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."
26 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.
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
can we use " some/ any" for countable nouns ?
Yes.
I have some friends. (countable plural)
I don't have any friends. (countable plural)
The explanation about some and any is quite clear, but can we use "any" with singular nouns, too?
For example: Is there any good mall around here?
No, there isn't any.
Adriana » No, you can only use "any" with uncountable nouns or with plural countable nouns.
Are there any good malls around here?
No, there aren't.
In my book I read "I don't eat meat, but he doesn't use any dairy products either." Why "any" in the second part and not in the first part of the sentence?
Renilde » When you use "any" in a negative sentence, you emphasise "none at all". So in your examples, you can have "any" in either part of the sentence, in both parts of the sentence, or nowhere in the sentence.
I don't eat meat (= simple statement)
I don't eat any meat (= none at all – I'm a strict vegetarian)
He doesn't eat any dairy products either (= no dairy at all – he's a vegan)
can we say? "She never has any understanding problem' thanks.
basically, I fully understaood the use of some and any. but as i've hear and read some of the references that use any in positive form or idea.Im a bit confused about it.
e.g
1. I would happily listen to "any" of his songs.
2. I'm a big fan of Rain but I don't like "some" of the songs he has written.
These are all correct answers when i tried to take some online exams on the internet.
please do eplain.
thanks.
gina y orquesta » In 1, we use "any" to show unrestricted meaning – any of his songs at all – it doesn't matter which.
In 2, we use "some" to show restricted meaning. There are some songs that I don't like, although I like others.
rabah » Other way round: "She never has any problem understanding."
Hi
i read in my book,that we use some only in positive sentences an for questions which we know the answer is yes.
and we use many or much in negetive sentences
is it better to say . I'm a big fan of Rain but I don't like "many" of the songs he has written.
istead of we say . I'm a big fan of Rain but I don't like "some" of the songs he has written.
thanks
I don't like many of his songs = there are only a few that I like
I don't like some of his songs = there are more that I like
thanks a lot
Hi! I am asked to comment on the use of any in this following sentence: If form is any guide, when trimble college take on Manchester University in the final….
could you please give me a hint, because i do not know how to do it?
If it is any guide = if it can be used as any guide at all / if form is a guide.
Apart from this 'positive' and 'negative' considerations, I think 'any' has to be followed by a singular object while 'some' is followed by a plural object. Please consider the following:
Do you have any ideas?
I think this sentence is logically incorrect. Since the sentence is negative, we cannot expect to have more than 1 idea. Hence, it would be better to have the sentence as:
Do you have any idea?
Actually, I disagree. Any is generally followed by a plural countable noun:
He doesn't have any ideas / any friends etc.
You can use it also to show that there is no restriction (as opposed to some, where there is generally a restriction):
Do you have any idea of what you've done? (Any idea at all – any understanding)
He has some idea of what the job entails. (He has a bit of understanding about the job)
it is incorect if i say "He has some good ideas "
The sentence is correct.
The sentence " I would happily listen to "any" of his songs . " isn't a negative or question . It also doesn't have a negative meaning . Why is "any" used in that ? Could you explain to me , please !
It's the unrestricted meaning of "any".
"I would listen to any (all) of his songs."
Thank you very much for this website it is make me easy to communicate at my work everyday I take some minutes to read this english and I think now my english language is improve
Thanks all