In this topic, you can review the use of indefinite quantifiers and pronouns through affirmations, negatives and questions, to express the existence or absence of something or someone in a non-specific way.
At the same time, you will explore through communicative activities and meaningful activities courtesy rules in the workplace.
Through learning activities and self-assessment, it is intended that you put into practice the grammatical issues reviewed to achieve the proper use of indefinite pronouns and quantifiers.
I suggest you check all the material and read the instructions for each activity carefully, to keep on learning English and have fun.
You are welcome to this unit!
By the end of this topic, you will:
Recognize quantifiers and their use in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences for the existence of something or someone; know how indefinite pronouns are constructed and the contexts in which they are used in a non-specific way through activities related to the working environment.
Heiber, W. (2014). Men Employees Suit Work Greeting Business Office [photo].
Retrieved on 2017, May 25 from https://pixabay.com/photo-1979261/
Think of the answers to these questions:
Is there anybody wearing casual clothes?
Is there anything you don’t like about this kind of job?
Are there some advantages of working in an office?
Is there somebody you know who works like in the photo?
Do you know the use of these words?
We use quantifiers (with words like before, when, until and by the time) as determiners to express or indicate the quantity of something. Most of the times, we use any or some in non-affirmative contexts or to refer to unspecified things.
Click on each use to see some examples.
SOME
Where were you yesterday? I was with some friends.
Before serving, pour some yoghurt and cereal on it.
Some eighty percent of the people voted in the elections.
• When we can’t say exactly which person or thing we are talking about because we don’t know, can’t remember, or we want to emphasize that it is not important, we can use it with a singular noun.
He was interrupted by some troublemaker in the audience.
Henry bought something in that shop in New Street.
The teacher asked someone to open the door.
Someone / Somebody is not telling the truth. (There is some person who is not telling the truth).
I didn’t want to repeat something so rude of Paul.
ANY
There is not any sugar left.
It’s impossible to see anything in the dark.
Do you have any brothers or sisters? I didn’t have the tickets, but we got into the theater without any difficulty.
I cleared the mess before anyone saw it.
The fabric felt softer than anything she had ever touched before.
This or that pronoun?
Begin to implement what you have learned so far. Are you able to recognize which quantifier or indefinite pronoun corresponds in the following exercises?
Remember that you can check the content section as many times as necessary.
Choose wisely!
In this case, write the correct quantifier or indefinite pronouns in the gaps.
Read the phrase carefully. The context will tell you which is the best option. Do not forget to check the spelling of your answer and write it in lowercase letters.
Activity 1
StartupStockPhotos. (2014). Entrepreneur Startup Start-Up Man Woman Team [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, May 25 from https://pixabay.com/photo-593362/
• Is there any place you’d like to work for?
• What are the differences between working for a small business or a big company?
• Is there anything you’d like to know about big enterprises?
Read the text about working for different places: small businesses or big companies. Pay close attention to vocabulary and what the general idea of the book is.
Working for a small business or
for a big enterprise?
Is there any difference?
Activity 2
Unsplash. (2014). Corporate Businessman Suit [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, May 25 from https://pixabay.com/photo-593362/
Are there any disadvantages of having a good or a bad boss?
What kind of problems could you have if you have a terrible boss?
Listen to the conversation between Alan and Kathy and pay close attention to the use of indefinite pronouns.
Activity 3
coffeebeanworks. (2017). Web Mockup Small Business [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, May 25 from https://pixabay.com/photo-1953129/
Imagine you have your own business or office. Think about the rules or actions your employees can do in their job.
Write a set of 10 rules using quantifiers and indefinite pronouns. Follow the example and evaluate your sentences yourself with the rubric.:
Activity 4
Look at these quantifiers and indefinite pronouns:
Write ten sentences where you can use the words in the box at least once. Take into account aspects of daily life, work environment, courtesy rules and other situations where you can use quantifiers and indefinite pronouns
Check the grammar, practice your speaking and record your sentences. Before recording, check the rubrics know the aspects you will be evaluated on.
When you are ready, you can record your voice here.
Finally, let's put into practice what you learned. Are you able to recognize which quantifier or indefinite pronoun corresponds in the following exercises?
Remember that you can go back to the content section as many times as necessary.
Finally, let's put into practice what you learned. Are you able to recognize which quantifier or indefinite pronoun corresponds in the following exercises?
Remember that you can go back to the content section as many times as necessary.
• Hewings, Martin. (2005). Advanced Grammar in Use. Cambridge: CUP (2nd ed).
• Murphy, R. (2012).English Grammar in Use. Intermediate. Cambridge: CUP [4th ed].
•BBC Learning English. (2014). Grammar Challenge. Subject-verb agreement 2 - singular and plural subjects. Retrieved on 2017, April 13 from Retrieved 13/04/17 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1056_gramchallenge48/
• British Council. (2017). Indefinite Pronouns. Retrieved on 2017, April 13 from https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/es/english-grammar/pronouns/indefinite-pronouns