Файл: Posobie_Grammatika_Kulieva2009.doc

Indefinite Pronouns

Some, any, no and their derivatives

• somewhere anywhere nowhere everywhere

Positive

There is some butter in the fridge.

Somebody phoned you last night.

I'd like something to eat.

They have a house somewhere in the south of France.

Negative

There isn’t any money left.

I didn't go anywhere last night.

I didn't have anything to eat.

He doesn't know anybody in London.

There is no money left.

I went nowhere last night.

I had nothing to eat.

He knows nobody in London.

Question

Is there any butter in the fridge?

Did you go anywhere in the weekend?

Did you meet anybody in the party?

Is there anything to eat in the house?

• any can be found in affirmative sentences (in the meaning of 'любой').

• any is also used with hardly and with the preposition without when without any means with no.

Come at any time you like.

I have hardly any money left.)

He started his car without any difficulty.)

These words are followed by a verb in the singular:

Everybody likes Kate.

Nobody wants more homework.

Everything is ready.

We use everybody, everyone, somebody and someone to talk about people.

We use everything, something, and anything to talk about things.

Ex. 1. Comment on the use of some or any in the following sentences.

1. Could I get you some fresh orange juice? I have just made some. 2. Yesterday I left the house without any money. 3. The council refused to give the designer any financial help. 4. Can I offer you some wine? 5. Any of the staff could have helped you. 6. If you have any questions, call me. 7. Shall I send you some other files? 8. There was never any question that she would leave her job. 9. Jackie hardly ever has any doubts about her abilities. 10. Could you buy some cheese in town? 11. There is seldom any world news on this channel. 12. The detective failed to find any further evidence. 13. Is there any water in the jug? 14. Would you like some juice?

Ex. 2. Make the following sentences interrogative and negative.

1. People usually have some free time on weekends. 2. Some of my friends also teach English. 3. There is some snow in the streets. 4. Wait, I'll make some coffee for us. 5. There's some soup left. 6. I think I need some help. 7. She has some relatives in England. 8. Some people are so annoying! 9. We have some new contracts this year. 10. I can get you some bread when I go shopping.

Ex. 3. Complete the following sentences with some, any, no and their derivatives.

1. It's too dark here. I can't see ....

2. Can I do ... for you?

3. They went... at all during the holiday.

4. It was very disappointing. Absolutely... happened.

5. I think there's ... wrong with the car.

6. Did you turn the oven off? I think I can smell... burning.

7. It was quiet in the room.... said anything.

8. Has... seen Paul today?

9. Was there ... interesting in the paper yesterday?

10. ... likes to stay in town on a hot day.

11. He couldn't find ... books on geography at the local library. 12. ... time ago I read about it in a magazine.

13. He wants ... more pudding. You can take it away.

14. There isn't... milk in the fridge but there is ... cream.

15. Most people like Tom but... don't.

Ex. 4. Translate into English.

1. В этом году Татьяна посадила у себя на даче кое-какие цветы, но не сажала никаких овощей. 2. — Есть ли смысл в том, что он говорит? — По-моему, никакого. Любой это тебе скажет. 3. Я обычно отдыхаю с некоторыми из своих друзей. 4. У него нет никаких причин сердиться на нее. 5. Если что-нибудь случится, это не моя вина (fault). 6. Кто-нибудь еще пришел? 7. Купи что-нибудь поесть, у нас в холодильнике (fridge) ничего нет. 8. Она редко читает газеты; говорит, что некоторые новости ее просто убивают. 9. Любое из его стихотворений — шедевр. 10. Не могли бы вы принести немного мела? 11. Любой студент знает, как труден путь к знаниям, хотя некоторые все же надеются на удачу. 12. Этот человек никогда ничего не боится. 13. Хочешь послушать какую-нибудь музыку? 14. Не молчи (keep silent), скажи что-нибудь. 15. Я согласен встретиться с вами в любое время, в любом месте.

Ex. 5. Read the following just for fun.

Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody

This is the story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Ex. 6. Read the text and say what you think about it

What is the sexist pronoun war?

