What the song is about
Two people get ready to bake a cake and look at what is in the kitchen. Along the way, the song teaches two pairs of little words that learners often mix up: some / any and much / many.Useful words
- Food and drink: flour, bread, apples, water, tea, sugar, milk, butter, cheese, coffee
- Kitchen things: cup, plates
- spend money: use money to buy things
- send messages: write to someone on your phone
- wait a minute: stop for a moment
- look around: look at everything near you
- arrive late: come after the planned time
Grammar
Some and any
- some in positive sentences: I need some flour. There is some sugar.
- any in negative sentences and most questions: I don't have any time. Do you have any butter?
- The song says "Any is a question, any is a no". That is a simplification. When you offer or ask for something politely, use some: Can I have some coffee, please? Would you like some tea? The line "Can I have ANY coffee, oh, please?" is not natural English, so don't copy it.
Much and many
- many with things you can count: how many birds, how many messages, many fingers
- much with things you can't count: how much milk, how much money, much water, much sand
- The bridge gives a quick test. If you can count it (one, two, three), use many. If you can't count it (air, rain), use much.
- In everyday English, much is used mostly in questions and negatives. In positive sentences people usually say a lot of: There is a lot of sand.