Some/Any

Introcuction

Some and any are determiners. They suggest an unspecified amount or number. We use them when we don’t know or it’s not important to say exactly how much/how many of somthing there is. Knowing when to use some and when to use any isn’t tricky, but it does take some practise.

Some

  • use some in positive sentences
Example:
There are some strawberries in the fridge.
There is some milk in the fridge.
  • use some in questions when we expect the answer to be yes (offers and requests)
Example:
Would you like some tea?

Any

  • use any in negative sentences, and questions
Example:
There aren’t any eggs in the fridge.
Is there any milk in the fridge?
  • use any in positive sentences after words with a negative meaning i.e. never, hardly, without, little
Example:
You never have any time for me.

Someone, Somebody, Anyone, Anybody, Something, Anything

We can add the suffixes, -thing, -one, -body, -where to create indefinite pronouns. The suffixes -body and -one have the same meaning. -body is more common in spoken English and -one is more commen in written English.

some- and any-

We use something, someone, somewhere, anything, anyone, anywhere in the same way as some and any.

Example:
You’ve got something in your hair.

positive sentence

He didn’t say anything.

negative sentence

Do you want to go somewhere new for dinner tonight?

offer/suggestion, we expect the answer to be yes

Yes, but I don’t want to go anywhere expensive.

negative sentence

For information about the difference between anything and everything, or anything and nothing see indefinite pronouns. For the differenece between every and any see Every/Any.