Some or any?
The textbook rule gets you most of the way. The cases it misses are the ones worth learning.
The short answer
Use some in positive statements and when offering something. Use any in negatives and in most questions. Both go with plural nouns and with uncountable nouns.
Which one do you need?
| Sentence type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| positive statement | some | There's some milk left. |
| negative | any | There isn't any milk. |
| question | any | Is there any milk? |
| offer or request | some | Would you like some milk? |
| it doesn't matter which | any | Take any seat. |
Practice the choice
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Getting your first question ready.
Side by side
Three sentences for each form, taken from the 335 sentences this drill uses. The answer is highlighted.
some
- I need some information about the event.
- She bought some new clothes for the party.
- We need to buy some ingredients for the recipe.
any
- Is there any coffee left in the pot?
- I don't need any help with the boxes.
- Have you bought any new clothes for the trip?
The basic split
Some in positives, any in negatives and questions:
- I have some questions.
- I don’t have any questions.
- Do you have any questions?
Both words answer “how much” or “how many” without giving a number, and both attach to plurals and to uncountable nouns: some books, some advice.
Some in questions
A question takes some when it is really an offer, a request, or a question you expect a yes to:
- Would you like some help? — offering
- Could I have some water? — requesting
- Did you buy some bread? — I think you did
Switch to any and the mood changes. Did you buy any bread? leaves the answer open, or hints at doubt.
Any in positives
Any appears in positive sentences with a different meaning: “it makes no difference which”:
- Take any seat you like.
- Any help would be welcome.
- Call me at any time.
Here any is not about quantity at all.
Not any, or no
Two ways to say the same thing, one flatter than the other:
- There aren’t any tickets left.
- There are no tickets left.
No is the stronger of the two, and no cannot follow another negative: there aren’t no tickets is a double negative.
Hardly any, if any
Hardly, scarcely and without count as negatives, so any follows them:
- There’s hardly any sugar left.
- He left without any explanation.
The compounds
The same split runs through something and anything, somebody and anybody, somewhere and anywhere:
- I saw somebody in the garden.
- I didn’t see anybody.
- Is anybody there?
- Would you like something to eat? — an offer, so some-
Those words have a page of their own among the indefinite pronouns.
Mistakes to avoid
Wrong: I don't have some money. correct: I don't have any money.
A negative sentence takes any. With some it would mean you do have money, just not a particular sum.
Wrong: Would you like any tea? correct: Would you like some tea?
An offer takes some. Any would make it sound as though you doubt the person wants tea at all.
Wrong: I bought some bread and some apple. correct: I bought some bread and an apple.
Some goes with plurals and uncountables. One countable thing takes a or an.