when do you use some/somebody/someone/something?
Abbiamo comprato dei fiori.
Hai comprato i fiori? Sì, ne ho comprati alcuni
Stai aspettando qualcuno?
(Penso che tu stia aspettando qualcuno.
Posso avere un po’ di zucchero, per favore?
(Probabilmente c’è dello zucchero che posso avere.)
Vuoi qualcosa da mangiare?
(C’è qualcosa da mangiare)
a) positive sentences:
we bought some flowers
sometimes you can omit the noun after “some”:
Have you bought the flowers? Yes, I’ve bought some
b) in questions, to talk about a person or thing we know exists or we think exists
Are you waiting for somebody? (I think you’re waiting for somebody)
c) we use some in questions when we ask for or offer things
Can I have some sugar, please? (There is probaly some sugar that I can have)
Would you like something to eat (There is something to eat)
When do we use any/anybody/anyone/anything?
Non abbiamo comprato fiori.
Quanta pane hai comprato? Non ne ho comprato
È uscita senza soldi
Ha rifiutato di mangiare qualsiasi cosa
È un esame molto facile. Quasi nessuno lo fallisce.
Hai dei bagagli? (= forse sì, forse no)
C’è qualcuno in casa? (= forse sì, forse no)
Fammi sapere se hai bisogno di qualcosa.
Se qualcuno ha domande, sarò felice di rispondere.
Mi dispiace per i problemi che posso aver causato
La polizia vuole parlare con chiunque abbia visto l’incidente
Puoi prendere qualsiasi autobus
Abbiamo dimenticato di chiudere la porta. Chiunque sarebbe potuto entrare.
a) negative sentences
We didn’t buy any flowers
sometimes you can omit the noun:
How much bread did you buy? I didn’t buy any (bread)
b) sentences with negative meaning
She went out without any money (= She didn’t take any money with her)
He refused to eat anything (= He didn’t eat anything)
It’s a very easy exam. Hardly anybody fails (= almost NOBODY fails)
c) questions, when we don’t know if the thing or person we talk about exists
Do you have any luggage? (= maybe you do, maybe not)
Is there anybody in the house (= maybe there is, maybe not)
d) if + any
let me know if you need anything
If anyone has any questions, I’ll be pleased to answer them
e) sentences with the idea of “if”
I’m sorry for any trouble I’ve caused (= if I have caused any trouble)
the police want to speak to anyone who saw the accident (= if there is anyone)
f)
with the meaning of “it doesn’t matter which”
you can take any bus (= it doesn’t matter which bus you take)
we forgot to lock the door. Anybody could have come in.
what kind of words somebody/one and anybody/one are?
. Qualcuno ha dimenticato il proprio ombrello.
Se qualcuno vuole andare via prima, può farlo.
They are singular words, but we use they/them/their after these words
Someone HAS forgotten THEIR umbrella
If anybody WANTS to leave early, THEY can
no vs none
Non c’erano autobus.
Non ha amici.
Non è stata data alcuna spiegazione per il cambio di programma.
Quanti soldi hai? Nessuno
Tutti i biglietti sono stati venduti. Non ne è rimasto nessuno.
Questi soldi sono tutti tuoi. Nessuno di essi è mio.
Nessuno degli studenti era felice
no + noun (no bus, no shops etc.)
a) no = not a or not any
b) you can use it at the beggining of a sentence
No reason was given for the change of plan
none
a) we use it without a noun
How much money do you have? None (= no money, = I don’t have any)
All the tickets have been sold. There are none left (= no tickets left)
b) you can say “none of st”
This money is all yours. None of it is mine.
c) after none of + plural the verb can be singular or plural
None of the students were happy or was happy
nothing/nobody/no-one/nowhere
Non ho detto niente.
Cosa succederà? Nessuno lo sa.
Cos’è successo? Niente.
Dove stai andando? Da nessuna parte. Resto qui.
Non c’è nessuno che viva lì.
Non avevamo niente da mangiare.
Non ho detto niente.
nothing/nobody/no-one/nowhere = not + anything/anybody etc.
I said nothing (= I didn’t say anything)
a) you can use them at the beggining of a sentence or alone (as answers to questions)
What’s going to happen? Nobody knows/No-one knows
what happened? Nothing
where are you going? Nowhere. I’m staying here
b) you can also use them after a verb
There is nobody living there
We had nothing to eat
c) we don’t use a negative verb with them
I said nothing
what kind of words are nobody/no-one?
Nessuno è perfetto, vero?
Nessuno ha fatto quello che gli avevo chiesto.
they are singular words, but we use they/them/their after them
Nobody IS perfect, ARE THEY? (positive question tag because the meaning of the sentence is negative (nobody))
No-one did what I asked them to do
much
a) uncountable nouns
much luck
b) not in positive sentence
We didn’t spend much time
Did we spend much time?
c) too much/ so much / as much = in positive sentences
We spent too much money
little
a) uncountable nouns
little energy
b) not much, less than someone would like
Gary is very busy with his job. He has little time for other things
c) very little/so little
Hay has very/so little time
many
a) plural nouns
Many friends
b) all kind of sentences
Many people drive too fast
So you know many people?
