A Little / A Few

Exercises on A Little and A Few

The expressions a little and a few mean some.

 If a noun is in singular, we use a little

Example:
a little money
 If a noun is in plural, we use a few
Example:
a few friends

Countable / Uncountable Nouns

In connection with a little / a few people often speak of countable nouns and uncountable nouns.

Countable nouns have a singular and a plural form. In plural, these nouns can be used with a number (that's
why they are called 'countable nouns'). Countable nouns take a few.
Example:
4 friends – a few friends

Uncountable nouns can only be used in singular. These nouns cannot be used with a number (that's why
they are called 'uncountable nouns'). Uncountable nouns take a little.
Example:
3 money – a little money

Note: Of course you can count money – but then you would name the currency and say that you have got
3 euro (but not „3 money“).

A Little / A few or Little / Few

It's a difference if you use a little / a few or little / few. Without the article, the words have a limiting or
negative meaning.

 a little = some
little = hardly any
Example:
I need a little money. - I need some money.
I need little money. - I need hardly any money.
 a few = some
few = hardly any
Example:
A few friends visited me. - Some friends visited me.
Few friends visited me. - Hardly any friends visited me.
 Without the article, little / few sound rather formal. That's why we don't use them very often in everyday
English. A negative sentence with much / many is more common here.
Example:
I need little money. = I do not need much money.
Few friends visited me. = Not many friends visited me
Exercise 1

Decide whether you have to use a little or a few.

1. apples

2. rice

3. bicycles

4. trees

5. boys

6. money

7. dogs

8. time

9. sugar

10. cups

Decide whether you have to use little or few.

1. We had snow last winter.

2. people were interested in the exhibition.

3. I speak French.

4. There are gentlemen nowadays.

5. She has relatives.

6. There is water in the pond.

7. The professor spends time in company.

8. We have knowledge of this phenomenon.

9. There are mushrooms in my mushroom soup.

10. animals can survive in the desert.

Much / many
Exercises on much and many

The words much and many mean a lot of.

 If a noun is in singular, we use much

Example:
much money
 If a noun is in plural, we use many
Example:
many friends

Use of much / many

In everyday English, we normally use much / many only in questions and negative clauses.
Example:
How much money have you got?
Carla does not have many friends.

In positive clauses with so, as or too, we also use much / many.

Example:
Carla has so many friends.
She has as many friends as Sue.
Kevin has too much money.

In all other positive clauses, however, we prefer expressions like a lot of / lots of.
Example:
Carla has a lot of / lots of friends.
Kevin has a lot of / lots of money.

In formal texts, however, much / many are also common in positive clauses. This you will notice for example
when you read English news.

Countable / Uncountable Nouns

In connection with much / many people often speak of countable nouns and uncountable nouns.

Countable nouns have a singular and a plural form. In plural, these nouns can be used with a number (that's
why they are called 'countable nouns'). Countable nouns take many.
Example:
100 friends – many friends

Uncountable nouns can only be used in singular. These nouns cannot be used with a number (that's why
they are called 'uncountable nouns'). Uncountable nouns take much.
Example:
 100 money – much money

Note: Of course you can count money – but then you would name the currency and say that you have got
5 euro (but not „5 money“).

Exercise 1

Decide whether you have to use much or many.

1. cars

2. music

3. pictures

4. flowers

5. milk

6. numbers

7. money

8. tea

9. girls

10. pencils
Exercise 2

Decide whether you have to use much or many.

1. She has so friends!

2. Too cooks spoil the broth.

3. Hurry up. I don't have so time.

4. We went to a dairy yesterday. I had never seen so cows before.

5. It's also quite amazing how milk these cows produce every day.

6. You have too money. Won't you share it with me?

7. There are so poor people in the world.

8. There are too children in the house.

9. My father doesn't drink coffee.

10. How of you have ever been to London?

 Some / any
Exercises on some and any

The words some and any are used for countable and uncountable nouns. In general, we could say that some
means a few / a little and any means none in negative clauses or a few / a little in questions.

Positive Clauses
In positive clauses, we usually use some.
Example:
I have bought some bread.
I have bought some apples.

Negative Clauses
In negative clauses, we use any. Note, however, that any alone is not a negative - it must be not ... any
Example:
I have not bought any bread.
I have not bought any apples.

Questions
In questions, we usually use any.
Example:
Have you bought any bread?
Have you bought any apples?

Compound Words with some / any

Some / any can also be part of compound words such as:

 something / anything
 someone / anyone
 somewhere / anywhere

Note that some / any have to be used with a noun while compound words with some / any can stand on their
own.
Example:
I have bought some bread.
I have bought something.

