Some and Any

Some and Any

1. Exceptions

   • Positive Clauses with Any We usually use some in positive clauses. But after never, without, hardly, we use any.
     • She did her homework without any help.
   • Questions with Some We usually use any in questions. But if we expect or want the other to answer ‚yes‘, we use some.
     • Have you got any brothers and sisters?

2. The words some and any are used for countable and uncountable nouns. In general, we could say that some means a few / a little and any means none in negative clauses or a few / a little in questions.

   • Compound Words with some & any
     • Some & any can also be part of compound words such as:
       • something / anything someone / anyone somewhere / anywhere
   • However, some and any need not stand directly before the noun. Sometimes, the noun appears somewhere before some or any and is not repeated. So if you are not sure whether to use some or something for example, check if there is a noun in the sentence that you can place after some.

3. Negative Clauses

   • In negative clauses, we use any. Note, however, that any alone is not a negative - it must be not ... any
     • I have not bought any bread.

4. Questions

   • In questions, we usually use any.
     • Have you bought any bread?

5. Positive Clauses In positive clauses, we usually use some.

   • In positive clauses, we usually use some.
     • I have bought some bread.