Demonstratives (this – these / that – those)

This/These are used: for people or things near us: This dress is mine. For present/future situations: I’m seeing George this Friday. When the speaker is in or near the place he/she is referring to: This statue was made in 40 AD. (The speaker is near the statue.) To introduce people or to identify ourselves on the phone: “Liz, this is Mary.”

That/Those are used: for people or things not near us: That woman over there is the director. For past situations: That month was the best. To refer back to something mentioned before: “We’re getting engaged in June.” “That’s marvellous.” When speaking on the phone to ask who the other person is: “Hello. This is James Smith. Who’s that, please?” This/These – That/Those are not always followed by nouns: That’s how he survived the shipwreck.

Exercise 60. Fill in: this, these, that or those.

1. Look at... those... hot air balloons. Aren’t they spectacular? 2. James and Claire have decided to get married … year. 3. Look! … is the fabric I want for our bedroom curtains. 4. … people over there come from Swansea. 5. … girl over there is going to move in next door. 6. … buildings in the centre of town need to be pulled down. They are an eyesore. 7. “… were the best days of my life!” grandpa said. 8. “Is your sister in, Jane? … is Diana speaking.” 9. “Marilyn and Ian are engaged!” “Isn’t … brilliant!” 10. “Rachel, let me introduce you to Stephen. Stephen, … is Rachel.” 11. I wish I’d bought one of … jackets we saw last week. 12. “I’ll take earrings.” “… is a good choice. The others don’t really suit you.” 13. … car parked over there belongs to my boss. 14. “… is one of his earlier works”, explained the guide as we all looked at the painting. 15. Do you know … boy who has just walked past? 16. “Did you know that the director earns over £500,000 a year?” “… is scandalous!” 17. … peaches were extremely juicy, weren’t they? 18. “Jason and Caroline were chosen for the lead roles.” “… is impossible!” 19. Do you remember our holiday in Spain? … was one of the best times of my life. 20. Could you take … bags? I’m about to drop them. 21. “So you see, … is how we met”, she explained as she reached the end of her story. 22. Hello, … is Stephen. Can I speak to your mother, please? 23. “ … is the house where Wordsworth lived”, said the guide as she stood outside the front door. 24. … curry we had last night was delicious, wasn’t it? 25. Can you reach … jars on the top shelf?

Uses of “some/any/no/every and their compounds”

Some and any are the most frequently used quantity words in the language. They never answer – How many? and – How much? How many do you want? – Just a few. (Not “some”) How much do you want? – Just a little. (Not “some”)

Some is normally used: in the affirmative: There are some apples in the box. (i.e. an unstated number.) There is some juice in the glass. (i.e. an unstated quality.) In questions when we expect (or hope to get) the answer “Yes”: Have you got some pencils here? (i.e. I know or I think you’ve got some and expect you to say “Yes”.) In offers, requests, invitations and suggestions when we expect the answer “Yes” or expect implied agreement: Would you like some (more) cake? (expecting “Yes”.) May I have some (more) tea? (expecting “Yes”.) To mean “certain, but not all”: Some people believe anything they read in the papers. Not … some can be used in certain context to mean “not all”: I didn’t understand some of the information.

Note. Uncountable nouns and countable nouns in the plural are preceded by some when “a certain quantity or number” is implied.

Exercise 61. Use some where necessary.

1. Students write on ... paper and also on the blackboard. 2. I need ... writing-paper to write a letter. 3. I like ... sweet apples. 4. Please, buy me ... apples. 5. ... children must drink ... milk every day. 6. ... children do not like ... milk. 7. The tea is very hot; I must put ... milk in it. 8. What must I buy, ... cheese or ... butter? 9. I am fond of ... flowers. 10. Put ... butter on the potatoes. 11. I’ve brought you ... flowers. 12. Give me ... bread. 13. I don’t like ... tea at this time of the day. 14. I’d like ... hot tea now. 15. Bring ... water, please.

Any is normally used: in negative statements containing not: We have not got any shoes of your size. There isn’t any juice in the glass. In questions when we are not sure about the answer or expect “No”: Have you got any pencils here? (i.e. I don’t know if you have got any and wouldn’t be surprised if you said “No”.) In sentences containing such negative words as hardly, never, seldom or without, or when there is any suggestion of doubt, e.g. with unlikely, if or whether, until, unless, after the verbs deny, refuse: There’s hardly any milk in the cup. We got to the Crimea without any problems. I don’t know if/whether there is any news from him. He denied having stolen any apples from the garden. With at all and (more formally) whatever for special emphasis: I haven’ t got any idea at all (whatever) about what happened. In positive statements any expresses the meaning любой, какой угодно.

Some\any\no\every compounds (except – where compounds) function as pronouns. They are called indefinite because we do not always know who or what we are referring to. Note: Everybody (somebody, anybody) is here, aren’t they? Nobody is there, are they?

Table 4

I see something.	I see somebody.	He went somewhere.	I’ll do it somehow.
Do you see anything?	Do you see anybody?	Did he go anywhere?	Will you do it anyhow?
I don’t see anything.	I don’t see anybody.	He didn’t go anywhere.	I won’t do it anyhow.
I see nothing.	I see nobody.	He went nowhere.	I’ll do it no how.

Exercise 62. Insert some, any, no.

1. There is … ink in my pen: I cannot write. 2. Is there … paper on the desk? – Yes, there is … . 3. There are … flowers here in winter. 4. I can see … children in the yard. They are playing. 5. Would you like … more coffee? 6. There is … tea in the cup: the cup is empty. 7. Give me … water, please. I’m thirsty. 8. Is there … cheese on the plate? 9. Have you got … time to spare? 10. He didn’t know if there’s … information for him. 11. I can hardly see … water there. 12. I saw you bought sweets. Have you got … of them in your bag?

Exercise 63. Insert some, any, no, every or their compounds.

1. Has … in this group got a dictionary? 2. Please tell us the story. … knows it. 3. I didn’t see … in the street. 4. There is … white in the box. 5. Give me … to eat. I’m so hungry. 6. … knows that water is necessary for life. 7. You must find … who can help you. 8. … knew … about America before Columbus discovered it. 9. I saw … in the bus yesterday who looked like you. 10. I understand … now. Thank you for your explanation. 11. I didn’t take … money with me, so I couldn’t buy … . 12. I’m afraid I won’t be able to find … in the office now: it is too late.

Exercise 64. Use some, any, no, every or their derivatives:

1. It is so dark here. I can’t see … . 2. … must do their own work. 3. You can ask him … question, he will answer it. 4. Do we have … milk? – No, we don’t have … , go and buy … , please. 5. I see him in the library … day. 6. We have lunch at … time between 1 and 2. 7. Has … happened? 8. I am going to tell you … interesting. 9. We had … to eat the whole day and got hungry. 10. The party was dull; there were … interesting people there. 11. Are you going … for the weekend? 12. There is … rule without exception. 13. There are … flowers near the window. Give me a flower, please. 14. You will have to do it … . 15. Does … mind if I smoke? 16. The prisoners refused to eat … . 17. Would you like … more beer? 18. The music is really great! You can ask … who has heard it. 19. Why are you looking under the bed? Have you lost …? 20. There is … rose without thorns. 21. She refused to say … . 22. Tell me if … rings me up.

Exercise 65. Supply some, any or no for the following sentences.

1. If you have … news, call me back. 2. She helped to borrow … more money. 3. There is hardly … place in this house where we can talk alone. 4. … boy at the school had ever taken a scholarship to the university. 5. It meant real hardship to my mother unless I earned … money at once. 6. My mother hoped that perhaps the school had … funds to give me a grant. 7. It was unlikely that … of the guests would take particular notice of it. 8. They understood each other without … words. 9. “Let’s go back home. It’s already late.” “I’d rather stay out a little longer.” “I suppose we’ve got to go home … time.” 10. There isn’t … boot-polish in the tin. 11. You have … fine flowers in your garden. 12. Go and ask him for … more paper. I haven’t … in my desk. 13. Later we had … tea. 14. He wants … more pudding. You can take it away. 15. There are … matches left. We must buy … . 16. I wouldn’t go to his concert. He is … pianist. 17. … time ago I read his story in a magazine. 18. I don’t think there is … milk left in the jug. 19. … student can answer the question.

Exercise 66. Translate into English using not ... any:

1. У мистера Скотта нет дальних родственников. 2. У Бориса нет братьев и сестер. 3. У него нет в этом городе родственников. 4. У него нет английских книг. 5. Не давайте вашему мальчику больше конфет. 6. У доски нет мела. 7. У меня нет времени разговаривать с тобой. 8. У нас сегодня нет уроков. 9. У нас в контрольной нет ошибок. 10. Не задавайте мне вопросов. 11. У меня нет желания спорить с вами. 12. У них нет дома животных.

Exercise 67. Translate into English:

1. На столе лежит что-то круглое. Что это такое? 2. Никто об этом ничего не знает, не так ли? 3. В городе много парков. Везде деревья и цветы. 4. Он где-то в саду. 5. Мы слышали эту песню повсюду. 6. В той комнате кто-то есть. 7. Кто-нибудь хочет посмотреть телевизор? 8. Ольга живёт где-то в этом районе. 9. Всё в порядке. 10. Я никого не знаю в этом городе. 11. Кто-нибудь знает адрес нашего старосты? 12. Дай мне, пожалуйста, что-нибудь поесть. 13. Ты что-нибудь знаешь о Роне? 14. Ты никуда не пойдёшь, пока не поешь. 15. Где-то мы уже слышали это. 16. Ты как всегда бросил свою книгу где-то, а теперь ищешь её везде. 17. Она может быть где угодно. 18. Никто никуда не пойдёт без моего разрешения, не так ли? 19. Давай куда-нибудь сходим завтра. 20. Она что-то знает, но не хочет никому ничего говорить. 21. Кому-нибудь нужна эта газета? 22. Вы где-нибудь видели что-нибудь подобное? 23. Все знают ответ на этот вопрос, не правда ли? 24. Опять везде валяются твои книги.