Historically, the masculine pronoun has been used when the gender of the antecedent is unknown, or if both genders are represented. Many old proverbs illustrate it: "He laughs best who laughs last." "He who hesitates is lost." "He who plays the piper calls the tune." Some women see this as evidence of patriarchal domination. Others just don't like it. Often you can rewrite your sentence and avoid the problem altogether — make the verb and pronoun plural, for example — but sometimes rewriting isn't possible. Proposed alternatives include she and he or she, both of which interrupt the flow of the sentence and seem to be making a political point in the middle of whatever you are trying to say. Be aware that using the masculine pronoun may offend some people. Also be aware that the smooth flow of your sentence may be at stake. We solve the problem by alternating he and she ... it isn't a perfect solution, but it isn't a perfect world. The language may evolve, giving us a better option in the future.

(from "Grammar Smart")

Much, many, (a) little, (a) few, a lot of

• (a) few and many are used with plural and countable nouns:

I've got a few friends.

They haven't got many friends.

• (a) little and much are used with uncountable nouns:

Could I have a little water, please?

We haven't got much time.

• Few, little are used to emphasize the fact that the quantity is small.

The weather was rainy, so very few people came to see the man.

There's little time. We must hurry up.

• A few, a little are used to state the positive fact that there is some quantity.

I have a little time, so we can sit and talk for a while.

• After very, too, so the pronouns little and few are used while after 'only' a little or a few are typical.

She did very little work during the term.

There isn’t much new information in the article. There's only

a little.

Ex. 1. Read and translate the sentences. Comment on the words in bold type.

1. The value of life lies not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them: a man may live long, yet get little from life. 2. She was a woman of great charisma, and few could resist the force of her compelling personality. 3. It is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry. 4. Less is more. 5. Those fighter pilots, not much older than twenty, had defended England in the skies in 1940 and had been known as "The Few". 6. "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few," W. Churchill had said in his speech in the House of Commons. 7. She believed that the less people knew about you, the safer you were, for if they knew nothing, they could do you no harm. 8. But few things came as a surprise to Emma anymore. 9. Few doctors doubt now the importance of a diet. 10. If you are more careful, you will make fewer stupid mistakes. 11. She knew now that men like him were among the very few. 12. There are a few matters to attend to. 13. Try to persuade her to eat a little.

Ex. 2. Combine the following words with many or much.

Spaghetti, sheep, a coin, support, traffic, a mug, housework, weather, a slice, knowledge, a notebook, furniture, a language, butter, equipment, a computer, deer, children, progress, scissors, means, linen, a fish, blankets, money, teachers, series, mail, sandwich, toast, make-up, light.

Ex. 3. Insert (a) few, (a) little.

1. Wait, I'll pick ... roses for you from my garden. 2. ... people could resist such a temptation. 3. The patient has made ... progress in the last couple of weeks. 4. There is ... progress in the business. We must take some measures to improve it. 5. — Could you give me ... information on the trip? — There is ... I can tell you, sir. It's out of the list. 6. Paul put ... coins in the slot, thought ..., and then dialed the number. 7. Let's go to the market and buy ... fruit and ... carrots. 8. There is ... furniture in our country house. We need to buy ... more things. 9. I'm still hungry. I think I'll have ... more fish. 10. When I was a child, we kept ... pigeons in our back yard. 11. If I accept that job, I'll make ... more money. 12. There are ... cars on the road today. It's Sunday. 13. Many questions were asked, but ... were answered. 14. Wait ..., there are still ... things to attend to. 15. Even now there is ... we can do to improve the weather.

Ex. 4. Translate into English.

1. У нас осталось мало бананов. Нужно купить немного. 2. — Не мог бы ты одолжить мне немного денег? — Извини, но у меня самого мало денег. 3. Почему так мало людей понимает меня? А мне так нужно немного понимания. 4. Признаюсь, я немного шокирована. 5. В баке слишком мало бензина, его хватит только на несколько километров. 6. Ты слишком бледная, тебе нужно немного косметики. 7. Мало кто знает про этот ресторанчик, но мы тут уже были несколько раз. 8. Хотя у меня и мало опыта в этом деле, все-таки я могу ответить на несколько твоих вопросов. 9. В течение всей зимы у нас так мало солнечного света, всего лишь несколько солнечных дней. 10. Осталось мало надежды, никаких признаков корабля. 11. Еще немного терпения, и те несколько вопросов, которые мы должны обсудить, будут решены. 12. Чтобы избежать недомога­ния, ешьте меньше; чтобы продлить жизнь, волнуйтесь меньше.

