SOME and ANY

We use

SOME:

1. Always

in affirmative sentences or invitations.

2. Sometimes

In a question

3. Never

In a negative sentence

1. Always: Affirmative sentences:

She carries some flowers in her basket.

You saw some cattle on the road.

You left some money on the table.

She noticed some problems at the time.

They watched some videos on the bus.

He has some idea of the dangers.

You know some of my friends.

She met some students on the train.

There are some stars in the sky.

He writes some articles in his spare time.

Invitations:

Would you like some coffee?

Will you visit us some other time?

Can I offer you some lemonade?

Can you sell me some bread, please?

In these ‘invitation’ cases the speaker is using ‘some’ to mean an indefinite amount out of an existing and certain amount, that is, a portion of what someone has.

On the contrary, ‘any’ is an unknown quantity or amount,

like X in algebra.

2. Sometimes: in a question

Does she carry some flowers in her basket?

(i.e. among other things in her basket)

Did you see some cattle on the road?

(among other things)

Did you leave some money on the table?

(as a tip: if the meaning is ‘by accident’ any is better)

Did she notice some problems at the time?

(a presumption that problems existed)

Did they watch some videos on the long-distance bus?

(a presumption that videos are shown)

Does he have some idea of the dangers?

(a presumption that dangers are known to exist)

Do you know some of my friends?

(again, a presumption that the answer is yes)

Did she meet some students on the train?

(justifiable if she’s a student – otherwise any is better)

Are there some stars in the sky?

(they were there last night…)

Does he write some articles in his spare time?

(‘Any’ would be a lot better, but the context could justify ‘some’)

In all the above questions ‘any’ would be better, but there is no doubt that we use ‘some’ in questions. We probably do this casually, out of habit, but the subtle distinctions noted above are valid.

3. Never: in a negative sentence.

Note also that:

“I ain’t got none.” And

“I ain’t got any.”

Are not English. Even Tarzan doesn’t speak like that.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

ANY

We use

ANY

1. Always: in a question

YES OR NO, ALL OR NOTHING  in all these examples:

Does she carry any flowers in her basket?

Did you see any cattle on the road?

Did you leave any money on the table?

Did she notice any problems at the time?

Did they watch any videos on the bus?

Does he have any idea of the dangers?

Do you know any of my friends?

Did she meet any students on the train?

Are there any stars in the sky?

Does he write any articles in his spare time?

‘Any’ is much better in questions: it’s direct and doesn’t depend on presumptions, context or background.

2. Always: in a negative sentence:

(Simply – No)

She doesn’t carry any flowers in her basket.

You didn’t see any cattle on the road.

You didn’t leave any money on the table.

She didn’t notice any problems at the time.

They didn’t watch any videos on the bus.

He didn’t have any idea of the dangers.

You didn’t know any of my friends.

She didn’t meet any students on the train.

There aren’t any stars in the sky.

He doesn’t write any articles in his spare time.

3. Never: in an affirmative sentence

However, ‘any’ can appear in an affirmative sentence as part of a fixed phrase. For example,

any amount, any kind, any more, any time, any day now

He had any amount of money available.

You can choose any kind of gift you want.

Tell me if you want any more soup.

He’s welcome here: he can visit us any time.

The tourists will start arriving any day now.

Apart from these fixed phrases, ‘any’ must

not be used in an affirmative sentence.