There aren’t many tourists here
c) many years/many weeks/many days
We’ve lived here for many years
a lot of/ lots of/ plenty of (=more than enough)
a) both uncountable and plural nouns
a lot of luck
a lot of friends
b) all kind of sentences
A lot of people drive too fast
Do you know a lot of people?
There aren’t a lot of tourists here
c) a lot/ lots/plenty + to verb
There’s plenty to do in this town
few
a) plural nouns
few friends
b) not many, less than someone would like
Vicky doesn’t like living in London. She has few friends there
c) very few/ so few
Vicky has very few/so few friends in London
a little
a) uncountable nouns
a little time
b) some, a small amount but enough
Do you speak English? A little, so we can talk a bit
only a little/only a few
a) little/few < x < a little/a few = it may be barely enough or barely insufficient
Hurry! We only have a little time
The villages was small, there were only a few houses
a few
a) plural nouns
a few friends
b) some, a small number but enough
I have a few friends and we meet quite often
I saw her a few days ago
all/ half/ some/ any/ most/ much/ many/ (a) little/ (a) few/ no/ none
a) in general
Some cars can go faster than others
I go away most weekends
b) a specific group = some of/ most of/ none of etc. + the/this/that/my etc.
Some of the people I work with are very strange
I was ill yesterday. I spent most of the day in bed
c) all/half = you can use both
All my friends/All of my friends live near here
Half this money/half of this money is mine
d) all of/ some of/ none of etc. + it/us/you/them etc. = it’s a spefici group
Do any of you want to come to a party tonight?
All of us were late
I’ve only read half of it
e) you can also use some/most etc. 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 this money is mine, and half (of it) is yours
both
a) used for 2 things = entrambi
both books
b) if used as a subject is plural
Both restaurants are good
c) you can also use it without a noun
Which one do you prefer, basketball or tennis? It’s hard to say. I like both.
d) negative sentence = both + negative verb
Both weren’t present at the meeting.
e) both of + the/these/my/Tom’s etc., but you don’t need it
Both of these restaurants are good or Both restaurants are good
f) BUT you need it before us/you/them etc.
Both of us were tired
g) both…and…
Both Chris and Paule (subject) were late
I was BOTH TIRED AND HUNGRY (object)
He can both dance and sing ( modals structure)
either
a) used for 2 things (one or the other, it doesn’t matter which)
either book
b) If you use it as a subject is singular
Either option works for me
c) you can also use it without a noun
Do you want tea or coffee? Either. I don’t mind
d) negative sentence = neither = don’t either
e) either of + the/these/my/Tom’s…etc.
I haven’t been to either of those restaurants
f) we also use either of + us/you/them etc.
Can either of you speak Russian?
g) either…or…
She’s EITHER SPANISH (object) or Italian
Either you apologise (subject), or I’ll never speak to you again
You can either come with us, or stay home (modal structure)
neither
a) used for 2 things (= not one or the other = don’t either)
Neither book
b) If you use it as a subject is singular
Neither option works for me
c) you can also use it without a noun
Is your friend British or American? Neither. She’s Australian
d) negative sentence = avoid double negative
f) neither of + the/these/my/Tom’s…etc.
Neither of the restaurants we went to was expansive
g) we also use neither of + us/you/them etc.
I asked 2 people how to get to the station, but neither of them knew
e) neither… nor…
Neither Crish nor Paul (subject) came to the party
we neither saw nor heard anything
He can neither swim nor float (modals structure)
every/everybody/everyone/everything
a) they are singular words, so they use singular verbs. But we use they/them/their after everybody/everyone
Everybody said THEY enjoyed THEMSELVES
Everyone was happy
b) After Every or everything we use he/she/him/her/his/her
Every seat in the the theatre WAS taken, WASN’T it?
Everything is great, isn’t it?
all
a) all + noun
b) al of +us/you/them
c) we/you/they…all
d) all about
e) All… = the only thing(s)
whole (h@ul) vs all (ool)
a) whole = complete, entire. We use it mostly with singular nouns. We don’t use it with uncountable nouns
we use the/this/my/a/Tom’s etc. BEFORE whole
b) all = complete, entire for uncountable nouns
we use the/this/my/a/Tom’s etc. AFTER all
every + time
We use every to say how often something happens (every day/ every ten minutes etc.)
We went to the beach every day
We don’t see each other very often - about every six months
All day (month, week, etc.) vs the whole day (month, week, etc.)
all the time vs every time
a) all day = the whole day/month/evening = the complete day from beginning to end
He didn’t say a word all evening (= the whole evening)
b) all the time = always, continously
They never go out. They are at home all the time
c) every time = each time, on every occasion
Every time I see you, you look different
each vs every
a) they are both singular and follow the same logic:
Each of them IS responsible, AREN’T THEY?
b)
Study each sentence carefully.
There were 4 books on the table. Each book was a different colour
-We use every when we think of things as a group (the meaning is similar to all). It’s more usual for a large number and never for 2 things only.
Every window in the house was open
I’d like to visit every country in the world (= all the countries)
c) we use every to say how often something happens-
I use my car every day