(A) little / (a) few

a little	a few
is used with uncountable nouns a little time, a little water means “a small amount, but some” There's a little work to do before we go home.	is used with plural countable nouns a few jobs, a few books means “a small number, but some” She's got a few friends in London and she's very happy there. NOTE: quite a few = a lot There are quite a few people in the street. = There are a lot of people in the street.

little	few
is used with uncountable nouns little money, little sugar means “not much”, “almost no” There's little work to do. I think we can go home in an hour or less. NOTE: only a little = little (almost no) There is only a little time left. = There's little time left. very little = little I've got very little time. (= hardly any at all)	is used with plural countable nouns few cars, few opportunities means “not many”, “almost no” She's got few friends and she feels rather lonely. NOTE: only a few = few (almost no) There are only a few eggs in the fridge. We can't bake a cake. = There are few eggs in the fridge. We can bake a cake. very few = few I’ve got very few friends. (= hardly any at all)

Exercise 21. Complete the sentences using (a) little or (a) few.

Example: Have you got any money with you? - Yes, I've got a little.

There are only a few people in the cinema. The film is rather boring.

1. I know _ people in Moscow, but not many.

2. We've got _ coffee left, but not much.

3. He wants to leave the job because earns _ money.

4. I've got _ homework to do tonight. We can go out and have some fun.

5. "Have we got any potatoes left? I'd like to cook a potato soup." - "Yes, we've got _."

6. She's got _ friends because she's very selfish.

7. Fortunately I had - time to spare.

8. I've got - books on gardening.

9. I've read - of her books.

Exercise 22. Rewrite the following sentences with only a few or only a little.

Example: I'm sorry but I haven't got much time. - I'm sorry I've got only a little time. I haven't got many friends. - I've got only a few friends.

1. I haven't got many English books in my home library.

2. There aren't many monuments in that town.

3. I'm not a vegetarian but I don't eat much meat.

4. Their son is doing rather well at school this year and in his test papers there are much fewer mistakes.

5. I come home so tired that I can't do much work in the evenings.

6. There are a lot of cinemas in town but there aren't many theatres.

7. I haven't seen Tony for over 20 years. He hasn't changed much.

8. There weren't many people at the party.

Indefinite Pronouns and Adverbs

	-thing	-body	-one	-where
Some in positive sentences; in questions	Something I've something to ask you. Could I have something to eat?	Somebody Somebody wants to talk to you. There is somebody downstairs, isn't there?	Someone I want to introduce you to someone. Can you get someone to do it?	Somewhere I don't like it here. Let's go somewhere else. Why don't we go out somewhere for dinner tonight?
Any in negative sentences; in questions; in positive sentences;	Anything I don't want to do anything today. Have you got anything to say? You can tell me anything. But I'm not going to believe you.	Anybody I can't see anybody outside. Does anybody like his paintings? That's a very easy job. Anybody can do it.	Anyone Don't tell anyone about it. Does anyone know that you are in town? Anyone can tell you how to get there.	Anywhere I don't want to go anywhere tonight. Do you go anywhere at weekends? You may go anywhere you like. You are a grown up person.
No in negative sentences	Nothing There is nothing in the fridge.	Nobody There is nobody downstairs.	No one No one can find Howard or Fred anywhere.	Nowhere They've got nowhere to live. They are homeless.
Every in all types of sentences	Everything Everything is so expensive these days.	Everybody Everybody likes good music.	Everyone Everyone else is downstairs.	Everywhere People can live everywhere in the world.

NOTE:

1. When an indefinite pronoun is the subject it takes a singular verb:

Nobody knows that.

Does anybody agree with me?

Is there anything to eat in the house? I'm hungry.

Nobody has got answers to all these questions.

2. We use “they” in question tags after indefinite pronouns that refer to people. Nobody knows what they want to do, do they?

Everybody knows what the answer is, don't they?

3. We use 'it' in question tags after indefinite pronouns that refer to things.

Nothing matters now, does it?

Exercise 23. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Example: I don't know why everybody hates him. (hate)

1. Nobody _ being poor. (like)

2. It's no good if everyone _ to get their own way. (want)

3. I'm not sure there _ anything else to talk about. (be)

4. The house is deserted. Nobody _ there now. (live)

5. There _ nothing more I can do for you. (be)

6. Something _ wrong. What is it? (be)

Exercise 24. Give the correct tag to the following sentences.

1. No one is leaving tomorrow, _?

2. Everyone believes they could be rich and famous, _?

3. Nothing really matters, _?

4. Everything is all right, _?

5. Something strange is happening there, _?

Exercise 25. Complete the following sentences with something/somebody or anything/anybody/anyone.

1. There's _ at the door. Can you open it, please?

2. She never wears _ pink. In fact, she hates this colour.

3. Close your eyes! I've got _ for you.

4. - It's top secret. Don't tell __ about it.

- OK. I promise.

5. _ knows that you need a license if you want to drive a car.

6. I don't know _ here. I'm still a stranger in this neighborhood.

7. Is there _ interesting on TV tonight?

8. - Frank's on the phone for you.

- I don't know __, called Frank.

Exercise 26. Write the following sentences again with nothing/nobody/no one.

Example: There isn't anybody in the room. - There is nobody in the room.

1. Phil is so lonely. He hasn't got anybody to talk to.

2. There isn't anything in my mailbox today.

3. The house is empty. There isn't anyone in it.

4. He doesn't know anything about her.

5. The music is too loud. I can't hear anything.

6. I haven't got anything to read.

7. The place is so quiet. There isn't anybody here.

Exercise 27. Complete the following sentences with somewhere / anywhere / nowhere and everywhere.

1. Where are my glasses? I can't find them __.

2. The restaurant is full. Let's go __ else.

3. People come to Kyiv from __ to see its sights.

4. Are you going __ else?

5. This kind of forest exists __ else in the world. It's unique.

6. Mr. Jones leaves umbrellas __, especially on buses.

7. They have got a lot of money. They can travel __ they like.

Exercise 28.Complete the story using the words from the box. Some words are used more than once.

someone anyone no one everyone somewhere anywhere nothing everything

I love my job. I travel all the time, and (1) _ I go, I try to visit all the tourist sights. I find it hard to spend only two or three days in a city, but I always try to see (2) _ I can in the time I have.

(3) _ I know prefers travelling to work by car, but I always take the train. It's much more relaxing. You can look at the countryside or read the newspaper, and there's usually (4) _ to talk to. When I go to work very early, I am often alone and there is (5) _ else on the train. But when the waiter walks through and asks:

"Does (6) _ want tea or coffee?", I feel better!

At the moment I'm looking for (7) _ interesting for my sister and me to spend our next holiday. We've already been all round Britain and I don't think there's (8) _ we haven't stayed. I'd really like to travel round India. But Janet always says there is (9) _ better than a ranch in the USA, riding horses high in the mountains. I'm not so sure!