Much, many, little, few, a lot, plenty

1. We use much and little with uncountable nouns:

much luck much time little energy little money
2. We use many and few with plural nouns:
many friends many people few cars few children
3. We use a lot of / lots of / plenty of with both uncountable and plural nouns:
a lot of luck a lot of friends lots of time lots of people plenty of money, plenty of ideas
4. plenty = more than enough:
e.g. There’s no need to hurry. We’ve got plenty of time.
There’s plenty to do in this town.
5. .Much is unusual in positive sentences (especially in spoken English).
Compare:
We didn’t spend much money. but We spent a lot of money.
Do you see David much? but I see David a lot.
6. But we use too much / so much / as much in positive sentences:
We spent too much money.
7. We use many and a lot of in all kinds of sentences:
e.g. Many people drive too fast. or A lot of people drive too fast.
Do you know many people? or Do you know a lot of people?
There aren’t many tourists here. or There aren’t a lot of tourists here.
8. Note that we say many years / many weeks / many days.

e.g. We’ve lived here for many years. (not usually a lot of years) :
little = not much, few = not many:
e.g. Gary is very busy with his job. He has little time for other things. (= not much time, less time than he would like)
Vicky doesn’t like living in London. She has few friends there. (= not many friends, not as many as she would like)
We often use very little and very few:
E.g. Gary has very little time for other things.
Vicky has very few friends in London.
a little = some, a small amount:
e.g. Let’s go and have coffee. We have a little time before the train leaves. (a little time = some time, enough time to
have a coffee
‘Do you speak English?’ ‘A little.’ (so we can talk a bit)
a few = some, a small number:
e.g. 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)
e.g. ‘When was the last time you saw Clare?’ ‘A few days ago.’ (= 3 or 4 days ago)
Compare little and a little, few and a few:
e.g. 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)
We say only a little (not only little) and only a few (not only few):
e.g. Hurry! We only have a little time. (= some, but not much time)
The village was small. There were only a few houses. (= some but not many houses)
Put in much/many/little/few (one word only).
1 She isn’t popular. She has few friends.
2 Anna is very busy these days. She has __________free time.
3 Did you take ___________pictures at the wedding?
4 This is a modern city. There are________ old buildings.
5 The weather has been very dry recently. We’ve had___________ rain.
6 I don’t know London well. I haven’t been there for ___________years.
7 The two cars are similar. There is______________ difference between them.
8 I’m not very busy today. I don’t have ________________to do.
9 It’s a wonderful place to live. There are ___________better places to be.
4 Which is right?
1 She’s lucky. She has few problems / a few problems. (few problems is correct)
2 Can you lend me few dollars / a few dollars?
3 It was the middle of the night, so there was little traffic / a little traffic.
4 They got married few years ago / a few years ago.
5 I can’t give you a decision yet. I need little time / a little time to think.
6 I don’t know much Russian – only few words / only a few words.
7 It was a surprise that he won the game. Few people / A few people expected him to win.
87.5 Put in little / a little / few / a few.
1 Gary is very busy with his job. He has little time for other things.
2 Listen carefully. I’m going to give you_________ advice.
3 Do you mind if I ask you________ questions?
4 It’s not a very interesting place, so__________ tourists visit.
5 I don’t think Amy would be a good teacher. She has___________ patience.
6 ‘Would you like milk in your coffee?’ ‘Yes,______________ please.’
7 This is a boring place to live. There’s____________ to do.
8 I know Hong Kong quite well. I’ve been there___________ times.
9 There were only___________ people at the meeting
10 ‘Did you do all this work on your own?’ ‘No, I had___________ help from my friends.

