The correct answers are some and any.
Use some when making an offer ("Would you like some...?"). Use any in negative sentences ("We don't have any...").
Determiner
A determiner is a word or phrase that comes before a noun (or noun phrase) to clarify what that noun refers to — whether it's specific or general, how much of it there is, or who it belongs to. Getting determiners right is essential because English usually requires one to form a complete noun phrase.
Types of determiners
Articles are the most common determiners. English has the definite article the and the indefinite article a/an. For a deeper look, see articles.
- The dog barked all night. (specific dog)
- I adopted a dog last week. (not yet identified to the listener)
Demonstratives — this, that, these, those — point to specific items based on proximity or context.
- These shoes are too tight.
Possessives show ownership: my, your, his, her, its, our, their, plus Saxon genitives like Maria's or the company's.
- Her presentation was excellent.
Quantifiers indicate amount or number: some, any, many, much, few, little, several, all, both, enough, cardinal numbers (one, two, three…), and phrases like a lot of or plenty of.
- ✅ There are few options left. (almost none)
- ✅ There are a few options left. (some — a small but positive number)
Distributives and alternatives — each, every, either, neither — refer to individual members of a group.
- Every student submitted the assignment on time.
Interrogative and relative determiners — which, what, whose, whatever, whichever — introduce questions or relative clauses.
- Which train are you taking?
When no determiner is needed
Sometimes a noun phrase is complete without any determiner (often called the zero determiner or zero article). This is common with plural and uncountable nouns used in a general sense:
- Coffee keeps me awake. (coffee in general, not a specific cup)
- Dogs are loyal animals.
Combining determiners
Determiners can sometimes stack in specific patterns:
- All the chairs were taken.
- My many friends helped out.
The first determiner in such combinations (like all or both) is sometimes called a pre-determiner.
Common mistake: Don't double up where English doesn't allow it. You can say all my friends but not
all my the friends.
Quick reference
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Articles | a, an, the |
| Demonstratives | this, that, these, those |
| Possessives | my, your, his, her, its, our, their |
| Quantifiers | some, any, much, many, few, all, every |
| Interrogatives | which, what, whose |
Ready to practise? Try Articles Basics for a solid foundation, Determiners: Some, Any, Few, and Little for tricky quantifiers, or Basics. Determiners and Pronouns. for an overview of how determiners and pronouns work together.
Quantifier
Quantifiers indicate quantity. Some examples of quantifiers include: all, some, many, few, and no. Quantifiers are also dependent of a noun. It is important to acknowledge that quantifiers only indicate a vague quantity of objects, not a specific number, such as twelve, dozen, first, single, or once, which would be considered numerals.
A2 | Elementary | Pre-intermediate
CEFR A2 is the second level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, often called elementary or pre-intermediate. If you're at this stage, you've moved beyond the basics of A1 and can handle simple, real-life communication — but you're still building the foundations you'll need for B1 and beyond.
What can an A2 learner do?
At A2, you can:
- Understand everyday expressions related to familiar topics — personal details, family, shopping, work, and your local area.
- Communicate in routine situations that involve a simple, direct exchange of information (e.g. ordering food, asking for directions, making small talk).
- Describe your background and immediate environment in simple terms — where you live, what you do, what you need.
- Read and understand short, simple texts like signs, menus, timetables, and brief personal messages.
Key grammar at A2
At this level, you're expected to be comfortable with several core grammar areas:
- Past simple and past continuous — talking about completed actions and actions in progress in the past.
- Present perfect — connecting past events to the present (I've visited London twice).
- Basic modal verbs — expressing ability, permission, necessity, and possibility (can, must, should, have to).
- Common question forms — both simple and slightly more complex (How long have you lived here?).
- Articles and determiners — using a/an/the correctly, along with words like some, any, few, little.
- Basic conditionals — first conditional and simple uses of if and wish.
You're also expanding your vocabulary through collocations (natural word pairings like make a decision or take a break) and learning to use gerunds and infinitives with common verbs.
How A2 differs from A1 and B1
Compared to A1, A2 learners can do more than just produce isolated phrases — you can link simple sentences and participate in short conversations. Compared to B1, you're still relying on familiar contexts and predictable language; handling unexpected topics or expressing opinions in detail comes at the next level.
Self-check: If you can describe your daily routine, talk about past experiences, and handle a basic conversation at a shop or restaurant — but struggle when the topic gets abstract or unfamiliar — you're likely at A2.
Practice at this level
Try these challenges to test and strengthen your A2 skills: Is your English level A2/Pre-intermediate? Test your English CEFR Level!, Basics. Present Perfect., and Basics. Common More Complex Questions..
Difficulty: Medium
Medium difficulty. Difficulty levels represent author's opinion about how hard a question or challenge is.