English grammar: 100 main rules

There weretoomany variants to choose.

They have changed somuchthis year.

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

Muchof the work has already been completed.

Manystudents attend extra classes.

Note

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

We havea lotto discuss.

There arelots ofeasy ways to follow.

They still haveplenty ofsnow.

few, little

– few with countables; little with uncountables

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

Nick is sad because he hasfewfriends here.

There waslittleflour, so I couldn't bake a cake.

– The indefinite article a/an with the pronouns few/little changes the implied meaning for positive "enough".

John hasa fewfriends there.

There wasa littleflour, so I could bake a cake.

– It is preferable to use any in negative sentences and questions.

Does John haveanyfriends there?

Andy doesn't haveanyfriends there.

Is thereanyflour at home?

There isnoflour at all.

enough

– with both countable and uncountable nouns

– refers to indefinite but sufficient number of something

You haveenoughtime to write an article.

Andrew told themenough.

RULE 27. One/Ones

one

– refers to an undetermined person in general

Onecannot learn a language in three months.

Oneshould pay taxes.

Note

In the informal language undetermined persons can be as well expressed by the pronouns you or they.

Youmust always try to do your best.

Theysay the weather is changing.

Note

The pronoun one can be used in the possessive form (one's) or in its reflexive form (oneself).

One must learn fromone'smistakes.

One should be careful not to hurtoneself.

– agrees with a singular verb

Oneneverknowswhat may happen.

More thanonevariantisappropriate.

– substitutes the noun to avoid repetition; often used in Which-questions

See those two handsome men? Andrew is the tallerone.

Which dress has Olivia chosen? The redone.

Note

the plural form of the pronoun is also possible.

Andrew bought three apples: a redoneand two yellowones.