You are going to learn some information or any information???

Yeah, if you had to think of which one to use, you probably need to read this post.

 

What’s the difference between SOME and ANY? When should you use Some and Any?

In this post, you will learn all you need to know about some and any and the most common mistakes students make!

Let’s get started!

 

SOME

This word means “an amount of”, “a number of”. We don’t know exactly the “number” or the “amount” of the object we are describing, that’s why we use the word “some”. This word can be used with both countable and uncountable words…

When do you use SOME?

1. Affirmative Sentences.

I have some friends. (In this sentence, I am saying I have “a number of” friends. I don’t have a specific number, that’s why I use the word some 

One common mistake students make is to use the word “any” in affirmative sentences with the idea of some. That’s incorrect. However, you can use “any” in affirmative sentences, BUT in very SPECIFIC SITUATIONS. We will talk about that later on this post.

 

2.  Questions

We can use the word some in questions when we are talking about a person or a thing that we know exists or believe exists. This may sound a bit confusing, so read this again if you need to. If when you ask a question, you know the object you are talking about exists or you believe this object exists, then you can use the word some.

Would you like something to eat?  (I know there is food, that’s why I am offering)

Mom, Can I have some sugar? (I know there is sugar, Or I believe there is sugar, so I am asking for it)

 

3. Somebody, Somewhere, Someone, Something, etc

These are words that will follow the same rules of number 1 and 2.  They are used in affirmative sentences and sometimes questions.

 

ANY

Any is a word that is usually used in negative sentences. In negative sentences it means “zero”. It can be used in affirmative sentences, but some is more common in affirmative sentences.

1. Interrogative sentences (questions)

We use any in most questions. It is more common than some. In this case, we don’t know if the thng or person exists.

Do you have any money? (I don’t know if you have money or not)

Did anybody see where he went? (I don’t know if there is a person who saw it or not)

2. Affirmative Sentences

Yes, you can use any  in affirmative sentences. However, the meaning can change! Here are some explanations

a.  IF + ANY – If you need any  help, let me know (in this case, it means a “little” or “some”. Any is very common in this kind of phrase.

b. Talk to ANYone, ANYwhere, ANYtime in English!

Yeah, if you watch my videos, you have heard this phrase like a million times, haven’t you? But what does it mean??

This is actually the most common use of any in affirmative sentences. It means “it doesn’t matter which”.

So when I say “talk to anyone”, I am saying it doesn’t matter who (you can talk to any person, from Brazil, India, Italy, it doesn’t matter who)

When I say anywhere (I am saying it doesn’t matter where, you can use English in the USA, Australia, Argentina, Morocco, Spain,  it doesn’t matter where)

And finally when I say anytime, I am saying it doesn’t matter when, with English you can speak during a vacation, at an interview, any time)

Where do you want to go? Anywhere! (It doesn’t matter where)

You can eat anything you want (it doesn’t matter what, feel free to choose whatever you want to eat)

 

There you go! Now you know the most important differences between SOME and ANY.

ON my Patreon, I have created an exercise file for you to practice. I am creating some content on my patreon and any amount you can donate will definitely be much appreciated and will help me create more posts and videos on youtube. Here is the link. Become a patreon today and have access to other cool stuff:

https://www.patreon.com/teacherprix

Thanks

 

Teacher Prix