Exercise 68. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

1. Where’s that naughty dog? We can’t find him … .

a) somewhere b) anywhere c) nowhere

2. We’ve done … possible. But all in vain.

a) something b) anything c) everything

3. There was … in the room. It was empty.

a) nobody b) anybody c) somebody

4. I couldn’t see … in the dark.

a) someone b) anything c) everyone

5. … must be present at the meeting. A very serious question will be discussed.

a) someone b) any one c) everyone

6. Where’s my wallet? I put it … over here.

a) somewhere b) anywhere c) nowhere

7. Can I do … to improve the situation?

a) something b) anything c) everything

8. I’ve heard … about this project but I don’t know all the details.

a) something b) anything c) everything

9. … was noticed leaving the house that night apart from Mr. Blake himself. Not a single person.

a) Someone b) No one c) Everyone

10. … who was present at the party was questioned by the Inspector. All of them were suspected.

a) Everybody b) Nobody c) Someone

Exercise 69. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

1. The gun was looked for … in the house but was not found.

a) nowhere b) everywhere c) somewhere

2. He murmured … I could not understand.

a) something b) anything c) everything

3. I didn’t see … strange about the letter.

a) something b) anything c) nothing

4. There was … so odd about his tone that I looked at him in surprise.

a) something b) anything c) nothing

5. There was … to do but wait.

a) something b) anything c) nothing

6. She lives … in the suburbs. But I’ve got no idea where exactly.

a) anywhere b) somewhere c) nowhere

7. … is clear now. Not a single doubt is left.

a) Something b) Nothing c) Everything

8. He has disappeared to … . Nobody saw him ever since.

a) somewhere b) nowhere c) anywhere

9. All the tourists were saved. Fortunately … was injured.

a) someone b) no one c) everyone

10. There was … special in what she said.

a) something b) anything c) everything

Exercise 70. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

1. Why are you smiling? Have I said … funny?

a) something b) anything c) nothing

2. If you learn … important, please, inform me immediately.

a) everything b) anything c) nothing

3. I must have seen him … . His face looks quite familiar.

a) anywhere b) somewhere c) nowhere

4. Do you remember putting the keys … in the room?

a) somewhere b) anywhere c) everywhere

5. We turned the house upside down but we couldn’t find your ring … .

a) somewhere b) anywhere c) everywhere

6. … arrived on time except Peter.

a) Someone b) Anyone c) Everyone

7. Shall I bring … to drink?

a) something b) anything c) everything

8. … parked in my parking place. Where shall I put my car now?

a) Someone b) Anyone c) Everyone

9. I’ve done … possible to solve the problem.

a) something b) anything c) everything

10. Can you do … to improve the situation?

a) something b) anything c) everything

11. I haven’t heard … about him since we left University.

a) something b) anything c) everything

Exercise 71. Supply one of the compounds in “some-”, ”any-” or “no-”:

1. At the party you’ll see … you haven’t met yet. 2. Will there be … at the club so early? 3. I’m not going to see him because I have … important to report. 4. I was late. I found … in the house. 5. I’m expecting … at twelve o’clock. 6. I think there’s … wrong with my watch. 7. Is there … at home? 8. The doorbell rang but there was … there. 9. I know … at all. 10. Otherwise there was hardly … to occupy him. 11. “Why don’t they do … about me?” Mr. Scot cried out hearing that his friend had got promoted. 12. … can become a member of the club by paying a subscription. 13. When we get to the house it may be too late to do … . 14. … has been here before us. 15. “Why don’t you say …?” he demanded. 16. In the winter he lived without doing … . 17. He wondered if he would ever again share …’s emotion. 18. This is my affair and … else’s. 19. Sometimes he would sit silent and abstracted, taking no notice of … . 20. … is better than … in a situation like this. 21. Can’t you do … by yourself now? 22. I took care to ask him … about his own doings. 23. Will you bring … with you or will you come alone? 24. … has any right to interfere in his matter. 25. If … delays you, you must let me know. 26. It was clear that … had happened. 27. … at the airport could tell me … about the Trianon hotel. 28. It’s a cave. I’d like to find out if there’s … left inside. 29. He looked at me and he didn’t say… . 30. But in any case, what can … do? 31. … heard a rumour that he led a “wild” life.