
9. (2) I ---
10. (3) ---
11. (4) ---
12. (5) ---
13. (6) ---
14. (7) ---
85.2 Complete these sentences with no, none or any.
1. It was a public holiday, so there were _no_ shops open.
2. I haven't got _any_ money. Can you lend me some?
3. I couldn't make an omelette because there were --- eggs.
4. I couldn't make an omelette because there weren't --- eggs.
5. 'How many eggs have we got? --- I'll go and buy some from the shop if you like.'
6. We took a few photographs but --- of them were very good.
7. What a stupid thing to do! --- intelligent person would do such a thing.
8. I'll try and answer --- questions you ask me.
9. I couldn't answer --- of the questions they asked me.
10. We cancelled the party because --- of the people we invited were able to come.
85.3 Complete these sentences with no- or any- + -body/-thing/-where.
1. I don't want _anything_ to drink. I'm not thirsty.
2. The bus was completely empty. There was --- on it.
3. 'Where did you go for your holidays? --- I stayed at home.'
4. I went to the shops but I didn't buy ---.
5. 'What did you buy? '---. couldn't find --- I wanted.'
6. The town was still the same when I returned years later --- had changed.
7. Have you seen my watch? I've looked all over the house but I can't find it ---.
8. There was complete silence in the room. --- said ---.
85.4 Choose the right word.
1. She didn't tell _nobody/anybody_ about her plans. (anybody is correct)
2. The accident looked serious but fortunately _nobody/anybody_ was injured.
3. I looked out of the window but I couldn't see _nobody/anybody._
4. My job is very easy. _Nobody/Anybody_ could do it.
5. 'What's in that box?' _'Nothing/Anything._ It's empty.'
6. The situation is uncertain. _Nothing/Anything_ could happen.
7. I don't know _nothing/anything_ about economics.
UNIT 86. Much, many, little, few, a lot, plenty
A. We use much and little with uncountable nouns:
much time much luck little energy little money
We use many and few with plural nouns:
many friends many people few cars few countries
B. We use a lot of/lots of/plenty of with uncountable and plural nouns:
a lot of luck lots of time plenty of money a lot of friends lots of people plenty of ideas
Plenty = more than enough:
* There's no need to hurry. We've got plenty of time.
* I've had plenty to eat. I don't want any more.
C. We use much/many especially in negative sentences and questions. A lot (of) is also possible:
* We didn't spend much money. (or We didn't spend a lot of money.)
* Do you know many people? (or Do you know a lot of people?)
* I don't go out much. (or I don't go out a lot.)
In positive sentences a lot (of) is more usual. Much is unusual in positive sentences in spoken English:
* We spent a lot of money. (not 'We spent much money')
* He goes out a lot. (not 'He goes out much')
You can use many in positive sentences, but a lot (of) is more usual in spoken English:
* A lot of people (or Many people) drive too fast.
But note that we use too much and so much in positive sentences:
* We spent too much money.
D. Little and few (without 'a') are negative ideas (= not much/not many):
* We must be quick. There is little time. (= not much, not enough time)
* He isn't popular. He has few friends. (= not many, not enough friends) You can say very little and very few:
* There is very little time.
* He has very few friends.
A little and a few are more positive. A little = some, a small amount:
* Let's go and have a drink. We've got a little time before the train leaves. (a little time = some time, enough time to have a drink)
* 'Do you speak English?' 'A little.' (so we can talk a bit)
A few = some, a small number:
* I enjoy my life here. I have a few friends and we meet quite often. (a few friends = not many but enough to have a good time)
* 'When did you last see Clare?' 'A few days ago.' (= some days ago)
Compare:
* He spoke little English, so it was difficult to communicate with him.
He spoke a little English, so we were able to communicate with him.
* She's lucky. She has few problems. (= not many problems)
Things are not going so well for her. She has a few problems. (= some problems)
Note that 'only a little' and 'only a few' have a negative meaning:
* We must be quick. We've only got a little time.
* The village was very small. There were only a few houses.
