2-18. Местоимения и уточнители

 
Многие количественные уточнители могут употребляться как местоимения, не меняя формы.

(A) few и (a) little:

Little is known about the painter's early life.
Some more soup? - Just a little, please.
It is a part of the world visited by few. (= few people)
Do you want a chocolate? There's still a few left. (= a few chocolates)
The password is known by only a few. (= a few people)
Do you know anything about car engines? - A little. (= I know a little about car engines)

Можно употреблять обороты (a) little of и (a) few of перед существительными с другими определителями (the, this, my и т.п.) и местоимениями:

Few people can say that they always tell the truth.
[Few of us] can say that we always tell the truth.

Could I try a little wine?
Could I try [a little of your wine]?

Only a few children like maths.
[Only a few of the children] in this class like maths.

■ What little/the little и what few/the few можно употреблять как местоимения:

She gave [what/the little she had]...
[What/The few we have]...

■ Less и fewer также могут употребляться фактически как местоимения:

Some people go to church, but less/fewer than 20 years ago.

Less of и fewer of употребляются перед другими определителями (the, my, this и т.п.) и местоимениями:

I'd like to spend [less of my time] answering letters.
At the college reunions, there are [fewer of us] each year.

Но если уточнителей нет, of не употребляется:

If you want to lose weight, eat [less food]. (не ‘... less of food’.)
[Fewer people] make their own bread these days. (не ‘Fewer of people... ’)

■ Когда смысл ясен the least можно употреблять как местоимение:

Jan earns [the most money in our family]; Pete earns [the least].

Перед существительными, выражающими отвлеченные понятия, the least of означает «наименьший»:

What will your mother think? - That's [the least of my worries].

The fewest употребляется как превосходная степень few:

The translation with [the fewest mistakes] isn't always the best.

Much и many

You haven't eaten much.
Did you find any mushrooms? - Not many.

Как правило, это звучит достаточно формально:

There is no guarantee of a full recovery. Much depends on how well she responds to treatment.
The government's policies have done [much to reduce unemployment].
Many (= many people) have argued that she is the finest poet of our generation.
Not once did I see a tiger in the jungle, although I heard many.

Перед другими определителями (the, my, this и т.п.) или местоимениями употребляется much/many of:

You can't see [much of a country] in a week.
How [much of the house] do you want to paint this year?
I won't pass the exam: I've missed [too many of my lessons].
[How many of you] are there?

There's [not much meat] left. (не ‘There's not much of meat left’.)
[Many shops] open on Sunday mornings. (не ‘many of shops’ )

Of после much/many обычно не употребляется, если нет другого определителя (артикля или личного):

She didn't eat [much breakfast]. (не ‘ ... much of breakfast’.)
There aren't [many large glasses] left. (не ‘ ... many of large glasses left’.)

Но much of употребляется перед именами и географическими называниями:

I've seen [too much of Haward] recently.
[Not much of Denmark] is hilly.

■ Иногда возможно такое употребление:

He's [not much of a success/gentleman].

Если смысл ясен, more можно употреблять в качестве местоимения:

I'd like [some more], please.

Перед другими определителями (a, the, my, this и т.п.) и местоимениями употребляется more of:

[Three more of the missing climbers] have been found.
Could I have [some more of that smoked fish]?
I don't think [any more of them] want to come.

И more of употребляется перед именами и географическими названиями:

It would be nice to see [more of Ray and Barbara].
Five hundred years ago, [much more of Britain] was covered with trees.

■ Most of употребляется перед именами и географическими названиями:

I've read [most of Shakespeare].
The Romans conquered [most of England].

■ Most употребляется и так:

Some people had difficulty with the lecture, but most understood.

Перед другими определителями (a, the, my, this и т.п.) и местоимениями употребляется most of:

[Most of the people here] know each other.
[Most of my friends] live abroad. (не ‘most my friends... ’)
[Most of us] thought he was wrong.
He's eaten two pizzas and [most of a cold chicken].