Some
Some is usually thought of as the positive counterpart to any in many circumstances.
Any can be used before countable and uncountable nouns usually in questions and negativesentences:
Many, much, a lot of
These are all used to talk about a large quantity of something; many is used only with C nouns,much with U nouns and a lot of can be used with both.
Only many and much can be preceded by the words how, to form questions (how many / how much ...?). The word too can be used to express a negative idea (too hot, too cold) and so, to show the speaker's attitude to the quantity (so many that ... /so much he couldn't ...). Many andmuch tend to be rather formal in use and are therefore often found in legal documents, academic papers and so on; in speech we often use phrases like a lot of, loads of, tons of, hundreds of.
Few, little
Again, the meaning of these two words is similar since they both refer to small quantities, except that few is found with C nouns and little with U nouns.
If they are used without the indefinite article, a, they have the sense of not enough and are negative in feeling (few events, little interest) but these are quite formal and we would normally prefer not many events and not much interest.
When few and little are used witha they simply mean a small quantity with no extra negative overtones: a few events (i.e. three or four) and a little interest (i.e. some interest, but not a lot).
Some is usually thought of as the positive counterpart to any in many circumstances.
- I'm bringing some friends with me.
- I have some coffee.
- Would you like some cake? (here is the cake, do you want a piece of it?)
- Could I have some biscuits instead? (any would not be possible in this case)
- I like some Beatles songs. (But certainly not all!)
- I can see some difference. (But not a lot!)
Any can be used before countable and uncountable nouns usually in questions and negativesentences:
- Are you bringing any friends with you?
- Do you have any coffee?
- I can't remember any songs.
- He isn't taking any chances.
- Help yourself to any sandwiches. (the choice is yours)
- Don't you like any Beatles song? (I can't believe you dislike them all)
- I can't see any difference. (nothing at all)ç
Many, much, a lot of
These are all used to talk about a large quantity of something; many is used only with C nouns,much with U nouns and a lot of can be used with both.
Only many and much can be preceded by the words how, to form questions (how many / how much ...?). The word too can be used to express a negative idea (too hot, too cold) and so, to show the speaker's attitude to the quantity (so many that ... /so much he couldn't ...). Many andmuch tend to be rather formal in use and are therefore often found in legal documents, academic papers and so on; in speech we often use phrases like a lot of, loads of, tons of, hundreds of.
Few, little
Again, the meaning of these two words is similar since they both refer to small quantities, except that few is found with C nouns and little with U nouns.
If they are used without the indefinite article, a, they have the sense of not enough and are negative in feeling (few events, little interest) but these are quite formal and we would normally prefer not many events and not much interest.
When few and little are used witha they simply mean a small quantity with no extra negative overtones: a few events (i.e. three or four) and a little interest (i.e. some interest, but not a lot).