EXERCISES
86.1 In some of these sentences much is incorrect or unnatural. Change much to many or a lot (of) where necessary.
1. We didn't spend much money. _RIGHT_
2. Sue drinks much tea. _a lot of tea_
3. Jim always puts much salt on his food.
4. We'll have to hurry. We haven't got much time.
5. Did it cost much to repair the car?
6. It cost much to repair the car.
7. I don't know much people in this town.
8. I use the phone much at work.
9. They've got so much money they don't know what to do with it.
86.2 Complete the sentences using plenty (of) + one of the following:
hotels money room time to learn things to see
1. There's no need to hurry. _We're got of time._
2. He's got no financial problems. He's got ---.
3. Come and sit with us. There's ---.
4. She knows a lot but she still has ---.
5. It's an interesting town to visit. There ---.
6. I'm sure we'll find somewhere to stay ---.
86.3 Put in much, many, few or little.
1. He isn't very popular. He has _few_ friends.
2. Ann is very busy these days. She has --- free time.
3. Did you take --- photographs when you were on holiday?
4. I'm not very busy today. I haven't got --- to do.
5. The museum was very crowded. There were too --- people.
6. Most of the town is modern. There are --- old buildings.
7. The weather has been very dry recently. We've had --- rain.
86.4 Some of these sentences need a. Put in a where necessary. Put 'RIGHT' if the sentence is already complete.
1. She's lucky. She has _few problems._ _RIGHT_
2. Things are not going so well for her. She has _few problems._ _a few problems_
3. Can you lend me _few dollars?_
4. I can't give you a decision yet. I need _little time_ to think.
5. There was _little traffic_, so the journey didn't take very long.
6. It was a surprise that he won the match. _Few people_ expected him to win.
7. I don't know much Spanish--_only few words._
86.5 Put in little/a little/few/a few.
1. We must be quick. We have _little_ time.
2. Listen carefully. I'm going to give you --- advice.
3. Do you mind if I ask you --- questions?
4. This town is not a very interesting place to visit, so --- tourists come here.
5. I don't think Jill would be a good teacher. She's got --- patience.
6. 'Would you like milk in your coffee?' 'Yes, please ---.'
7. This is a very boring place to live. There's --- to do.
8. 'Have you ever been to Paris?' 'Yes, I've been there --- times.'
UNIT 87. All/all of most/most of no/none of etc.
all some any most much/many little/few
A. You can use the words in the box (and also no) with a noun (some food/few books etc.):
* All cars have wheels.
* Some cars can go faster than others.
* (on a notice) NO CARS (= no cars allowed)
* Many people drive too fast.
* I don't go out very often. I'm at home most days.
You cannot say 'all of cars', 'most of people' etc. (see also Section B):
* Some people are very unfriendly. (not 'some of people')
Note that we say most (not 'the most'):
* Most tourists don't visit this part of the town. (not 'the most tourists')
B. Some of .../most of .../none of ... etc.
You can use the words in the box (also none and half) with of. You can say some of (the people), most of (my friends), none of (this money) etc.
We use some of, most of (etc.) + the/this/that/these/those/my/his/Ann's... etc.
So we say:
some of the people, some of those people (but not 'some of people')
most of my friends, most of Ann's friends (but not 'most of friends')
none of this money, none of their money (but not 'none of money')
For example:
* Some of the people I work with are very friendly.
* None of this money is mine.
* Have you read any of these books?
* I wasn't well yesterday. I spent most of the day in bed.
You don't need of after all or half. So you can say:
* All my friends live in London. or All of my friends ...
* Half this money is mine. or Half of this money ...
See also Section C.
Compare all ... and all (of) the ...:
* All flowers are beautiful. (= all flowers in general)
* All (of) the flowers in this garden are beautiful. (= a particular group of flowers)
C. You can use all of/some of/none of etc. + it/us/you/them:
* 'How many of these people do you know?' 'None of them.' /'A few of them.'
* Do any of you want to come to a party tonight?
* 'Do you like this music?' 'Some of it. Not all of it.'
Before it/us/you/them you need of after all and half (all of, half of):
all of us (not 'all us') half of them (not 'half them')
D. You can use the words in the box (and also none) alone, without a noun:
* Some cars have four doors and some have two.
* A few of the shops were open but most (of them) were closed.
* Half (of) this money Is mine, and half (of it) is yours. (not 'the half')
EXERCISES
87.1 Put in of where necessary. Leave an empty space H if the sentence is already complete.
1. All - cars have wheels.
2. None _of_ this money is mine.
3. Some --- people get angry very easily.
4. Some --- the people I met at the party were very interesting.
5. I have lived in London most --- my life.
6. Many --- people watch too much TV.
7. Are any --- those letters for me?
8. Most --- days I get up before 7 o'clock.
9. Jim thinks that all --- museums are boring.
87.2 Choose from the list and complete the sentences. Use of (some of/most of etc.) where necessary.
accidents ears her friends the people I invited birds my dinner the houses the population these books European countries her opinions my spare time
1. I haven't read many _of these books._
2. All cars have wheels.
3. I spend most --- gardening.
4. It's a historic town. Many --- are over 400 years old.
5. Many --- are caused by bad driving.
6. When she got married, she kept it a secret. She didn't tell any ---.
7. Not many people live in the north of the country. Most --- live in the south,
8. Not all --- can fly. For example, the penguin can't fly.
9. None --- to the party could come, so I cancelled it.
10. Julia and I have very different ideas. I don't agree with many ---.
11. Sarah travels a lot. She has been to most ---.
12. I had no appetite. I could only eat half ---.
87.3 Complete the sentences using the words in brackets. Sometimes no other words are necessary. Sometimes you need the or of the.