All, every and whole

everybody/ everyone/ everything and all
We say: Everybody was happy. or Everyone was happy. (not all were happy)
He thinks he knows everything. (not knows all)
Our holiday was a disaster. Everything went wrong. (not all went wrong)
We do not often use all alone in this way. We do not say ‘all were happy’, ‘he knows all’ etc.
We use all in the following ways:
all + noun (all cars, all my money etc.) All my friends were happy
all of + us/you/them/we/you/they … All of us were happy
all … We were all happy.
all about … He knows all about
all … = the only thing(s).. computers. All I’ve eaten today is a banana. (= the only thing I’ve eaten today)
whole and all
Whole = complete, entire. We use whole mostly with singular nouns:
e.g. Did you read the whole book? (= all the book, not just a part of it)
Emily has lived her whole life in the same town.
I was so hungry, I ate a whole packet of biscuits. (= a complete packet)
We do not normally use whole with uncountable nouns (water, food, money etc.).
We say: Did you spend all the money I gave you? (not the whole money)
I read all the information carefully. (not the whole information) We use the/my/a etc. before whole.
Compare whole and all:
I read the whole book. but I read all the information.
every day / all day / the whole day
We use every to say how often something happens (every day / every ten minutes etc.):
When we were on holiday, we went to the beach every day. (not all days)
The bus service is excellent. There’s a bus every ten minutes.
We don’t see each other very often – about every six months.
All day or the whole day = the complete day from beginning to end:
We spent all day on the beach. or We spent the whole day …
Dan was very quiet. He didn’t say a word all evening. or … the whole evening.
Note that we say all day (not all the day), all week (not all the week) etc.
Compare all the time and every time:
They never go out. They are at home all the time. (= always, continuously)
Every time I see you, you look different. (= each time, on every occasion)
Every/everybody/everyone/everything are singular words, so we use a singular verb:
e.g. Every seat in the theatre was taken.
Everybody has arrived. (not have arrived)
But we use they/them/their after everybody/everyone:
e.g. Everybody said they enjoyed themselves. (= everybody enjoyed himself or herself)
Complete these sentences with all, everything or everybody/everyone.
1 It was a good party. Everybody had a great time.
2 All I’ve eaten today is a banana.
3 ____________has their faults. Nobody is perfect.
4 Nothing has changed__________________. is the same as it was.
5 Kate told me_______________________ about her new job. It sounds interesting.
6 Can _______________write their names on a piece of paper, please?
7 Why are you always thinking about money? Money isn’t________________ .
8 I’m really exhausted. _____________I want to do is sleep.
9 When the fire alarm rang, ______________left the building immediately.
10 Amy didn’t say where she was going. ________________she said was that she was going away.
11 We have completely different opinions. I disagree with ___________________she says.
12 We all did well in the exam.________________ in our class passed.
13 We all did well in the exam. __________________of us passed.
14 Why are you so lazy? Why do you expect me to do _____________for you?

