Modifier "Any"

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello! how is it going?

‘It would be a crime to cut down any more trees’

1.- Could I drop ‘any’ in this sentence?

2.- And replace it by ‘some’?

Thanks!

Jes?s

2

Hi Jesus1,

The idea behind any in your sentence is that it is more than enough. It gives the suggestion that the writer/speaker thinks more trees would be too much.

In this sentence:

I’ve really had enough of this noise. I can’t stand any more noise and I’m going to tell the neighbours to turn their music down , you have the same idea that it is too much/more than enough

Alan

3

Hi Jes?s

Although the sentence is grammatically affirmative, the meaning is definitely negative. In other words “would be a crime” = “shouldn’t”. That’s why I think the word any is better than some. The word “some” would sound quite odd in that sentence.

Yes, you could omit “any”.

Amy

EDIT:
Oops, I see Alan has already answered …

4

Hello!

I get the point! :lol: Thanks indeed!