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CORRECT USE OF SOME ADJECTIVES

1. Use of 'Some' and 'Any'
'Some' means 'an amount of or 'a number of, when the amount or number is not given while
(= whereas) 'Any' —means 'an amount' or a number of something, however large if small.
But there are differences between the use of 'some' and 'any'. In other words, some and any
means—'koi, kuchh snd thora'.

(a) 'Some' is used in the sense of 'an amount of, when the amount is not given (— koi, kuchh
and thora)'; in Affirmative sentence before singular uncountable noun to denote quantity and
'some' is also used in the sense of 'a number of, when the number is not given; in affirmative
sentence before plural countable noun to denote number; as,

 I have some milk. (correct)

 I have any milk. (wrong)

(= I have an amount of milk. I have a little milk.)—in quantity

 You have some money. (correct)

S.U.N.
 You have any money. (wrong)
(= You have an amount of money/you have a little money.)—in quantity

 I have some books. (correct)

PC.N.
 I have any books. (wrong)
(= I have a number of books/I have a few books.)—in number

 You have some pens. (correct)

P.C.N.
 You have any pens. (wrong)
(= You have a number of books/you have a few pens.)—in number

 Some Mr. Jha is waiting for you. (correct)

 Any Mr. Jha is waiting for you. (wrong)

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(= A certain/An unknown Mr. Jha is waiting for you.)

'Any' is used in the sense of "an amount of something'; however large or small (koi, kuchh
and thora)" in negative sentence before singular uncountable noun to denote quantity and
'any' is also used in the sense of 'a number of something' (= koi, kuchh and thora); however
large or small; in negative sentence before singular countable noun or plural countable noun
to denote number; as,

 He did not give me any milk. (correct)

S.U.N.
{= He did not give me a little, milk.)—in quantity.

 He did not give me some milk. (wrong)

S.U.N.

 There is not any ink in the bottle. (correct)

S.U.N.
(= Then? is not a little ink in the bottle.)—in quantity.

 There is not some ink in the bottle. (wrong)

S.U.N.

 He did not take any book from the box. (correct)

S.C.N.
(= He did not take a book from the box.)—in number.

 He did not take some books from the box. (wrong)

P.C.N.

 She is not putting any pens in the box. (correct)

P.C.N.
(= She is not putting a few books in the box.)—in number.
 She is not putting some pens in the box. (wrong)
P.C.N

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2. Use of 'Much' and 'Many'

(a) 'Much' is used in the sense of 'a large amount of 'before singular uncountable noun as
an adjective (= a determiner) to express (= denote) quantity in Negative or
Interrogative sentence; as,

 I don't know how much money he spent on his marriage.

—Negative (correct)
 I don't know how many money he spent on his marriage.
—Negative (wrong)
 Have you much money?
—Interrogative (correct)
 Have you many money?
—Interrogative (wrong)

(b) 'Many' is used in the sense of 'a large number of before plural countable nouns as an
adjective (= a determiner) to express (= denote) number in Negative or Interrogative
sentences; as,

 I have not many friends in the town, —Negative

 Have you many problems ? —Interrogative

Note : (i) 'Much' and 'Many' are not used before objects in Affirmative sentences.

A great many of, A good many of, a great number of, great numbers of, plenty of, a lot of,
lots of, numerous, a large number of, large numbers of and 'enough of' are used in place of
'many'.

A great deal of, a good deal of, a large quantity of, plenty of, enough of and a lot of are used
in place of 'much'', as,

 I know many men. (wrong)

 I know a lot of / a large number of men. (correct)

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 He has much money. (wrong)

 He has a lot of / plenty of money. (correct)

Remember : Readers frequently use 'much' and 'many' before objects which are wrong.

(ii) If the sentence starts with the structure—'Subject + wonder/doubt' and the word—'if' or
'whether' is used after it (= the structure), '.Much' or 'Many' can be used after the word—'if'
or 'whether'; as,

 I wonder whether you have many friends. (correct)

 I doubt if she has much beauty. (correct)

(iii) 'Much' or 'Many' can be used after 'So', 'as', 'too' and 'how'; as,

 Ask so many questions as you want to know.

 Eat as much cake as you like.
 Don't take too much salt.
 How many pens do you want?

(iv) 'Much + singular uncountable noun' or 'many + plural countable'is used as a subject. In
such phrases,
Much or many is used to qualify the noun; as,

 Many students are laborious. (correct)

 Much Money is needed for this work. (correct)

Remember:
(v)
(1) A good many (of), A great many (of), A great number (of), great numbers (of), A large
number (of), Plenty (of), A lot (of), Lots (of), Numerous, Enough (of), Large numbers (of)
are used in the sense of 'a number o/'before plural countable noun to denote (= express)
number; as,
A large number of students were present in the class.
P.C.N.

(2) A great deal (of), A good deal (of), A large quantity (of), Plenty (of), A lot (of) and
enough (of) are used in the sense of 'an amount of before singular uncountable noun to
denote (= express) quantity; as,

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A good deal of money is needed for this work.

(vi) But 'Many a' and 'Many an' are used in the sense of 'a large number of before a singular
countable noun in emotional or idiomatic expression. A singular verb is used with it and it
has a plural meaning; as,

 Many a man was killed in the Gulf war. (correct)

 Many men were killed in the Gulf war. (correct)

The meaning of both sentences given above is the same or equal. Such use of many a / many
an is followed.

 Many an inkpot has been sold. (correct)

 Many inkpots have been sold. (correct)

3. Use of 'Little', 'A little* and 'The little'

(1) 'Little' is used in the sense of 'not much' or 'hardly any' or 'not enough' (= negligible or
equal to 'Not') before singular uncountable noun to express (= denote) quantity. It has a
negative meaning; as.

 He has little money.

* 'Little' is not used to express positive idea.

(2) 'A little' is used in the sense of 'a small amount', 'some' before singular uncountable
noun to express (= denote) quantity. It has a positive meaning; as.

 He has a little money.

(3) 'A little' is not used to express negative idea.

The little is used in the sense of 'not much, but all there is '/ ' the amount is small but all '/ '
the small amount or quantity, but all' before singular uncountable noun to express (= denote)
quantity. It has both a positive and a negative meaning; as,

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 I spent the little money I had.

(i) I spent all the money I had. —Positive

(ii) The money I had was not much. —Negative

Note : (i) 'Little' is used in the sense of 'not much'; 'only slightly' as an adverb; as,

 He is little known as an artist.

Adv.
 I slept very little last night.
Adv.
(ii) 'A little' is used in the sense of 'to a small degree' as an adverb; as,
She seemed a little afraid of going inside.
Adv. Adj.
These shoes are a little (- bit)) too big for me.

(iii) 'Little by little' is used in the sense of 'slowly'; 'gradually' as an idiom; as,

 Little by little the snow disappeared.

 Her English is improving little by little.

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