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Grammar, compared

Some vs any

Some is for positive sentences and offers. Any is for questions and negatives.

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The short answer

Some / Any
SomeAny
I have some money.I don't have any money.
Would you like some coffee? (an offer)Do you have any coffee? (a real question)
There are some apples in the fridge.Are there any apples in the fridge?

When to use each

Some and any compared
PointSomeAny
Sentence typePositive statements, offers, requestsQuestions and negative statements
ExampleI bought some bread.I didn't buy any bread.
Offers and requestsWould you like some water? Can I have some help?Not used in offers
A third useNot used this wayIn positive sentences, means it doesn't matter which: you can choose any day.

Watch out if you speak Spanish

  • Alguno and ningún both map loosely to some and any, so English asks you to look at the sentence type, not the meaning alone.
  • Use some in a question that is really an offer or a request: can I have some sugar? would you like some help?
  • No, ningún becomes not any or no: I don't have any pets, or I have no pets, never I don't have no pets.
  • Any also means it doesn't matter which, in a positive sentence: you can choose any day. That is a separate, third use.

Practice

Grammar practice

Choose or type the answer for each sentence, then check.

  1. 1. Would you like tea?
  2. 2. I don't have time today.
  3. 3. Are there seats left?
  4. 4. She bought nice shoes yesterday.
  5. 5. Can I have more coffee, please?
  6. 6. I need

    help with this report.
  7. 7. We don't have

    questions.
  8. 8. You can call me at

    time.

0 of 8 checked

Questions

Why do some offers use some, not any?
Because an offer expects yes: would you like some cake? sounds friendlier than the real question do you have any cake?
Can any mean whichever one?
Yes, in positive sentences: take any seat you like. That's a third use, different from questions and negatives.

Keep going

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