each and everyUni91

Each and every are similar. Often it is possible to use each or every:
e.g. Each time I see you, you look different. or Every time I see you ., But each and every are not exactly the same.
We use each when we think of things separately, one by one.
e.g. Study each sentence carefully (= study the sentences one by one) each = Each is more usual for a small number:
e.g. There were four books on the table. Each book was a different colour. (in a card game)
At the beginning of the game, each player has three cards.
We use every when we think of things as a group. The meaning is similar to all.
e.g. Every window in the house was open. (= all the windows in the house) every = Every is more usual for a large
number:
Kate loves reading. She has read every book in the library. (= all the books)
I’d like to visit every country in the world. (= all the countries) Each (but not every) can be used for two things: In
football, each team has eleven players. (not every team)
We use every (not each) to say how often something happens:
e.g. ‘How often do you use your car?’ ‘Every day.’ (not Each day)
There’s a bus every ten minutes. (not each ten minutes)
We use each with or without a noun: None of the rooms are the same. Each room is different. Or Each is different.
Or you can use each one: Each one is different.
We say each of (the/these/them … etc.):
e.g. Each of the books was a different colour. (not each of books) Each of them was a different colour.
Read each of these sentences carefully.
We use every with a noun:
e.g. She’s read every book in the library.
We don’t use every alone, but you can say every one:
A: Have you read all these books?
B: Yes, everyone.
We say every one of … (but not every of):
E.g. I’ve read every one of those books. (not every of those books) I’ve read every one of them.
Compare the structures we use with each and every.
We also use each in the middle of a sentence
. For example: The students were each given a book. (= Each student was given a book.)
We say a dollar each, ten pounds each etc. :
These oranges are 40 pence each. (each = for one orange)
everyone and every one Everyone (one word) is only for people (= everybody).
Everyone enjoyed the party. (= Everybody …) Every one (two words) is for things or people:
Sarah is invited to lots of parties and she goes to every one. (= to every party)
2 Put in each, each of or every
1 Each player has three cards.
2 Kate has read every book in the library.
3___________ side of a square is the same length.
4 ____________seat in the theatre was taken.
5 There are six apartments in the building. _____________one has a balcony.
6 There’s a train to London _________________hour.
7 She was wearing four rings – one on_______________ finger.
8 Our football team is playing well. We’ve won____________ game this season.
Put in each, each of or every.
1 There were four books on the table. Each book was a different colour.
2 The Olympic Games are held every four years.
3 ___________parent worries about their children.
4 In a game of tennis there are two or four players.____________ player has a racket.
5 Nicola plays volleyball ________________Thursday evening.
6 I understood most of what they said but not_______________ word.
7 The book is divided into five parts and ____________these has three sections.
8 I get paid_________________ four weeks.
9 I called the office two or three times, but____________ time it was closed.
10 Car seat belts save lives. _______________driver should wear one.
11 A friend of mine has three children. I always give______________ them a present at Christmas.
12 (from an exam) Answer all five questions. Write your answer to________ question on a separate sheet of paper.
Complete the sentences using each.
1 The price of one of those oranges is 40 pence. Those oranges are 40 pence each .
2 I had ten pounds and so did Sonia. Sonia and I .________________________________
3 One of those postcards costs a pound. Those .____________________________________
4 The hotel was expensive. I paid 200 dollars and so did you. We .________________________
Put in everyone (1 word) or every one (2 words)
1 Sarah is invited to a lot of parties and she goes to every one .
2 I remember school very clearly. I remember _______________in my class.
3 I asked her lots of questions and she answered________________ correctly.
4 Amy is very popular.__________________ likes her.
5 I dropped a tray of glasses. Unfortunately ___________broke.

