Елена Васильева - English grammar: 100 main rules

any

– negative sentences

Olivia didn't know any of them.

It doesn't make any sense.

– questions

Have you got any questions?

Did any of Andrew's friends call him?

– if-clauses

I can lend her my cell phone if there's any need.

If you come across any problems, please, report us.

– statements

Contact any of our assistants.

Any answer will do.

Somebody phoned you ten minutes ago.

Would you like something to eat?

Can we take something to make notes on?

You may invite anyone.

Are they waiting for anybody?

Andrew has not found anything.

each

– only with countable nouns

– refers to two or more things or persons that should be regarded separately and individually

There were cars parked on each side of the street.

She kissed each of her children.

– agrees with a singular verb

There are four apartments in our building. Each of the apartments has its private entrance.

Each item was checked.

– However, if the pronoun eachfollows the plural subject, it agrees with the plural verb.

They each do their share of work.

I have two people in the office and we each have our own email.

every

– only with countable nouns

– refers either to indefinite number of things/persons or to a group of things/persons considered as a whole.

We could see every star in the night sky.

Every player in the team should cooperate.

– with modifiers such as nearly, almost, practically

Olivia knows almost every neighbour.

Practically every problem has practical solutions.

– with time words such as minute, hour, day

There's a bus every ten minutes.

Every morning Andrew goes jogging in the park.

– makes compound pronouns with – body, – one, – thing

Everybody likes presents.

They invited everyone but James and Karen.

Everything 's done by computer nowadays.

Note

the pronoun everyonediffers from the word combination every one.

Everyone is a synonym to everybody and refers only to persons.

Everyone enjoyed the movie.

Every one is a synonym to each one and refers both to persons and things.

He watched a lot of movies and enjoyed every one.

– agrees with singular verb

Every citizen is obliged to observe the constitution.

Each and every one of us has their own opinion.

either

– with countable nouns

– refers to two or more things or persons

There are shops at either end of the street.

Either of these books is useful.

Nick can wear watches on either hand.

Note

the pronoun eitherdiffers from the adverb either,which is used in negative sentences.

If you don't order the dessert, I won't either.

Olivia doesn't know his address, Andrew doesn't know either.

– agrees with a singular verb

Does either of you speak Chinese?

Has either of you two seen Harry?

all

– with uncountable nouns and plural countables

– has a generalized meaning

All children need love.

Olivia said good buy to them all.

– the pronoun allagrees with plural verb if it's used with plural countables; if it refers to uncountable nouns, then pronoun allagrees with singular verb.

All the students were ready.

All the milk was fresh.

All the book was torn out.

Note

You may use the whole + nouninstead of all the + noun

when it goes with a singular countable noun.

The whole book was torn out.

– If allprecedes other noun modifiers (the, this, my, etc), then it can be used either as all + noun,or all of + noun.

Andrew invited all his (all of his) friends.

It's important to answer all the (all of the) questions.

Note

Use all ofbefore object pronouns, but just allafter them.

Andrew invited all of them (them all).

All of you (You all) have various questions.

– As the subject it agrees with either singular or plural verb, that depends on the context.

All is well that ends well.

All have gone.

– If the subject is a personal pronoun, then allis put between and the verb.

We all decided to dinner out the next day.

They all skate in winter.

– If there is a linking verb, an auxiliary or modal one, then allgoes after the first verb.

We are all here.

They have all seen the movie.

You should all take part in this conference.

Note

Allis quite often substituted by comounds everybody, everyone, everything.

All are happy. => Everyone is happy.

All is ready. => Everything is ready.

both

– with plural countables

– refers to two persons or things

I like both (ties).

Both (applicants) are equally experienced.

– agrees with a plural verb

Which project is better? Both are good.

– Use ofbetween bothand another determiner.

Both of these restaurants are expensive.

Olivia knows both of his brothers.

– Use both ofwith a personal object pronoun (him, her, them, etc); use bothafter a personal subject pronoun (he, she, they).

Both of them (They both) are suitable.

It's a game that both of us (we both) can play.

many/much

– manywith countable nouns; muchwith uncountable nouns

– refer to indefinitely large number of things or persons

Are there many books on the desk?

Will it take much time to get to the centre?

– mostly used in negative sentences and questions

How many friends have you got?

There isn't much sense in it.

– If many/much are determined by as, so, too, very,use them in affirmative sentences as well.

There were too many variants to choose.

They have changed so much this year.

– If many/much are the subject or the subject attribute, then they can be used in affirmative sentences too.

Much of the work has already been completed.

Many students attend extra classes.

Note

Words a lot (of), lots (of), a plenty (of)are commonly used in affirmative sentences.

We have a lot to discuss.

There are lots of easy ways to follow.

They still have plenty of snow.

few, little

– fewwith countables; littlewith uncountables

– refer to indefinitely small number off things or persons; the implied meaning is "not enough"

Nick is sad because he has few friends here.

There was little flour, so I couldn't bake a cake.

– The indefinite article a/anwith the pronouns few/littlechanges the implied meaning for positive "enough".

John has a few friends there.

There was a little flour, so I could bake a cake.

– It is preferable to use anyin negative sentences and questions.

Does John have any friends there?

Andy doesn't have any friends there.

Is there any flour at home?

There is no flour at all.

enough

– with both countable and uncountable nouns

– refers to indefinite but sufficient number of something

You have enough time to write an article.

Andrew told them enough.