Inglês A1 · Lição 2
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Lesson 19: Food and Quantity

Comida e quantidade

Goal

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

  • ✓ Order food using correct quantity words
  • ✓ Use some and any correctly in different sentence types
  • ✓ Avoid common mistakes Portuguese speakers make

Key Vocabulary: Food & Drink

1
bread
/bred/
2
cheese
/tʃiːz/
3
milk
/mɪlk/
4
coffee
/ˈkɒfi/
5
eggs
/eɡz/
6
fruit
/fruːt/

Quantity Words: Some vs. Any

We use some and any when we don’t know or don’t need an exact number.

Both mean “algum(a)/alguns(as)/um pouco de” — but their use depends on the sentence type!

Rule 1: Affirmative Sentences → Use some

PortuguêsEnglish
Tenho algumas maçãs.I have some apples.
Ela comprou um pouco de queijo.She bought some cheese.
Nós precisamos de algum pão.We need some bread.

Rule 2: Negative Sentences → Use any

PortuguêsEnglish
Não tenho nenhuma maçã.I don’t have any apples.
Ele não bebe nada de leite.He doesn’t drink any milk.
Não há nenhum problema.There aren’t any problems.

Rule 3: General Questions → Use any

PortuguêsEnglish
Você tem alguma irmã?Do you have any sisters?
Eles têm algum café?Do they have any coffee?
Há alguns ovos na geladeira?Are there any eggs in the fridge?

Exception: Offers & Requests → Use some

PortuguêsEnglish
Gostaria de um pouco de café?Would you like some coffee?
Posso pedir um pouco de água?Can I have some water?
Quer algum pão?Would you like some bread?

Common Mistake Alert!

️
Portuguese speakers often say:
“I don’t have no money.”
✗ I don’t have no money.
✓ I don’t have any money.

Why? In English, one negative is enough! “Don’t” already makes the sentence negative—adding “no” creates a double negative, which is incorrect in standard English.

Another Common Error

️
Avoid using some in neutral questions.
✗ Do you have some brothers?
✓ Do you have any brothers?

Only use some in questions when offering or politely requesting.

Practice: Choose some or any

  1. I need ______ help.
  2. Do you have ______ oranges?
  3. She doesn’t eat ______ meat.
  4. Would you like ______ tea?
  5. We don’t have ______ sugar.

Answers

  1. I need some help. ✓ (affirmative)
  2. Do you have any oranges? ✓ (neutral question)
  3. She doesn’t eat any meat. ✓ (negative)
  4. Would you like some tea? ✓ (offer)
  5. We don’t have any sugar. ✓ (negative)

Role Play: At the Café

Cliente:
Hello! Can I have some coffee, please?
Garçom:
Sure! Would you like some sugar with it?
Cliente:
No, thanks. I don’t take any sugar.

More Practice: Fix the Mistakes

Correct these sentences spoken by Portuguese learners:

  1. I don’t have no eggs.
  2. Do you want some help? (neutral question)
  3. She has any brothers.

Answers & Explanations

  1. ✗ I don’t have no eggs.
    ✓ I don’t have any eggs. (negative → any)
  2. ✗ Do you want some help?
    ✓ Do you want any help? (neutral question → any)
  3. ✗ She has any brothers.
    ✓ She has some brothers. (affirmative → some)

Quick Review

✓ Affirmative → some
✓ Negative → any
✓ Neutral question → any
✓ Offer/request → some
✗ Never: “don’t + no”
✗ Don’t use “some” in info questions

Final Challenge: Write Your Own

Write 4 sentences about food using:

  • 1 affirmative with some
  • 1 negative with any
  • 1 neutral question with any
  • 1 polite request with some

Example: I bought some fruit. I don’t have any milk. Do you sell any bread? Can I have some cheese, please?

Homework

  • Complete Worksheet 19: "Some or Any?"
  • Listen to the café dialogue and shadow it 3 times
  • Text a friend in English: “Do you have any plans? Would you like some company?”

Wrap-up

Today you learned to:

  • ✓ Use some in affirmatives, offers, and requests
  • ✓ Use any in negatives and neutral questions
  • ✓ Avoid double negatives and misuse in questions

Now you can order food confidently and talk about quantities like a native speaker!

Homework

Practice

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