Somewhere, anywhere, nowhere follow the same basic rule as some, any, no.
– Are you going anywhere? – Nowhere.
– Let’s go somewhere.
– I am not going anywhere today.
Any more/ any longer/no longer
We use not … any more, not … any longer, no longerto say that a situation has changed.
Mr Smith doesn’t work here any more (or any longer).
no longer goes in the middle of the sentence
We are no longer friends. (not … ‘no more’)
She is no longer a student. (not … ‘no more’)
Quite and Rather
Quite = less than ‘very’ but more than ‘a little’.
Quite goes before a/an: quite a long way, quite a reasonable price.
Rather is similar to quite, but we use rather mostly with negative words and negative ideas.
It’s rather cold, so you’d better stay at home.
He is quite intelligent but rather lazy.
But: rather nice = usually nice
rather interesting = more interesting than expected.
Even
We use evento say something is unusual or surprising.
Even his best friend didn’t lend him the money.
He can’t cook. He can’t even boil an egg.
Even + comparative = even hotter/earlier
Even + if, when, though:
Even if you don’t phone me, I’m sure we’ll see each other soon.
For, during and while
We use : for + period of time to say how long something goes on:
for 2 years, for a week, for the whole life.
during + nounto say when something happens: during the war.
while + subject + verb: while I was watching TV.
Really
Really can be used to emphasize verbs, adjectives and adverbs.
I really think that war should be banned. He drove really dangerously.
Acid rains are really dangerous both for people and the environment.
Still, else, already
Still is used to say that a situation or action is continuing. You usually put still before the main verb, but after be or an auxiliary verb. In negatives it goes before the auxiliary verb.
It’s still raining, let’s stay at home.
You still haven’t answered my questions.
Are they still waiting?
Compare: He borrowed this book a week ago.
He hasn’t read it yet. He is still reading it.
Else is used after question words without a noun following, and after indefinite pronouns.
What else would you like to tell us? Who else knows about it.
Where else did you see him? Ask somebody else about it?
Already expresses surprise that something has happened sooner than expected, or that something that has been done need not be repeated. We normally use it in positive sentences and questions. It can come in the mid or end position.
Is the taxi already here? or: Is the taxi here already?
I’ve already translated the text. I’ve translated the text already.
Compare: He lost his job a year ago. Has he found any job already?
He hasn’t found another job yet. He is still unemployed.
Hardly/scarcely ever, never, rarely and seldom are not used with a negative verb.
We have never seen him again.
Hardly/scarcely ever did he manage to come here.
Too and Enough
Too goes before an adjective or adverb.
Mrs Smith doesn’t want to marry my uncle. She thinks he’s too old.
I’m afraid we’ll miss our train as you are walking too slowly.
Enough goes after an adjective or adverb, and before a noun.
The coffee isn’t strong enough. You didn’t put enough coffee in.
She isn’t old enough to get married. or She is too young to get married.
I think this jacket is too short. – You are right. It is not long enough.
Much: In positive statements we usually use very much or a lot/a good deal/a great deal. In a negative statement we can use either verymuch or much. Much (=greatly), with or without very, can be used with the participles: upset, shocked, impressed, etc.
Positive: I like this town very much. I travel a lot/a great deal.
Negative: I don’t like this town very much. or: I don’t like this town much.
She was (very) much impressed by his good manners.
Much can modify comparative or superlative adjectives and adverbs: much better, much more quickly.
Also, Too, As well
Also usually goes in mid position, buttoo and as well go in end position.
My mother bakes lovely cakes.
She also makes bread./She makes bread, too/as well.
Absolutely, completely and totally can go in mid position or at the end.
We completely lost our way./We lost our way completely.
I totally disagree. / I disagree totally.
Sentence adverbs modify the whole sentence/clause and express the speaker’s opinion: