SOME and ANY

While some and any convey the same idea, they may not be used interchangeably in standard
written English.

Some is used with affirmative sentences, and

Any is used with negatives and questions.

They may be used as pronouns or adjectives. For affirmative statements, use some.
There are some papers on my desk. (adjective)
I saw some on yours too. (pronoun)
Some days are hotter than others in the summer. (adjective)
Some are also colder in winter. (pronoun)
For negative statements, use any.
Dave does not have any spare time for exercise. (adjective)
We don’t have any either. (pronoun “any – used as substitute to spare time”)
No one had any idea on how to solve the problem. (adjective)
I don’t have any either. (pronoun “any – used as substitute to idea”)

Negative or question
Anyone anytime anybody anything anywhere
I can’t see anyone in the pool. Can you?
Has anybody turned in a set of car keys?
The library did not have anything I needed for my report.
The doctor does not have any time to see you today.
I can’t go anywhere without you.
Keep in mind that the forms someone, somebody, anyone, anybody
Can be adjectives if they become possessives by adding ‘s to the pronoun form.
Bob lost his jacket. Have you seen it?
I found someone’s (somebody’s) jacket in my car. (adjective)
Are these anybody’s (anyone’s) house keys (adjective)
Helen doesn’t think that they are anybody. (pronoun)

SOME and ANY

Question: Use any.
Do you have any 29-cent stamp for this letter? (adjective)
Are there any in the drawer? (pronoun)
Have you ever read any plays by Shakespeare? (adjective)
Has he ever read any by Tolstoy? (pronoun)

Exercise A
Using the words from the list, fill in the correct form in each space. Some sentences grouped
together are part of a mini-dialogue.
Example: I know that someone bought the lucky lottery ticket.
Do you have any of the new coins just put into circulation?

1. I will save _________cake from the party for you.

2. Do you have ___________homework tonight?
3. He doesn’t have ____________vacation time left this year.
4. “________has been sleeping in my bed,” said the baby bear.
5. The children are bored because they don’t have _______time to play outside.
6. We haven’t seen _________we know here at the party.
7. Did Mr. Robertson have _____ in mind for the job?
8. While they were away, _______broke into their house and stole their valuables.
9. Joel can’t go to football games because he never has ______free time on Saturdays.
10. No one saw ____unusual that day. (object)
11. We hope that they will give us _______information on traveling in the Northwest.
12. I am looking for ______red hem lace.
13. Gail, do you have_______?
14. No, I don’t, but I am sure Dolly has ______.
15. Kelly has _________in her hand. What is it?
16. It’s just _________candy that her friend gave her.
17. Mr. Jansen can’t see you immediately because he has _______in his office.
18. There wasn’t ________at home when I called this morning.
19. The defendant did not say ___________in his defense.
20. Did they find _________interesting in that old trunk in the attic?

COMPARISON ADJECTIVES
Descriptive adjectives or adverbs can have three different forms: positive, comparative,
superlative.
The first form, the positive degree, is the basic form of the adjective or adverb, which
describes one or more persons, objects, or ways of doing something.
Examples:
The big white houses. (adjective)
A crazy cat. (adjective)
Some ornate paintings. ( adjective)
The deer ran fast. (adverb)
UNEQUAL COMPARISONS
The comparative is used to show a relationship between two objects, persons, or group.
Most one- and two-syllable adjectives add –er to express unequal comparisons.
Structure:
Adjective + er
Adverb + er
Examples:
Quiet – Quieter High-Higher
Neat – neater fast-faster
Quick- quicker soon-sooner

For adjectives ending in –e, just add - r to the root.

Structure: Adjectives ending in [E + R]
Examples: Nice – Nicer white-whiter
Fine – Finer tame-tamer

For adjectives ending in a [vowel +y], just add er

Examples:
Coy-coyer gay – gayer (happy)
Gray – grayer

To express unequal comparison in a sentence, use the following pattern:

Subject + verb + [adjective +ER] + Than + other elements
Examples:
Ben’s brother is taller than he.
Mrs. Andrews is older than her son.
This blouse seems nicer than that one.
Beth looks happier today than she did yesterday.

Take note: After comparisons, use subject, not object pronouns.

Examples:
Sylvia plays the guitar better than I.
He needs more money than she.
Some two-syllable and all three-syllable or more adjectives and adverbs use more or less plus the
adjective or adverb for the comparison.

Less
+ three-syllable adjectives
More

Examples:
More + beautiful, intelligent, quietly, quickly.
Less + difficult, important, interesting, economical
Take note: Never combine more and the [adjective + er] form.
INCORRECT: more happier, more friendlier, more wiser
CORRECT: Happier, friendlier, wiser

Two-syllable adjectives ending in the following suffixes usually use more or less plus the
adjective to express the comparative
-ish -ant -like -act
-ous -ive -ward -er
-ful -less -ose
-ic -ing -al

Examples:
MORE + foolish, careful, helpless, cautious, active
LESS + blatant, verbose, regal, caring, hyper, boring

Exercise B
Write the correct form of the comparative.
Example: John’s room is neater than mine.
Language is easier than calculus.

1. My neighborhood is __________than yours. (quiet)

2. Your new furniture looks _______than the old. (lovely)
3. Our team ran _____than your team. (fast)
4. Wanda lives _____to the university than Harry. (close)
5. After a long diet, Jessica is _____than her friends. (slim)
6. Baguio is _______than Bukidnon. ( Hazy)
7. The children seem ________than their parents after the long airplane ride. (sleepy)
8. The streets in the old section of town seem _____than any place else. (narrow)
9. December months feels ________than other months of the year. (colder)
10. Women seem to be ______than men in the game of love. (coy)