II. Degrees of Comparison

The only pattern of morphological change is that of degrees of comparison. There are three grades of comparison: positive, comparative and superlative.

Some adverbs identical in form with adjectives take inflections following the same spelling and phonetic rules as for adjectives.

1) Single-syllable adverbs form degrees of comparison by means of the suffixes -er, - est: fast-faster-fastest, etc.

2) With other adverbs we put more, most before the positive form: quickly – more quickly – most quickly, etc.

Note 1: We use superlative adverbs with –est in a few common phrases. Examples are:

• The soonest I can send it is Friday.

• The earliest I can come is three o’clock.

• Bill ran (the) slowest of all and came last.

Some, any, no, none

Some	Any
In positive sentences with uncountable nouns or nouns in the plural They bought some honey.	In negative sentences I haven’t got any matches. In expressions of doubt I don’t think there is any petrol in the tank.
In questions when we offer or ask for things (in requests) Would you like some wine?	In general questions Have you got any money?
Refers to certain members of a group or certain types of a thing, but not all of them (некоторые) Some people find this more difficult than others.	Refers to one of a number of things or people, when it doesn’t matter which one (любой/любые) Take any book you like.
Means “a large/small number or amount of smth” We’re going to be working together for some time.(= a long time) There is some hope that things will improve. (= little hope)	With “hardly, barely, scarcely, never, rarely, seldom, impossible, unlikely” I have hardly any spare time. With “without” when “without any…= with no….” He crossed the frontier without any difficulty/with no difficulty.
Refers to a person, place, thing or time that is not known or not identified There must be some mistake.	In conditional sentences after “if” If you need any more money, please let me know.
	Used to emphasize an adjective or adverb in negative sentences or questions, meaning “at all” He wasn’t any good at French.
	Not just any = used to show that smb/smth is special It isn’t just any day – it’s my birthday!

Note 1: Some/Any/No + thing/ body/ one/ where/ how

Note 2: Somebody, anybody, nobody, no one are singular words. After none you can use a singular or a plural verb. A plural verb is more usual.

• Someone is here to see you.

• Somebody is asking for you.

• Nobody has come except me.

• None were here.

• None of us understand it.

• None of the shops was open.

Note 3: We use “no + noun” but “none + no noun”

• She had no shoes on.

• There’s no train until tomorrow.

• Have we got any more sugar? - There’s none in the kitchen.

• How many children have you got? – None.

Note 4: We use no or none (of) instead of not a or not any to emphasize the negative idea in a sentence.

• There isn’t a key for this door. = There’s no key for this door.

• She didn’t have any of the typical symptoms of cholera. = She had none of the typical symptoms of cholera.

Note 5: When you use no/nothing/nobody etc., do not use a negative verb.

• I said nothing. (not “I didn’t say nothing.”)

Note 6: After nobody/no one/ someone/somebody/anyone/anybody you can use they/them/their (only in spoken English).

• Nobody phoned, did they?

• No one in the class did their homework.

• Someone has forgotten their umbrella.

• If anybody wants to leave early, they can.