E BOOK 8

• There's two boys and a girl outside.
• There's a lot of dogs in the street.
This is increasingly common in British and
American English, but it is not
recommended in formal situations.

There is, There are QuizSubject-Verb

Agreement

.10. A/An ; some/any

A and AN
We use A/AN (articles) with singular countable
nouns.

• My brother has a dog and my sister has a cat.
• There is an accident on the corner.

A is used when the next word starts with
a consonant sound.

• A book
• A guitar
• A friend
• A university (The start of the word university

sounds like YOU, a consonant sound).

AN is used when the next word starts with a vowel
sound.

• An apple
• An ice-cream
• An orange
• An hour (the letter H in this word is silent so it

sounds like it starts with a vowel).

Learn more about Definite and Indefinite Articles.

Some and Any

We use SOME and ANY with plural
nouns and uncountable nouns.

Some is generally used in positive sentences.

Any is generally used in negative sentences.

• I have some information for you about flights to
Paris.
(Positive - Uncountable)

• I don't have any information for you about
flights to Paris.
(Negative - Uncountable)

• We met some friends for drinks after work
yesterday.
(Positive - Plural Countable)

• I didn't see any friends there on Thursday.
(Negative - Plural Countable)

• I think he will have some time to speak to you
today.
(Positive - Uncountable)

• I don't think he will have any time to speak to
you today.
(Negative - Uncountable)

You can also use SOME and ANY in a sentence
without a noun if the meaning of the sentence is
clear.

• I didn't eat any salad but Peter ate some.
(salad)

• Sean took lots of photos of the mountains but
Emma didn't take any. (photos)

Questions with Some and Any
Generally, we use ANY in questions.

• Do you know any famous people?
• Do you have any children?

But, SOME is used in the following circumstances:
1. When we are offering something.

• Would you like some coffee?
• Do you want some sugar for your coffee?

2. When we are asking for something.

• Could I have some salt, please?
• Can I have some fries with that?

3. When we are suggesting something.

• Why don't we watch some movies on TV
tonight?

• Why don't you give her some advice?

You can also use SOME and ANY in a sentence
without a noun if the meaning of the sentence is
clear.
I didn't eat any salad but Peter ate some. (salad)
Sean took lots of photos of the mountains but Emma
didn't take any. (photos)
Summary Chart



11. Personal and object pronouns ; Possessive 's ;

Possessive adjective pronouns

We use personal pronouns to avoid repeating
nouns.

Mum's calling. She’s in Turkey.
How’s Daisy? Give her my
love.

You used she because it’s
the subject and her because it’s the object.

Very good. Here’s the list of all the personal
pronouns and possessive adjectives:

Subject Object Possessive Possessive
pronoun pronoun adjective pronoun

I me my mine

you you your yours

he him his his

she her her hers

it it its -

we us our ours

they them their theirs

We use pronouns to avoid repetition when it is
obvious what we are talking about.

Is this your bike? > No, that
one’s mine. (= my bike)
Those red gloves are yours; the blue
ones are hers. (= her gloves)

Can I use two pronouns together?
Yes, for example:

The man in the shop gave me
them free.

So, what do I need to be careful about?

Well, sometimes we use me when it might seem
logical to use I. We also use it sometimes to refer to
people.

I love house music > I do too / Me too.
Who’s that? > Me. / It’s me. / It’s Fran.

Sometimes we use they instead
of he or she, them instead
of him or her and their instead of his or hers.

When you meet your new
teacher, they will give you the books.
If anyone asks where I am,
tell them I’m in Istanbul this week.
Someone left their gloves in the
classroom.

I thought someone was singular.

Yes, you’re right, but nowadays we avoid
using he for people in general, and he or she is very
long, so we use they instead, especially when we’re
speaking.

Can you also say:

“The English cricket team lost again. They were
rubbish.”?

Yes. We sometimes use they for single nouns which
refer to groups of people.

What about animals?

We usually use it/they for animals, but when people
are talking about their own pets, they
use he or she.

The dog must be thirsty.
Give him some water.

Yes, one thinks that animals are just like people,
doesn’t one?

Ah, we don’t use one to mean everyone very much.
It sounds very old-fashioned and too formal. We
use you to mean people in general.

You can see the sea from the top of
that mountain. (you = people in
general)

But the Queen uses one?

That's true. But, I haven’t met the Queen
and you should use you!

ShowCheck your grammar: multiple choice -
personal pronouns and possessives

ShowCheck your grammar: gap fill - personal
pronouns and possessives

ShowCheck your grammar: gap fill typing - personal
pronouns and possessives