We use some and any with uncountable nouns and plural nouns. The general rule is that you use "some" in positive sentences and "any" in negative sentences and questions.
"I have some ideas."
"I don't have any ideas."
"Do you have any ideas?"
However, we can also use "some" in questions.
"Would you like some tea?" (I expect the answer to be "Yes".)
When we use some in a question, we limit what we are offering the other person.
For example, "Can I get you something to drink? - Coffee, or tea?" means I am offering you a limited choice of things to drink.
When we use "any" in a question, we are not limiting the choice.
For example, "Would you like anything to drink?" includes a whole range of things to drink.
"Do you have any questions?" (You can ask me anything you like!)
We can also use any in positive sentences which have a negative meaning. We often use "any" with "hardly", "without" or "never".
"There's hardly any petrol left in the car - we need to go to a garage."
"He went out without any money on him."
"She never has any problem understanding."
How much do you know about using some and any? Click the Test Yourself button on the right!
6 comments on “Some and Any”
I have learned at english-at-home that "Never" goes after 'modal' or 'auxiliary' verbs (see Frequency Lecture).
But you wrote here "She never has any problem understanding." Isn't that incorrect?
Yes, it's correct. Adverbs of frequency go after modal verbs, but before "main" verbs:
I always have time.
She never goes abroad.
i can't understand this sentence , there's hardly any petrol in the car - we need go to garage, please explain any body
We use any in negative sentences (I don't have any money) and in positive sentences which have a negative meaning. For example, we can use it after "hardly":
I have hardly any money.
There's hardly any petrol in the car.
It is interesting to understand that "some" is in positive sentense and "any" is in nagative sentense.
it is verry easy to understand differace between "some " &"Any"the way u teach here..
thax
I understand that we use some in the question if we want to limit the answer and to express quantity, isn't that correct ?
Yes.
"Would you like something to drink?" (I'm only offering a limited selection, perhaps only tea or coffee)
"Would you like anything to drink?" (I'm offering a whole range.)
I understand that "some" is in positive sentense and "any" is in nagative sentense.
thanks on explaining