LANGUAGE REFERENCE
130
3
GRAMMAR
G1
QUANTIFIERS
Use quantifiers to describe the quantity of
something. We use different quantifiers with plural
countable nouns and uncountable nouns.
+ plural
countable noun
+ uncountable
noun
+ countable or
uncountable
noun
few, (too) many,
several
little, (too) much hardly any, a lot
of, some, all
To talk about things in general, use quantifier + noun.
Many people
prefer football.
To talk about something specific use quantifier +
of +
the
/
my
/
our
/
these,
etc. + noun.
Some of the people
in the survey prefer golf.
LITTLE
/
FEW
/
A LITTLE
/
A FEW
Little
and
few
have a negative meaning similar to ‘not
much / not many / almost none’.
There’s
little
food in the house. We’ll have to do
some shopping.
But
a little
and
a few
have a positive meaning similar
to ‘a small quantity / some’.
There’s
a little
food in the fridge if you’re hungry.
SOME
/
ANY
We usually use
some
in positive statements and
any
in
questions and negatives.
We are playing
some
games next month, but there aren’t
any
at the weekend.
G2
DEFINITE AND ZERO ARTICLES
Use the definite article (
the
):
• when referring to something that is already known to
the listener because it has been mentioned before.
So I showed
the
photos to the police. (I’ve mentioned
these photos before.)
• when referring to something that is already known to
the listener because it is obvious from the context.
I forgot to give
the
cat her supper. (It is obvious I’m
talking about
my
cat.)
• when something is unique (including superlatives and
first
,
last
,
next
,
only
.)
She is
the
greatest sportswoman.
• when a defining or prepositional phrase makes the
noun specific.
It’s
the
house at the top of the street.
• before the names of some geographical features,
buildings and places.
I live in
the
countryside, not
the
town.
Use the zero article (no article):
• before abstract nouns.
You can’t stop
time
.
• before general plural nouns.
Computers
are very powerful now.
!
But if the abstract or plural noun is made specific by a
defining phrase, we use an article.
The
computers we’ve just bought are fantastic.
• before people’s names and the names of most
companies, materials, countries, mountains and lakes.
Alexandra lives in
Italy
. She lives near
Lake Como
.
She works for
Deutsche Bank
.
• before the names of types of institutions, for
example
school
,
hospital
,
university
.
My brother is about to start
school
.
!
But if we are referring to a particular building, we
use the definite article.
Excuse me. Is
the school
near here?
KEY LANGUAGE
KL
EMPHASIS AND COMPARISON
EMPHASISING ADJECTIVES
an
outstanding
achievement
exceptional
qualities
an
astonishing
performance
extraordinary
technical skills
EMPHASISING ADVERBS
a
truly
remarkable sportswoman
She
undoubtedly
is a superstar …
EMPHASISING EXPRESSIONS
… and
above all
her admirable personal qualities
What’s also extraordinary about her is …
There seems to be no end
to Yuna Kim’s remarkable talents
VOCABULARY
V1
IDIOMS
a level playing field, score an own goal, a whole new
ball game, start the ball rolling, be on the ball, take your
eye off the ball, move the goalposts
V2
SELF-
self-confidence, self-control, self-defence, self-
development, self-discipline, self-respect
V3
ABSTRACT NOUNS (FROM ADJECTIVES)
agility, (agile), calm, (calm), coordination, (coordinated),
courtesy, (courteous), flexibility, (flexible), tolerance,
(tolerant)
V4
AMBITION
determination, extremes, intensity, make sacrifices,
obsessive, set apart
