English for Business Life Elementary

We normally use some when we ask for things,
e.g. Can I have som e coffee?
Could you give me som e paper?
13.2 something and anything
We usually use something in affirmative sentences and
anything in negative sentences.
A ffirm ative
N egative
I want som eth in g to read. I don't want anything to read.
I'd like som eth in g to eat. I don't want anything to eat.
not anything = nothing
e.g. I didn't do anything.
I did nothing.
In questions, both something and anything are common,
e.g. Would you like som ething to eat?
Would you like anything to eat?
Are you doing som eth in g this evening?
Are you doing anything this evening?
The difference between something and anything in these
questions is small. Something suggests that you already
have a definite idea in mind. Anything suggests a totally
open question.
Something, anything and nothing can be followed by adjectives,
e.g. Som ething aw ful happened.
Did anything interesting happen?
N othing unusual happened.
Everything and nothing are singular.
e.g. Is everything all right? (not Are everything all right?)
N othing was said. (not Nothing were said.)
13.3 much, many, a lot, a little, a few, enough and too
With uncou n tab les W ith plurals
(not) much
(not) many
how much?
how many?
too much
too many
a little
a few
more
more
enough
enough
a lot of
a lot of
e.g. There isn't m uch rain here in the summer.
Are there m any hotels in the town?
H ow m uch time do you need?
H ow m any people are there in your company?
I've got to o m uch work.
You gave me too m any copies.
A little more potato, sir?
And a fe w more mushrooms, please.
Could I have some m ore bread?
I'm afraid there are no m ore potatoes.
Have you got en ou gh information?
(not information enough)
There aren't en ough car parks in this area.
(not car parks enough)
These printers make a lot of noise.
They have (They've got) a lot o f problems.
We can also use these words and expressions without nouns.
e.g. H ow m uch does it cost?
Do you like that restaurant? N ot m uch.
Do you travel m uch for your job? A lot.
We use much and many mostly in questions and negative
sentences. In affirmative sentences, we more often use
a lot (of).
Compare:
Have you got m any contacts in Korea?
We haven't got m any contacts in America.
They've got a lot of clients in France.
We use too before an adjective or adverb when there is
no noun.
Compare:
Am I to o early? (not too much early)
You've got to o m uch luggage.
Enough comes after an adverb, and after an adjective if there
is no noun.
e.g. You're not speaking loud enough. (after adverb)
Is the beer cold en ough to drink? (after adjective)
We haven't got en ou gh inform ation, (before noun)
13.4 both, all, neither and one
We can use both and all:
- with one-part verbs
e.g. We both read The Nation, (not We read both ...)
They all w e n t by car. (not They went all by car ...)
- with two-part verbs
e.g. We've both got appointments.
(not We both have got...)
They w ill all arrive tomorrow.
(not They all will arrive ...)
- with are and were
e.g. We are both available then.
(not We both are available then.)
They w ere all in the office, (not They all were in the
office.)
106 REFERENCE SECTION