Some vs. Any
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
Some vs. Any
Any and some can be synonymous; that is, they may have the same meaning. Both may be used in affirmative or negative questions:
Examples:
Will you have any?
Will you have some?
Won’t you have any?
Won’t you have some?
Generally, it is better to use some, not any, for affirmative statements and answers.
Correct: You may have some. Yes, I’d like some.
Incorrect: You may have any.
For negative statements and answers, it usually makes more sense to use any.
Examples:
I don’t want any trouble.
I can’t have any pets in my apartment.
Awkward: I can’t have some pets in my apartment.
Note that it would be fine to leave out any in the above examples entirely.
Examples:
I don’t want trouble.
I can’t have pets in my apartment.
Make sure you don’t use no when you mean any or you will have what is called a double negative.
Incorrect: I don’t want no apple pie.
Pop Quiz
Which of the following sentences are correct?
1. Would you like some ice cream with your chocolate cake?
2. Would you like any ice cream with your chocolate cake?
3. I would like any ice cream with my chocolate cake.
4. I don’t care for some ice cream with my chocolate cake.
5. I don’t care for ice cream with my chocolate cake.
6. I don’t care for any ice cream with my chocolate cake.
7. I don’t want no ice cream with my chocolate cake.
Pop Quiz Answers
1. Correct
2. Correct
3. Incorrect
4. I don’t care for any ice cream would be better.
5. Correct
6. Correct
7. Incorrect
If the article or the existing discussions do not address a thought or question you have on the subject, please use the "Comment" box at the bottom of this page.
Jane – this is just a general comment and not specific to this particular topic. Your regular e-mails are an absolute tonic and to discover this blog where you actually take the time and trouble to comment on the postings that your fans make is fantastic.
My BIG bug-bear in life is coping with the difference between American and UK spellings. You colonials should be using the UK spellings :-)
…….erm, that was just meant as a joke folks, so no hate mail ;-D
Thank you, Alison, for your acknowledgment. Oops, I mean acknowledgement! (UK spelling)
Is it honor or honour (UK spelling)? (LOL)
What is the right way to ask: do you have any questions? or do you have some questions? Or may be both are right? Thanks
Both are correct.
is it correct to say. Will start on January 12 TO May 12
what is the difference between from and on?
When you say, “will start on January 12,” you don’t use “to” after. You could say, “will begin on January 12 and end on May 12” or “will start on January 12 and end on May 12 or “will work from January 12 to May 12.”
Can we say “will start (or commence) from 12 Jan to 12 May.
You can say “will start or commence on January 12 and end on May 12.”
It is 100% do you have any questions? not do you have some questions. However this is around 5 years old so pointless commenting
Both are grammatically correct. “Do you have any questions?” does sound more natural when spoken, but both are acceptable.
Which is correct:
– Unless someone wants this CD, I’ll keep it.
– Unless anyone wants this CD, I’ll keep it.
If both are correct what is the difference in the meaning.
What are the conditions for using some/any with Unless?
The word anyone means “any person at all.” Someone means “some person.” Either one is grammatically correct. There are no conditions for their use that we are aware of.
Do you have some children?
“Do you have any children?” is a better choice.
I’ve got a problem about a countable noun below.
We say
There aren’t any malls.
There are no malls.
Is the below sentence grammatically correct?
There isn’t any mall.
Is it the same as There is no mall? I read this in an English book.
Thanks.
“There isn’t any mall” is grammatically correct. It means the same thing as “There is no mall.”
Which of the following is correct? Or, both are acceptable. Please give explanation, thanks.
1. Cut some shapes, or any other pictures you like.
2. Cut some shapes, or some other pictures you like.
Both are acceptable; however, the commas are unnecessary.
With regard to any and some, I always thought that any went with “countables” (candies, peas) and some went with “uncountables” (like ice cream, mashed potato). But I guess that is not the case…
Your method can be used to complement the methods we recommend in the article. It is also possible that you may be thinking about fewer (countable) vs. less (uncountable).
Are these sentences correct?
You can take any snack on the table.
I’ll take some banana for you.
The following are grammatically correct:
You can take any snack on the table. OR You may take any snack on the table. (See our post Can vs. May.)
I’ll take some banana for you. (This is correct only if you are referring to taking part of a single banana. If you are referring to taking a whole banana, write “I’ll take a banana for you.” In the case of more than one banana, write “I’ll take some bananas for you.”)
“Are there any stars in the sky?”
“Are there stars in the sky?”
“Are there billions of stars in the sky?”
I am a native American English speaker and teach English. I know the first and second questions are correct, although I personally almost alway use “any”. In the third question, I know I should not use “any” and I believe the best explanation is that the first and second questions concern the presence of any number of stars in the sky, while the third refers to an already determined but approximate number of stars in the sky.
Could you possibly give me a clearer explanation or correct my explanation?
As an adjective, “any” suggests a quantity without specification or identification: If you have any tools, bring them with. The inclusion of billions offers a more-specific quantity, even if it is a large, general group. The phrase “any billions” would create a clash between a specific reference and a nonspecific one.
one, a, an, or some; one or more without specification or identification: If you have any witnesses, produce them. Pick out any six you like.
whatever or whichever it may be: cheap at any price.
in whatever quantity or number, great or small; some: Do you have any butter?