1. I wasn't well yesterday. I spent _most of the day_ in bed. (most/day)
2. _Some cars_ can go faster than others. (some/cars)
3. --- drive too fast. (many/people)
4. --- you took on holiday were very good. (some/photographs)
5. --- learn more quickly than others. (some/people)
6. We've eaten --- we bought. There's very little left. (most/food)
7. Have you spent --- you borrowed? (all)money)
8. Peter can't stop talking. He talks ---. (all/time)
9. We had a lazy holiday. We spent --- on the beach. (most/time)
10. George is easy to get on with --- like him. (most/people)
11. The exam was difficult. I could only answer ---. (half/questions)
87.4 Complete the sentences. Use all/some/none + it/them/us (all of it/some of them etc.).
1. These books are all Jane's. None of them belong to me.
2. 'How many of these books have you read? --- Every one.'
3. We all got wet in the rain because --- had an umbrella.
4. Some of this money is yours and --- is mine.
5. I asked some people for directions but --- were able to help me.
6. She made up the whole story from beginning to end --- was true.
7. Not all the tourists in the group were Spanish --- were French.
8. I watched most of the film but not ---.
UNIT 88. Both/both of neither/neither of either/either of
A. We use both/neither/either for two things. You can use these words with a noun (both books, neither book etc.)
For example, you are talking about going out to eat this evening. There are two restaurants where you can go. You say:
* Both restaurants are very good. (not 'the both restaurants')
* Neither restaurant is expensive.
* We can go to either restaurant. I don't mind. (either = one or the other, it doesn't matter which one)
B. Both of .../neither of .../either of ...
When you use both/neither/either + of, you always need the .../these/those .../my/your/his/ Tom's... (etc.). You cannot say 'both of restaurants'. You have to say 'both of the restaurants', 'both of those restaurants' etc.:
* Both of these restaurants are very good.
* Neither of the restaurants we went to was (or were) expensive.
* I haven't been to either of those restaurants. (= I haven't been to one or the other)
You don't need of after both. So you can say:
* Both my parents are from London. or Both of my parents...
You can use both of/neither of/either of + us/you/them:
* (talking to two people) Can either of you speak Spanish?
* I asked two people the way to the station but neither of them knew.
You must say 'both of' before us/you/them (of is necessary):
* Both of us were very tired. (not 'Both us were ...')
After neither of ... a singular or a plural verb is possible:
* Neither of the children wants (or want) to go to bed.
C. You can also use both/neither/either alone:
* I couldn't decide which of the two shirts to buy. I liked both. (or I liked both of them.)
* 'Is your friend British or American?' 'Neither. She's Australian.'
* 'Do you want tea or coffee?' 'Either. I don't mind.'
D. You can say:
both ... and ...: * Both Ann and Tom were late.
* I was both tired and hungry when I arrived home.
neither ... nor ...: * Neither Liz nor Robin came to the party.
* She said she would contact me but she neither wrote nor phoned.
either ... or ...: * I'm not sure where he's from. He's either Spanish or Italian.
* Either you apologize or I'll never speak to you again.
E. Compare either/neither/both (two things) and any/none/all (more than two):
* There are two good hotels in the town.
You can stay at either of them.
* We tried two hotels. Neither of them had any rooms./Both of them were full.
* There are many good hotels in the town. You can stay at any of them.
* We tried a lot of hotels. None of them had any rooms./All of them were full.
EXERCISES
88.1 Complete the sentences with both/neither/either.
1. 'Do you want tea or coffee?' '_Either._ of them I really don't mind.'
2. 'What day is it today--the I 8th or the 19th? '---. It's the 20th.'
3. 'There are two sandwiches here. Do you mind which I take?' 'No, take ---.'
4. A: Where did you go for your holidays - Scotland or Ireland?
B: We went to --- A week in Scotland and a week in Ireland.
5. 'When shall I phone you, morning or afternoon? '---. I'll be in all day.'
6. 'Where's Kate? Is she at work or at home?' '---. She's away on holiday.'
88,2 Complete the sentences with both/neither/either. Use of where necessary.
1. _Both (of)_ my parents are from London.
2. To get to the town centre, you can go along the footpath by the river or you can go along the road. You can go --- way.