some and any

A. In general we use some (also somebody/someone/something) in positive sentences and any (also anybody etc.)
in negative sentences: We use any in the following sentences because the meaning is negative:
e.g. 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)
Some any
We bought some flowers. We didn’t buy any flowers.
He’s busy. He has some work to do. He’s lazy. He never does any work.
There’s somebody at the door. There isn’t anybody at the door.
I want something to eat. I don’t want anything to eat.
We use any in the following sentences because the meaning is negative:
e.g. 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)
We use both some and any in questions. We use some/somebody/something to talk about a person or thing that we
know exists, or we think exists:
e.g. Are you waiting for somebody? (I think you are waiting for somebody)
We use some in questions when we ask for or offer things:
Can I have some sugar, please? (there is probably some sugar that I can have).
Would you like something to eat? (there is something to eat)
But in most questions, we use any. We do not know if the thing or person exists:
e.g. Do you have any luggage? (maybe you do, maybe not)
Is there anybody in the house? (maybe there is, maybe not)
You can use if + any:
e.g. Let me know if you need anything.
If anyone has any questions, I’ll be pleased to answer them.
The following sentences have the idea of if:
e.g. 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)
We also use any with the meaning ‘it doesn’t matter which’:
e.g. You can take any bus. They all go to the centre. (= it doesn’t matter which bus you take)
Come and see me any time you want.
We use anybody/anyone/anything/anywhere in the same way:
We forgot to lock the door. Anybody could have come in.
Compare some- and any-:
a: I’m hungry. I want something to eat.
b: What would you like?
a: I don’t mind. Anything. (= it doesn’t matter what)
b: Let’s go out somewhere.
a: Where shall we go?
b: Anywhere. I just want to go out.D
Somebody/someone/anybody/anyone are singular words:
Someone is here to see you.
But we use they/them/their after these words:
e.g. Someone has forgotten their umbrella. (= his or her umbrella)
If anybody wants to leave early, they can. (= he or she can)
Put in some or any.
1 We didn’t buy any flowers.
2 Tonight I’m going out with ____________friends of mine.
3 Have you seen_____________ good movies recently?
4 I’d like_____________ information about what there is to see in this town.
5 I didn’t_____________ have money. I had to borrow .
6 You can use your card to withdraw money at ____________cash machine.
7 Those apples look nice. Shall we get ______________?
8 With the special tourist train ticket, you can travel on__________________ train you like.
9 ‘Can I have___________ more coffee, please?’ ‘Sure. Help yourself.’
10 If there are ____________words you don’t understand, look them up in a dictionary.
11 We wanted to buy__________ grapes, but they didn’t have in the shop.
5Complete the sentences with some- or any- + -body/-thing/-where.
1 I was too surprised to say anything .
2 There’s ___________at the door. Can you go and see who it is?
3 Does_____________ mind if I open the window?
4 I can’t drive and I don’t know ________________about cars.
5 You must be hungry. Why don’t I get you ____________to eat?
6 Emma is very tolerant. She never complains about _______________.
7 There was hardly_____________ on the beach. It was almost deserted.
8 Let’s go away. Let’s ____________go warm and sunny.
9 I’m going out now. If___________ asks where I am, tell them you don’t know.
10 Why are you looking under the bed? Have you lost___________________ ?
11 This is a no-parking area______________. who parks their car here will have to pay a fine.
12 Quick, let’s go! There’s____________ coming and I don’t want to see us.
13 They stay at home all the time. They never seem to go_______________ .
14 Jonathan stood up and left the room without saying _____________.
15 ‘Can I ask you____________ ?’ ‘Sure. What do you want to ask?’
16 Sarah was upset about ___________and refused to talk to .
17 I need ___________to translate. Is there___________ here who speaks English?
18 Sue is very secretive. She never ____________tells . (2 words)

No/none/any nothing/nobody etc.

A. no and none
We use no + noun (no bus, no shops etc.).
no = not a or not any:
e.g. We had to walk home. There was no bus. (= There wasn’t a bus.)
Sarah will have no trouble finding a job. (= Sarah won’t have any trouble …)
There were no shops open. (= There weren’t any shops open.)
You can use no + noun at the beginning of a sentence:
No reason was given for the change of plan.
We use none without a noun:
e.g. ‘How much money do you have?’ ‘None.’ (= no money)
All the tickets have been sold. There are none left. (= no tickets left)
Or we use none of … :
This money is all yours. None of it is mine.
Compare no, none and any:
 e.g. I have no luggage.
‘How much luggage do you have?’ ‘None.’ or ‘I don’t have any.’
After none of + plural (none of the students, none of them etc.) the verb can be singular or plural:
e.g. None of the students were happy. or None of the students was happy.
B. nothing nobody/no-one nowhere
You can use these words at the beginning 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.’
You can also use these words after a verb, especially after be and have:
The house is empty. There’s nobody living there.
We had nothing to eat. nothing/nobody etc. = not + anything/anybody etc. :
e.g. I said nothing. = I didn’t say anything.
Jane told nobody about her plans. = Jane didn’t tell anybody about her plans.
They have nowhere to live. = They don’t have anywhere to live.
With nothing/nobody etc., we do not use a negative verb (isn’t, didn’t etc.):

