Page 127 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

a r n c i e
z e r o
p i u r a i
a n a
a n a
d o m e ana zero QUPUGIC WILT] DIUldl ana
w n n
dome
u n c o u n t a b l e n o u n s
nouns
uncountable
use some in affirmative sentences and questions with plural and uncountable nouns when we
We
We use some in affirmative sentences and questions with plural and uncountable nouns when we
about limited, but indefinite or unknown, numbers or quantities of things:
talk about limited, but indefinite or unknown, numbers or quantities of things:
talk
furniture arrived
for you this morning,
(not Furniture arrived...)
Some
• ¢ Some furniture arrived for you this morning. (not Furniture arrived...)
Would you like to hear some good news? (not ...to hear good news?)
• ¢« Would you like to hear some good news? (not ...to hear good news?)
use it in this way, you pronounce some with its weak form /sam/.
When you use it in this way, you pronounce some with its weak form /som/.
When you
We also use some to talk about particular, but unspecified, people or things:
We also use some to talk about particular, but unspecified, people or things:
never seem to get bored with being in the classroom.
(= but not all)
Some teachers
• « Some teachers never seem to get bored with being in the classroom. (= but not all)
(= but not all)
I enjoy some modern music.
• ¢ I enjoy some modern music. (= but not all)
use it in this way, you pronounce some with its strong form /SAITI/.
When you use it in this way, you pronounce some with its strong form /sam/.
When you
or
use
zero
article with uncountable
and plural
about people
generally
nouns when we talk
We
We use zero article with uncountable and plural nouns when we talk generally about people or
things. Compare the sentences in A above with:
things. Compare the sentences in A above with:
I always like getting good news.
(= good news in general)
2 • ¢ I always like getting good news. (= good news in general)
(= furniture in general)
Furniture is a costly item when you are setting up a home.
• ¢ Furniture is a costly item when you are setting up a home. (= furniture in general)
(= all teachers)
Teachers like having long holidays.
• ¢ Teachers like having long holidays. (= all teachers)
I enjoy modern music.
(= modern music in general)
• ¢ I enjoy modern music. (= modern music in general)
also:
Compare
Compare also:
We need food, medicine, and blankets.
• ¢ We need food, medicine, and blankets.
and
after
earthquake)
(appeal
(appeal after earthquake) and
in the wardrobe.
There are some old blankets
• ¢ There are some old blankets in the wardrobe.
Shall I throw them out?
Shall I throw them out?
A post office
is
a place where you can buy stamps, and
• * A post office is a place where you can buy stamps. and
some stamps, please.
I'd like
• ¢ I'd like some stamps, please.
zero
sometimes
some
use
difference
or
in meaning:
article with very little
We sometimes use some or zero article with very little difference in meaning:
We
'Where were you
(some)
'I was visiting
friends.'
last week?'
• ¢ "Where were you last week?' 'I was visiting (some) friends.’
Before serving, pour
(some) yoghurt over the top.
• ¢ Before serving, pour (some) yoghurt over the top.
It'll be cold up in the hills, so bring
(some) warm clothes.
• ¢ It'll be cold up in the hills, so bring (some) warm clothes.
to
some)
or
are
friends
difference whether we
referring
little
(with
particular
friends in
It makes little difference whether we are referring to particular friends (with some) or friends in
It makes
(with zero article); or whether we are referring to a limited but indefinite amount of
general
general (with zero article); or whether we are referring to a limited but indefinite amount of
(with some) or yoghurt in general (with zero article).
yoghurt
yoghurt (with some) or yoghurt in general (with zero article).
is used before a number to mean 'approximately':
Some is used before a number to mean 'approximately':
Some
of all those eligible took part in the vote.
(= approximately 80%)
Some 80%
• * Some 80% ofall those eligible took part in the vote. (= approximately 80%)
There were some 20,000 people at the protest march.
(= approximately 20,000)
• « There were some 20,000 people at the protest march. (= approximately 20,000)
used in this way,
usually pronounced /sAm/.
some is
it is
^singular noun. When it it is used in this way, some is pronounced /SAITI: of a/an with a
When it is used in this way, some is usually pronounced /sam/.
When
exactly which person or thing we are talking
emphasise
that we can't say
When we want
When we want to to emphasise that we can't say exactly which person or thing we are talking
use
we
some
because
we don't know
can
instead
or can't remember,
about because we don't know or can't remember, we can use some instead of a/an with a
about
some
used
is
is pronounced
in this way,
/SAITI/:
singular noun. When
I was asked
student in class two.
a really difficult question by some
• © T was asked a really difficult question by some student in class two.
• *
(thing)
similar way:
a
use the phrase
or other in
some
We use the phrase some (thing) or other in a similar way:
We
from some shop or other in the High Street,
I bought them
(not ...from a shop or other...)
• ¢ I bought them from some shop or other in the High Street. (not ...from a shop or other...)
Some and any =
Countable and uncountable nouns => =>
Countable and uncountable nouns
Zeoaride=>
Zero article = [REE 99 Someadany=