anything/nothing

[GUEST2008]

Hi

I couldn't afford to buy almost anything/nothing.

Thanks

 

[Barb_D]

With the negative you already have in your sentence (I couldn't afford) you need the positive "anything."

If your sentence were positive (I could afford), then you could use the negative "nothing."

I could afford nothing there.
I could afford almost nothing in that shop.
I couldn't afford anything.
I couldn't afford almost anything.

 

[GUEST2008]

Hi

Why did you omit "to buy"?

 

[emsr2d2]

Hi

Why did you omit "to buy"?

To afford = to have enough money to buy

"To buy" is redundant because of the definition of "afford".

Can you afford it? = Can you afford to buy it?

 

[stanislaw.masny]

To afford = to have enough money to buy

"To buy" is redundant because of the definition of "afford".

Can you afford it? = Can you afford to buy it?

How do you feel about it:
How can she afford to buy such an expensive clothes?

I'm not a man of learning.
S.M.

 

[emsr2d2]

How do you feel about it:
How can she afford to buy such [STRIKE]an[/STRIKE] expensive clothes?

I'm not a man of learning.
S.M.

There's nothing wrong with sentence, but again "to buy" is not required. However, please note that "an" is incorrect here. "Clothes" is plural, but in this context is uncountable so no article is required.

How can she afford such expensive clothes?