A1 · Some & Any — Lesson

some vs any

Use some and any with plural or uncountable nouns to talk about quantities you don't need to specify exactly.

some

Use in positive sentences: I have some friends.

any

Use in negative sentences and questions: I don't have any friends. Do you have any questions?

Both work with countable plurals (apples) AND uncountable nouns (water, money).

some — positive sentences

Quantity is "more than zero" but not specified

Plural countable

I have some apples.

Uncountable

There is some milk in the fridge.

More examples

We need some bread. · She has some good ideas.

any — negatives and questions

Two contexts where we use "any"

Negative

I don't have any sisters.

Negative

There isn't any juice.

Question

Do you have any brothers?

Question

Is there any coffee?

Special case: offers and requests

Use "some" in questions when you OFFER or REQUEST

Question for info → any

Do you have any brothers?

asking if there are or not

Is there any milk?

just asking

Offer / request → some

Would you like some tea?

I am offering

Can I have some water?

I am asking for

Compounds with some / any

Same rules apply to combined words

someone / anyone

There's someone at the door. Is there anyone there?

something / anything

I need something. I don't need anything.

somewhere / anywhere

Let's go somewhere nice. We can't find it anywhere.

Common mistakes

I don't have some money.

→

I don't have any money.

Negative → any

Do you have some questions?

→

Do you have any questions?

Question for info → any

I have any friends.

→

I have some friends.

Positive → some

Do you have nothing?

→

Don't you have anything?

"Nothing" creates double negative — use anything

Recap

some

positive sentences + offers/requests

I have some friends. / Want some tea?

any

negatives + questions (for info)

I don't have any. / Do you have any?

Compounds

someone/anyone, something/anything, somewhere/anywhere

same rules apply

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