Some / Any / No

* With some, any and no we use singular verbs.

** Some / any / no  are used with both countable and non-countable nouns.
It is useful to remember which nouns are countable and uncountable first:

Countable and uncountable nouns

a) Countable nouns are those nouns that can be counted:

An apple, two apples etc.

b) Uncountable nouns are those that cannot be counted: water, bread etc.
Uncountable nouns take a singular verb and are not used with a/an.
Uncountable nouns can be divided into different groups:
Mass nouns: fruit juice, butter, sugar, rice, sand, etc.

Study subjects: physics, chemistry, mathematics (maths), history etc.

Sports: football, rugby, basketball etc.

Languages: English, Italian, Dutch, Arabic etc.

Diseases: influenza, malaria, asthma etc.

Natural phenomena:  rain, snow, mist etc.

Collective nouns: money, baggage, furniture, etc.

other nouns: information, accommodation, anger, luck, love, etc.

 

Some

1. Some and its compounds somebody, someone, something, somewhere etc. are normally used in affirmative sentences:

• There is some wine in the cellar.
• We have some chocolate cake left from last night.
• There is someone at the door.

2.  Also there are used in interrogatives questions which are used to make an offer or a request and normally the answer is yes:

• Would you like some tea?
• Do you want something to eat?
• Can you ask someone to come and repair the TV?

 

Any

1. Any and its compounds anybody, anyone, anything, anywhere etc. are used in interrogative sentences

• Has anyone seen my mobile?
• Do we have anything in the fridge?

2. Not any is used in negative sentences

• I didn't have any time to speak to Marc.

3. Any and its compounds can be used with words like without, never, rarely, seldom, hardly.

• I have never met anyone as rude as you.

 

4. When any and its compounds are used in affirmative sentences there is a different meaning.

• We can go anywhere you like. = It doesn’t matter where we go.
• Anyone could have told you that. = I’m surprised you don’t know this.
• You can come any day you want.
• You can find anything you wish in this shop.

 

No

No and its compounds can be used instead of not any in negative sentences:

• He didn’t do anything = He did nothing.

Else

1. Εκτός απο τα anybody, somebody, nobody κ.α. χρησιμοποιήται και με τα when, where, what, why και how.

• Nesspresso. What else?

 

2. Με ρήμα σε ενικό.

• He hasn't arrived yet but everybody else is here.

 

3. Possessive case: else's

 

 

4. Or else = otherwise = if not

 

 

Every - Each