e.g. I said nothing. (not I didn’t say nothing) B

After nobody/no-one you can use they/them/their :
e.g. Nobody is perfect, are they? (= is he or she perfect?)
No-one did what I asked them to do. (= him or her)
Nobody in the class did their homework. (= his or her homework)
Sometimes any/anything/anybody etc. means ‘it doesn’t matter which/what/who’
Compare no- and any-:
e.g. There was no bus, so we walked home.
You can take any bus. They all go to the center. (= it doesn’t matter which bus.
‘What do you want to eat?’ ‘Nothing. I’m not hungry.’
I’m so hungry. I could eat anything. (= it doesn’t matter what)
It’s a difficult job. Nobody wants to do it.
a very easy job. Anybody can do it. (= it doesn’t matter who)
Complete these sentences with no, none or any.
1 It was a public holiday, so there were no shops open.
2 I don’t have any money. Can you lend me some?
3 We had to walk home. There were______________ taxis.
4 We had to walk home. There weren’t_____________ taxis.
5 ‘How many eggs do we have?’ ‘ ___________. Shall I get some?’
6 There’s nowhere to cross the river. There’s _____________bridge.
7 We took a few pictures, but ____________of them were very good.
8 ‘Did you take lots of pictures?’ ‘No, I didn’t take_____________ .’
9 I had to do what I did. I had __________________alternative.
10 I don’t like ___________of this furniture. It’s horrible.
11 We cancelled the party because ________________of the people we invited were able to come.
12 Everyone knows they are getting married. It’s_______________________ secret.
13 The two books are exactly the same. There isn’t_________________- difference.
14 ‘Do you know where Chris is?’ ‘I’m sorry. I have_________________ idea.
both /both of/ neither /neither of/either /either of
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 going out to eat. There are two possible restaurants.
You say: Both restaurants are good. (not the both restaurants)
Neither restaurant is expensive.
We can go to either restaurant. I don’t mind. (= one or the other, it doesn’t matter which)
I haven’t been to either restaurant before. (= not one or the other)
You can also use both/neither/either without a noun:
‘Which do you prefer, basketball or tennis?’ ‘It’s hard to say. I like both.’
Is your friend British or American?’ Neither. She’s Australian.’
‘Do you want tea or coffee?’ ‘Either. I don’t mind
Both of … / neither of … / either of …
We use both of / neither of / either of + the/these/my/Tom’s … etc.
So we say ‘both of the restaurants’,
‘both of those restaurants’ etc. (but not both of restaurants):
Both of these restaurants are good.
Neither of the restaurants we went to was expensive.
I haven’t been to either of those restaurants.
You don’t need of after both.
So you can say: Both of these restaurants are good. Or Both these restaurants are good.
We also use both of / neither of / either of + us/you/them: (talking to two people)
Can either of you speak Russian?
I asked two people how to get to the station, but neither of them knew.
We say ‘both of’ before us/you/them (you need to use of):
Both of us were tired. (not Both us were …)
After neither of … a verb can be singular or plural:
e.g. Neither of them is at home. or Neither of them are at home.
Complete the sentences with both/neither/either.
Use of where necessary.
1 Both my parents are from Egypt.
2 To get to the town centre, you can walk along the river or you can go along the road.
You can go_______________ way.
3 I went to Carl’s house twice, but_______________ times he wasn’t at home.
4 __________________Tom’s parents is English. His father is Polish and his mother is Italian.
5 I saw an accident this morning. One car drove into the back of another. Fortunately_____________________
driver was injured, but_________________ cars were badly damaged.
6 I have two sisters and a brother. My brother is working, but ________my sisters are still at school.
Complete the sentences with both/neither/either + of us / of them.
1 I asked two people how to get to the station, but neither of them knew.
2 I was invited to two parties last week, but I couldn’t go to__________________________________ .
3 There were two windows in the room. It was very warm, so I _________________________________ .
4 Sam and I often play tennis, but we’re not very good.____________________________ can play well.
5 I tried two bookshops for the book I wanted to buy, but____________________________ had it.