Quantifiers (some and any)
A quantifier is a word or phrase which is used before a noun to indicate the amount or
quantity: 'Some', 'any', 'a lot of' and 'a few' are examples of quantifiers.
● Countable nouns: Remember that countable nouns are those which can be counted
and separated unit per unit such as tomato, egg, tire, glove, slice of cake, St.
Valentine’s card, coins or bills, etc. We can count, for example, pieces of bread,
slices of pizza, bottles of water, liters of gasoline, etc. and these nouns may be
singular or plural. Tomato, tomatoes, egg, eggs, etc.
● Uncountable nouns: Uncountable nouns are those which can’t be separated and
must be counted as a large or small whole. In this category we include all liquids,
grains, energy and feelings, such as fruit, milk, gasoline, cold, bread, love, money,
etc. These nouns are only singular.
we have different quantifiers to express the quantity of something:
1) NEUTRAL QUANTIFIERS, SOME AND ANY: When we want to refer to a plural
noun or an uncountable noun, without giving a specific quantity, we use ‘some’ and
‘any’. We use ‘some’ in affirmatives and ‘any’ in questions and negatives.
We use the quantifier ANY to make questions about the existence of countable and
uncountable nouns.Examples:
A: Do you have ANY brothers or sisters? (brothers and sisters are countable nouns)
B: Sure, I have one brother and one sister./ Yes, i have brothers and sisters
A: Are there ANY tomatoes on the table? (tomatoes is a countable noun so we use it
as a plural noun)
B: Yes, there are 7 tomatoes on the table
A: Is there ANY milk in the refrigerator?(milk is an uncountable noun)
B: No, there isn’t ANY. (ANY indicates here that there is NO or ZERO milk in the
fridge)
Observe that we also use ANY to mention that something doesn't exist at a specific moment.
A: Was there ANY traffic on the way to school? (traffic is an uncountable noun so we
use it in singular form)
B: No, there wasn't ANY traffic. (ZERO traffic)
We use SOME in three ways:
● Positive sentences;
A. I bought some bread.
B. There is some milk in the fridge
● Making offers or requests;
A. Would you like some coffee?
B. This is an offer. You are offering me coffee.
C. Can I have some water?
D. This is a request. I am requesting water.
● Asking questions when you think the answer is 'yes'.We usually use 'any' to make
questions. You can use 'some' in a question when you think the answer to the
question will be 'yes'.
A. Did you learn some new words in class?
B. I think the answer is 'yes'. I think you did learn new words.
C. Do we have some milk in the fridge?
D. I think the answer is 'yes'. I think we have milk.
“would”= I’d like = me gustaria
We usually use 'some' or 'any' directly before the noun.
some + noun
it + verb tobe/ do/ does/ didn’t/ was/ were +NOT +any + noun
We can use 'some' or 'any' without a noun when the person you are speaking to knows the
noun you are talking about.
Example: I couldn't find the bread. We didn't have any bread
In the first sentence I introduce the noun 'bread'. In the second sentence I use 'any'
without a noun. 'Any' refers to the noun 'bread'. I don't need to use the noun 'bread'
in the second sentence, because you know I am talking about 'bread'.
