Rules of using some and any

Some and Any

 
 For many learners, the use of some and any presents a challenge. Although they learn

the rules at an early stage, many students can still find this area of grammar confusing.

In my experience, it is one of most frustrating areas of grammar outside the verb system for students. There are also some subtle uses of some and any outside the scope of the standard rules which can be problematic, even advanced learners.

Definitions:

1)The words some and any are used for countable and uncountable nouns. In general, we could say that some means a few / a little and any means none in negative clauses or a few / a little in questions.

2) Some and any are used with countable or uncountable nouns to speak about and describe indefinite quantities or when the exact quantity of something is not important in the discourse. No is also used with countable and uncountable nouns and it means not any.

Compound with some, any and no (somebody, anybody, nobody, something, anything, nothing, somewhere, anywhere, nowhere…) use the same rule of some, any and no.

Pay attention! Compounds with some, any and no is singular.

Some: 1) affirmative statements Eg: I’ve bought some oranges. We need some bread. Some glasses are missing. 2) questions when you expect the answer “yes” Eg: Would you like some orange juice? Can I bring some cookies? Could you give me some information, please? Offering We use some in questions when we expect the answer to be 'yes' or when we are offering something, otherwise, we use any: 'Would you like some milk? Requests Some is also used in questions when we are making a request: 'Can I borrow some money? Compound Words with some & any Some & any can also be part of compound words such as: something / anything someone / anyone somewhere / anywhere Note that some & any have to be used with a noun while compound words with some & any can stand on their own. Example: I have bought some oranges. I have bought something. However, some and any need not stand directly before the noun. Sometimes, the noun appears somewhere before some or any and is not repeated. So if you are not sure whether to use some or something for example, check if there is a noun in the sentence that you can place after some. Example: I do not have to buy bread. Rachel has already bought some [bread].

Any: 1) negative statements Eg: I don’t have any money. He didn’t offer me any biscuits. We have finished the water; there aren’t any bottles in the cellar! 2) questions Eg: Do you have any eggs? Have you got any apples? Didn’t you buy any books? 3) affirmative statements with a negative meaning Eg: You refused to give them any money. They never give me any good advice! We denied giving you any information. anybody / anyone, anything, anywhere: We hardly know anybody (or anyone) here. I’m really thirsty. Is there anything to drink? I can’t find my report anywhere.

• Exercise on Some and Any