Ex. 5. Read the proverbs and give their Russian equivalents.

1. Little by little and bit by bit. 2. A little help is worth a great deal of pity. 3. A little learning is a dangerous thing. 4. Little things please little minds. 5. Little strokes fell great oaks. 6. Many are called but few are chosen. 7. You win a few, you lose a few. 8. More haste, less speed. 9. Least said, soonest mended. 10. Fewer clients, less money.

(The) other, (the) others, another

Study the following examples showing the use of the pronouns (the) other, (the) others, another.

Some people like coffee, other people like tea.

Some people like coffee, others like tea.

Why are you sitting here alone ? Where are all the others ?

Both of my brothers work. One of them is a driver and the other is an engineer.

Can I have another cup of tea?

• another is derived from an other and is used, accordingly, with nouns in the singular only.

• others and the others are used in the sentence as nouns.

Ex. 6. Read and translate the sentences. Comment on the words in bold type.

1. She was now listening to whoever it was on the other end of the line. 2. And now let's go in and join the others. 3. In 1900 the Uffizi gallery in Florence had 2,395 paintings on display. Today it shows just 500. The others are locked away, almost never seen. 4. All European languages belong to the same family except for Finnish, Hungarian, Basque and one or two others. 5. Bees carry pollen from one plant to another. 6. The boxers went on hitting each other. 7. Some books are useful to read, others are just a waste of time. 8. He produced two films. One became a classic, the other passed unnoticed. 9. My Dad says he needs another car. 10. Some people are bitterly frustrated when this happens. Others are not. 11. One man's meat is another man's poison. 12. I've got another three books to read. 13. On the one hand it is true, on the other not quite.

Ex. 7. Complete the following sentences with the pronouns other, others, the other, the others, another.

1. I've got two sisters. One of them is a nurse, ... is still a student.

2. Only two of us are here , ... students have already left.

3. Her two sons were playing in the garden. She turned her eyes from one to ... .

4. There was ... pause.

5. This hat is too small for me. Can you give me ... one, a size bigger?

6. Alec whispered something from ... side of the table.

7. Some people like spring, ... prefer summer.

8. She went to the kitchen and came back with ... cup of tea.

9. I've brought two of the books you gave me. I'll bring ... books nехt Friday.

10. I'm not doing any English, I'm busy with ... things now.

11. Three parachutes opened one after ... .

12. He entered the room and saw Mike and Martha sitting on the sofa. He looked first at one, then at ... .

13. He wanted to get to ... side of the river.

14. I've lost my cigarette-lighter. I'll have to buy ... one now.

15. Some people are lazy, ... are energetic. Most people are a mixture of both.

16. Excuse me, waiter. Could you bring me ... fork? I dropped mine on the floor.

Ex. 8. Translate into English.

1. Мы встречались на днях. Мы давно не видели друг друга. 2. Это, так сказать, оборотная сторона медали. 3. В моей группе было двенадцать студентов. Четверо были иностранцы, остальные москвичи. 4. У них две дочери. Одной семь лет, другой пять. 5. Одни блюда легко готовить, другие нет. 6. Мы неправильно друг друга поняли. Дайте мне еще один шанс. 7. У нас два балкона. Один выходит на юг, другой на восток. 8. Мы изучаем много предметов. Одни нам интересны, другие нет. 9. Закрой один глаз, потом другой. 10. Девочка шла в школу в первый раз в первый класс. В одной руке у нее был портфель, а в другой букет цветов. 11. Некоторые люди нравятся нам, другие нет. 12. — У меня два зонтика. Один красный, а другой черный. — Да, некоторые люди любят яркие цвета, другие темные. 13. Люди не решались смотреть друг на друга. 14. Мне нужно еще раз взглянуть на эту картину. 15. Какие еще сведения вы нам принесли? 16. Дело провалилось, потому что партнеры не доверяли друг другу. 17. Люди должны помогать и доверять друг другу. 18. Но если меня обидят, то я не стану подставлять другую щеку. 19. Извини, но не было другого способа сделать это. 20. Я подожду, пока вернутся остальные. 21. С одной стороны, это хороший шанс, а с другой стороны, это опасно.