Hi, in today’s lesson you are going to learn how to use some and any with confidence in English.
In general, we use some in positive sentences and any in negative sentences.
For example:
I bought some flowers.
or
I didn’t buy any flowers.
or
If the meaning of the sentence is negative
for example:
She went out without any money.
We use some and any for talking about indefinite numbers or amounts of things.
We've got some amazing carrot cake.
I haven't had any carrot cake for ages.
We use some for talking about a limited number or amount;
and we use any for an unlimited number or amount.
For example, imagine you are talking about different kinds of cheese.
All these sentences are possible:
I like any kind of cheese.
This means all kinds of cheese, it's unlimited.
I don't like any kind of cheese.
Again we are talking about kinds of cheese and it's, unlimited.
I like some kinds of cheese.
This is a limited number of kinds of cheese.
or
I don't like some kinds of cheese.
Again a limited number of cheeses that I don't like.
Now let’s look at questions.
We can use both some and any in questions.
But any is more common.
and we can use some when we are expecting the answer to be ‘yes’.
We use some to talk about a person or thing that we know exists or we think exists.
For example:
Can I have some milk?
I know there’s some milk or I think there is probably some milk.
We are expecting the answer to be yes.
But in most questions, we use any if we do not know if the thing or person exists.
For example:
Is there any milk left?
Here, I don’t know whether there’s any milk.
We can use some and any on their own, as pronouns.
We don’t need to repeat the noun.
Is there any lasagna?
Yes, do you want some?
Sorry, there isn’t any.
We use any after if:
If there are any letters for me, can you send them to this address?
or if the sentences has the idea of if:
I’m sorry for any trouble I’ve caused,
which means if I have caused any trouble.
We also use any with the meaning, “it doesn’t matter which.”
For example:
You can take any bus.
It doesn’t matter which bus.
or
Come and see me any time.
This means it doesn’t matter when you come and see me.
OK, so now it's your turn.
Complete the sentences with some or any.
1. This evening I’m going out with …... friends of mine.
some. Here it is a positive sentence so we use some.
2. I didn’t have ….. money. So I had to borrow some from my mum.
any as it is a negative sentence. so we use any.
3. I was too tired to do …... work
Write your answer down below and I promise to give you feedback on your answer.
OK so that’s it for today, I hope you feel more confident in using some and any in English now.
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OK, so take care and see you very soon. Bye, bye!