Grammar Practice in Context - David Bolton, Noel Goodey 1997
64 Some, any, no, none
Quick reference
• Some and any can be used with uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns. We usually use some in affirmative sentences and any in negative sentences and questions.
Some/any + uncountable noun
I’ve got some money.
I haven’t got any money.
Some/any + plural countable noun
There are some books on the table.
Are there any books on the table?
• Some and any can be used alone without a noun.
Is there any milk? - Yes, there's some in the fridge.
I'd like some potatoes. - I'm afraid we haven't got any.
• Some can be used in certain questions when we expect the answer Yes, and in offers.
Could I have some water, please? Would you like some tea?
• Any can be used in affirmative sentences, with the meaning it doesn’t matter which/how much/ when, etc.
Phone me if there are any problems. Ring me any time you like.
• No and none are used with a verb in the affirmative. (No + a noun; none alone, without a noun.) No is used with countable and uncountable nouns.
I’ve got no money. (= I haven’t got any money.) Uncountable.
She’s got none either. (= She hasn’t got any either.)
There are no tickets. (= There aren’t any tickets.) Countable.
There are none left. (= There aren’t any left.)
1 A couple have arrived at their rented holiday villa. They are checking to see if the villa has got everything they need. Complete the dialogue, using some and any, no and none.
’Is there (1) ... cutlery?’
’Well, there are (2) ... knives and forks in this drawer, but I can’t see (3) ... spoons.’
’I don’t think there are (4) ... glasses. Can you see (5) ...?’
’No, there are (6) ... in the kitchen cupboards. Perhaps there are (7) ... in the other room.’
’There are (8) ... bulbs in the bedside lamps.’
’I’II ask the agent to get us (9) ...’
’There aren’t (10) ... pillows on the bed.’
’Look in the wardrobe. There may be (11) ... there.’
’No, there are (12) ... there. There are (13) ... cushions on the sofa. We’ll have to use those.’
’Oh, no. We’re going to have a bad night tonight. There are (14) ... mosquito nets over the windows.’
’The agent said there was a nice garden and a swimming pool. I can see the garden, but there’s
(15) ... swimming pool.’
’Yes, there is. It’s over there, near the trees. But there’s (16) ... water in it!’
’I’II phone the agent. But let’s have (17) ... tea first.’
’Yes, OK. Oh, no! I can’t light the gas. There aren’t (18) ... matches.’
2 Read this local radio news report. Complete the sentence in italics so that it has a similar meaning to the sentence before it, using the word given.
Example: Good morning! Welcome to GWR radio. I’ve got no good news for you this morning. (any)
/ haven't got any good news for you this morning.
The transport workers are still on strike. I had to walk to the studio. (1) There were no buses or trains. (any) ... buses or trains.
(2) There are no flights out of Bristol Airport today. (any) ... out of Bristol Airport today. (3) And there won’t be any trains to London. (no) And ... trains to London. Roads around Bristol are jammed with cars. (4) There are no places left in the city car parks. (any) ... places left in the city car parks. There’s a fifteen-mile queue on the M4 motorway into Bristol. (5) And there isn’t any movement on the M5 at Junction 19. (no) And ... movement on the M5 at Junction 19.
Leaders of the Transport Workers Union are meeting the government today. (6) Union officials don’t see any chance of a breakthrough in negotiations. (no) Union officials ... chance of a breakthrough in negotiations. (7) So there’ll be no improvement in the situation today. (any) So ... improvement in the situation today.
3 John Cage is at a camp site. He has gone to the camp shop. He wants mineral water, salt, sugar, apples and sausages. He can see the apples, the sugar and the sausages, but he cannot see any mineral water or salt. Write his questions, using a) Have you got...? or b) Could I have ...? and some or any.
1 ... mineral water?
2 ... apples?
3 ... salt?
4 ... sugar?
5 ... sausages?
4 Meg Jones is selling her synthesizer. She is talking to the person who is going to buy it. Complete what she says, using some or any.
It’s got (1) ... fabulous sounds on it. You can get almost (2) ... orchestral instrument you want - violin, cello, trumpet, horn, harp, and so on. You can connect it to a computer too. It’ll work with (3) ... computer that’s got 4 megabytes of RAM. There’s a 300-page manual with it that’s got (4) ... really useful information. If you have (5) ... problems with it, let me know. If you’ve got (6) ... questions, don’t hesitate to phone me at (7) ... time.
5 a) Write five sentences about the last time you went shopping. Use some, any or no.
Examples: / saw some nice shoes. But they didn't have any in my size. I didn't see any interesting clothes. They had no jeans I really liked.
b) What questions would you ask in these situations? Use some and any.
You’re offering someone some coffee. There’s some cake on the table; you’d like some. You’re not sure if there’s any petrol in the car. You want to know if there are any buses into town this evening.
Check your answers with a teacher.