How to use SOME and ANY in English, differences, and examples

Posted by Md Khann on December 16th, 2020

The determinants " some " and " any "  are used interchangeably on many occasions by Spanish speakers. Given the closeness of their meaning, we tend to confuse them and make serious mistakes. It is very important that we differentiate them so as not to imply something different from what we intended. It is not difficult to differentiate and apply them correctly. In this article, we will explain the differences, how and when to use them with their corresponding examples.

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Do SOME and ANY means the same in English?

When do we use SOME in English?

English words with SOME

When do we use ANY in English?

1. In affirmative sentences, but it has a different meaning than “some” in this case. This would be the difference:

3. In interrogative sentences, but in this case, with a negative meaning. For example, to ask, if we have anything left / any of what we are referring to

When we want to express a sentence in the conditional, especially if we express a desire for something that we do not have

Pay attention to words that contain “any”, since they follow exactly the same rules. Here you have examples with some of them

Differences between SOME and ANY in English

conclusion

Do SOME and ANY means the same in English?

The literal meaning of both determinants is the same. Some and any could be translated by some / a some / as and we generally use it when we do not need to determine exactly the amount of what we are referring to.

I have some chairs at home we can use. ->  T engo some chairs at home we can use.

I have some money  -> I have some money.

I don´t have any money  -> I don't have any money.

Do some people come to the party?  -> Do some people come to the party?

Do you have any other questions? - >  Do you have any other questions?

When do we use SOME  in English?

1. In affirmative sentences, both with countable nouns and with uncountable nouns

I still have some fruit in the fridge. -> I still have some food in the fridge.

Some of my friends are married. ->  Some of my friends are married.

Some paintings are extremely expensive.  - >  Some paintings are extremely expensive.  

I just know the name of some of them.  -> I only know the name of some of them. 

2. To offer someone something in question phrases, but remember, without specifying the amount.

Do you need some blankets? -> Do you need some blankets? or simply do you need blankets?

Do you need some space for your books? -> Do you need some space for your books? or simply do you need space for your books?

Do you need some sugar for your cake?  -> Do you need some sugar for your cake? 

Can I help you with some of these questions?  -> Can I help you with any of these questions? 

3. For interrogative sentences in which we ask permission, out of politeness, if we can borrow or eat or drink something.

Can I have some beer? -> Can I have a beer?

Is it ok if I cook some vegetables? -> Is it okay for you to cook some vegetables?

Can I buy some candy? -> Can I buy some trinkets?

Could you please give me some time to think? -> Can you please give me some time to think? 

English words with SOME

Pay attention to the words that contain “some” in English, since they follow exactly the same rules. Here you have examples of some of them.

I feel dizzy sometimes. -> Sometimes I feel dizzy.

I need to tell you something. -> I need to tell you something.

Come, there is someone at the door. -> Come, there's someone at the door.

The mouse escaped somehow. -> The mouse somehow escaped.

The keys have to be somewhere.  -> The keys have to be somewhere.

When do we use ANY  in English?

1. In affirmative sentences, but it has a different meaning than “ some” in this case. This would be the difference:

You can choose any of those books. -> You can choose any of those books. 

You can choose some of those books. -> You can choose some of those books. 

2. In negative sentences, to express that there is no longer any or nothing of what we refer to

I don't have *  any questions about the book. It was terrible. -> I don't have any questions about the book. It was horrible. 

I'm sorry, but you don't have *  any possibilities. Your level is too low. -> Sorry, but you have no chance. Your level is very low. 

Although “any” already implies that the phrase is meant to be expressed in the negative sense, it is necessary that the phrase is also expressed in a negative sense, that is, that the English verbs are also expressed in the negative as indicated in the examples.

3. In interrogative sentences, but in this case, with a negative meaning. For example, to ask, if we have anything left / any of what we are referring to

Don't you have an umbrella? -> Don't you have an umbrella?

Is there any spare box I can use? -> Is there a spare box that I can use?

When we want to express a sentence in the conditional, especially if we express a desire for something that we do not have

If I had any friends in this country, I would be happier. -> If I had a friend in this country, I would be happier. 

If any of you could come, I wouldn't need help from my parents. -> If any of you could come, I wouldn't need help from my parents. 

Pay attention to words that contain “any”, since they follow exactly the same rules. Here you have examples with some of them

She didn't want to go anyway.  -> Anyway, she didn't want to go.

He hasn't done anything since this morning. -> He hasn't done anything since this morning.

I haven't seen anyone with a red jacket. -> I have not seen anyone with a red jacket. 

My uncle does not teach anymore. -> My uncle no longer teaches.

I'm not going anywhere with you. -> I'm not going anywhere with you. 

Differences between SOME and ANY in English

In our English courses in Madrid, we especially emphasize that given in Spanish it has a very similar meaning and there are times when we do not even translate it, you think that it is not important that you confuse one and the other determining factor. However, although it may seem subtle, it is these kinds of details that differentiate quality English from mediocre English. Notice the nuance of the following examples:

You can take any of my shirts. -> You can take any of my shirts. 

In this first sentence, we mean that you can wear any shirt, but only one.

You can take some of my shirts. -> You can take some of my shirts. 

However, in this other example, we imply that you can take "some" shirt, that is, there is no problem if you take two, three, four shirts ...

Therefore, the answer is that they cannot be used interchangeably, you can imply something other than what you intended.

You may learn English verbs here 

conclusion

As we have commented throughout the article, it is very important to differentiate in which context we are going to use it, that way we will know if we should use " some " or " any ". As you have seen throughout the examples that we have provided, it is very important to know if the sentence that we are going to formulate is positive or negative, if we are going to make an offer, or what is the meaning that we want to give to our question.

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Md Khann

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Md Khann
Joined: August 27th, 2019
Articles Posted: 67

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