However, some and any need not stand directly before the noun. Sometimes, the noun appears somewhere
before some or any and is not repeated. So if you are not sure whether to use some or something for example,
check if there is a noun in the sentence that you can place after some.
 Example:
I do not have to buy bread. Rachel has already bought some [bread].

Exceptions

Positive Clauses with Any

We usually use some in positive clauses. But after never, without, hardly, we use any.
Example:
We never go anywhere.
She did her homework without any help.
There’s hardly anyone here.

Also in if clauses, we usually use any.

Example:
If there is anything to do, just call me.

Questions with Some

We usually use any in questions. But if we expect or want the other to answer ‚yes‘, we use some.
Example:
Have you got any brothers and sisters?
→ some people have brothers or sisters, others don't - we cannot expect the answer to be ‚yes‘
Would you like some biscuits?
→ we offer something and want to encourage the other to say ‚ja‘

Exercises on some / any

Exercise 1

Fill in the correct word (some or any).

1. Sue went to the cinema with of her friends!

2. Jane doesn't have friends.

3. Have you got brothers or sisters?

4. Here is food for the cat.

5. I think you should put flowers on the table.

6. Could you check if there are calls on the answering machine?

7. I don't want presents for my birthday.

8. Did they have news for you?

9. I'm hungry - I'll have sandwiches.

10. There aren't apples left.

Exercise 2

Fill in the correct word (some or any).

1. I need a hammer and nails.

2. He does not want help.

3. There are sheep in the garden.

4. Do you know famous people?

5. They often invite friends to their home.

6. Do you have idea what they are doing there?

7. Charly doesn't have pets.

8. My little brother already knows words in English.

9. My mum doesn't speak foreign languages.

10. I've got sweets for you.

Exercises on some / any

someone / anyone

Fill in the correct word (someone or anyone).

1. I know who is 100 years old.

2. There is at the door.

3. Did call?

4. There wasn't at home.

5. I think there is in the bushes.

6. I won't tell about your secret.

7. I didn't know the way, so I had to ask .

8. Has seen my keys?

9. I would not give my bike to .

10. This jacket does not belong to of us.

 Exercises on some / any
something / anything

Fill in the correct word (something or anything).

1. Is there I could do for you?

2. There is in your hair.

3. He said stupid.

4. Did you buy ?

5. There isn't in the fridge.

6. Do you know about Ireland?

7. I couldn't see in the dark.

8. Bob asked her .

9. I haven't heard of Sue for ages.

10. Has happened while I was away?

Exercises on some / any

somewhere / anywhere

Fill in the correct word (somewhere or anywhere).

1. Have you seen my necklace ?

2. The restaurant must be around here.

3. My friend lives in Spain.

4. I cannot find my glasses .

5. Did you travel last weekend?

6. We have been near London.

7. Is Jane around?

8. I haven't seen her .

9. Have you parked your car near?

10. Let's go next weekend.

Exercises on some / any

 Mix - Exercise 1

Fill in the correct word.

1. Phil is watching on TV.

2. Can you see Simon ?

3. My little sister doesn't eat with carrots.

4. My grandfather is who doesn't go near a computer.

5. The accident happened near our school.

6. Does speak Japanese?

7. will wait for you at the station.

8. Your cup is in the kitchen.

9. Your room is still a mess. Have you cleaned up yet?

Mix - Exercise 2

Fill in the correct word.

1. I didn't know at the party and they weren't playing good songs
either.

2. Let's go and eat .

3. I bought cheese in the shop.

4. ' else?' the shop assistant asked when she gave me the cheese.

5. I cannot see Charles . Are you sure he is here?

6. Laura is meeting friends at the club tonight.

7. Will take you home or shall I pick you up?

8. Do you need help?

Mix - Exercise 3

Fill in the correct word.

1. I would not go without you.

2. There is I want to tell you.

3. The plates are in the cupboard.

4. Let's buy postcards here, they are so nice.

5. has left a message for you.

6. Did call a taxi?

7. Do you know songs by the Beatles?

8. I'm so hungry - I haven't eaten for hours.

9. I must find who can explain this to me.

10. There isn't a supermarket near us.

RESPOSTAS DO MIX 3:
Mix - Exercise 3

Fill in the correct word.

1. I would not go anywhere without you.

2. There is something I want to tell you.
3. The plates are somewhere in the cupboard.
4. Let's buy some postcards here, they are so nice.
5. Someone has left a message for you.
6. Did anyone call a taxi?
7. Do you know any songs by the Beatles?
8. I'm so hungry - I haven't eaten anything for hours.
9. I must find someone who can explain this to me.
10. There isn't a supermarket anywhere near us.